USCCB - (MRS) - The Networker: Volume 6, Number 3

MRS > Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees > The Networker: Volume 6, Number 3 - September 1998

Message from the Director
Apostleship of the Sea
Circus/Carnival Pastoral Ministers Meeting
Sowing Seeds for Change: Sr. Hobelman Attends Symposium to Plan for the Future
Rome Meeting: Pastoral Care of Gypsies
IV World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees
News from Around the Network
Announcements
PCMR Awards Ethnic Ministries Small Grants
17th National Catholic China Conference
Meetings of National Representatives
MRS/PCMR Scheduling Spring Regional Meetings
Pastoral Leadership Course for Farmworkers

Message from the Director

The Chinese paper cutting at the head of this column is based on the words in St. Matthew's Gospel: "Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night and went to Egypt." (Mt. 2:14)" By night refugees and exiles from all over the world for all time have experienced the same trauma as the Holy Family. By night Vietnamese boarded rickety boats to sail into a precarious future. By night, Kenyan refugees wait in fear for bandits' raids. By night, Columbian campesinos are rousted from their homes by rightist paramilitaries of leftist insurgents. By night, Mexicans lurk on the border and wait in fear and expectation. Through unending nights, asylum seekers languish in jails throughout the United States, alone and unattended. The Holy Family in the text of St. Matthew is also symbolic of all people who come as newcomers into a different country and have to begin life again in unfamiliar, sometimes hostile, territory, adjusting to new cultures, new terrains, new weather patterns.

The Holy Family in exile is a Gospel sign, a symbol of the presence of God calling out to people to respond with the same spirit of solidarity expressed in the injunction in the book of Leviticus: "The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God." Lev. 19:33. The bishops of the United States in a resolution several years ago signaled immigrants, refugees, migrants workers, seamen and other people uprooted and on the move for survival and human dignity as a theological sign to the Christian Community. That is to say, they are a sign to us of the presence of God in our midst. Our response to them is in the same category as the response of the people in Jesus' time to Him. Some believed in God's presence revealed in Him; others turned from Him and even sought His death. So, likewise our response today is a challenge to the integrity of our Christian discipleship.

If we welcome the refugee and newcomer, we discover the meaning of the mark of universality in the Church. The theme for National Migration Week this year is "Reflecting God's Love for All." It is our challenge and grace in ethnic ministries to make this mark shine out in the church on every level, to delight in and enhance the quality of the constantly changing mosaics in parishes and dioceses, to work for communion in the midst of this variety. I will always remember the special Mass we celebrated when I left as pastor of St. Anne's parish in San Francisco to come here to Washington to serve as director of PCMR. At the offertory, a young Irish couple carried up Irish linen to dress the altar, followed by a Chinese family with fine Chinese brocade, followed by a Filipino couple in barong and terno with a multi-colored cloth, followed by an Arab in Palestinian headgear bearing the gifts of bread and wine while the choir led the congregation in a multi-lingual song. Such a communion based on respect for human beings and the cultures which form them challenges the dominance of one culture over another, confronts efforts to impose uniformity, and goes one step beyond cultural groups living side by side without interrelating. To successfully experience the universality of the Church in every level of Church life is a difficult enterprise which requires hard work, patience, prayer and good humor. It is not done overnight but when it happens it truly is a revelation of God's grace shining out in our midst, gathering into one the scattered children of God.

As we pass through the Christmas season and enter the New Yearof 1999, I want to let you know of the prayers and best wishes of the PCMR staff (pictured in this newsletter) for you that the Lord will bless your efforts with refugees and new- comers in our midst.

And to the refugees and newcomers, we offer the prayer which Pope John Paul II recited at our audience with him on the occasion of the IV World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees in Rome.

"May the Virgin Mary, whose human life was marked by the pain of exile and migration, comfort and help those who are living far from their homeland, and inspire in everyone feelings, of solidarity and acceptance towards them."

Apostleship of the Sea

The Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies, Linthicum Heights, MD was the site of the October 1-3, North American meeting of the Apostleship of the Sea. The meeting was chaired by the U.S. National Director and North American Regional Coordinator, Deacon Robert M. Balderas.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the meaning and significance of the Jubilee Year for AOS members on land and sea and to develop a strategy for meaningful celebrations and activities within and for the maritime community, people of the sea. In attendance were representatives from Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Many suggestions were entertained in the day and a half meeting but only the following were adopted:

AOS Chaplains three day retreat dedicated to spiritual development
Special 2000 edition of Catholic Maritime News dedicated to people of the sea—their prayers and sacred moments.
A special unifying prayer for today's multi-cultural crews.
A Blessing for Gangways. (Ship's doors)
A petition for the release of seven Filipino seafarers incarcerated in Egypt.
Special Jubilee AOS Calendar and brochure.
AOS Sea Sunday 2000 - a special day for recognition of the people of the sea.

Circus/Carnival Pastoral Ministers Meeting

The VIII Annual Gathering of Pastoral Ministers with the Circus, Carnival and Race Car Circuit Apostolate will take place from January 2-7, 1999 in Sarasota, Florida. It will begin with the 10:30 a.m. Circus Mass at St. Martha Parish. The theme of this year's meeting is The Circus: Past, Present and Future. Mr. Dominique Jando, Associate Artistic Director of the Big Apple Circus will give a presentation on the history of the circus. Participants will also have an opportunity to visit with circus performers, producers and even circus animals. The gathering will conclude at the opening performance of the Ringling Brother Circus (Red Unit) in St. Petersburg on the evening of January 6, 1999.

Sowing Seeds for Change:
Sr. Hobelman Attends Symposium to Plan for the Future

Sr. Charlotte Hobelman, PCMR Coordinator of Migrant Ministries, attended the symposium, Sowing Seeds for Change, Nov. 6-8, 1998 at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Sponsored by the non-profit agency, Student Action with Farmworkers and the University of Florida Department of Anthropology, the three-day event welcomed college students and faculty from nine universities, farmworkers and farmworker advocates to learn and plan for the future.

On the first day participants toured the Davis farm outside Gainesville and heard an inspiring keynote address by Ms. Margarita Romo, founder of Farmworker Self-Help. Dr. Allen Burns, Chairman of the UF Department of Anthropology gave a very informative presentation on the history of Farmworkers in the Southeast. Various organizations working with farmworkers in North Carolina and Florida gave presentations during the afternoon workshops. Time was also provided to plan college events based on farmworker issues at the respective university campuses in 1999.

Next year's symposium is being planned in conjunction with Frontier College in Toronto, Ontario.

Student Action with Farmworkers based in Durham has designed a graduate level course on farmworkers in North Carolina to be taught at Duke University in the Spring 1999 semester. They will be working with the University of Texas in the next two years on the publication of a course textbook on farmworkers. The organization also sponsors student internships with farmworkers during the summer months. For more information and applications for summer internships, contact Melinda Wiggins, Executive Director of SAF, at 919-660-3652.

Rome Meeting:
Pastoral Care of Gypsies

The Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People is sponsoring a study day on Thursday, March 18, 1999 for the Episcopal Promoters and National Directors of the Pastoral Care of Gypsies from the European countries, U.S.A. and India to reflect on the challenges of this ministry in each respective country and on the ways in which Gypsies might take part in the Great Jubilee. Following the study day, the International Catholic Committee for Gypsies (CCIT) will hold their annual meeting in Venice.

IV World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees
Vatican City
October 5 - 10, 1998

From October 5 to 10, representatives from 92 nations descended on Vatican City to participate in the IV World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples. Archbishop Stephen Fumio Hamao, newly appointed president of the Pontifical Council, recently arrived from his diocese in Yokahama, Japan, opened the congress by underscoring the theme: Migration before the Threshold of the Third Millenium. After that began a series of non-stop presentations and break-out groups which highlighted the complexity of the present day migration situation and its universality.

There were thirty-one people in the United States delegation, led by Bishop John Cummins of Oakland, the outgoing head of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Migration. Bishop Cummins represented the delegation by speaking on the history of the Church in the U.S. in relation to immigrants, the present trends in immigration to the U.S., the pastoral care offered to immigrants, including the work of MRS in processing and policy efforts, the pastoral approaches of PCMR and the publications which have been authorized by the NCCB Bishops' Committee on Migration. The bishop focussed on the Jubilee Year as a time to recommit the Church to its stance of justice and solidarity with refugees worldwide and as a time to cancel the debt.

The highlights of the week were the plenary session dialogues where the experiences of the local churches surfaced and the perilous nature of the refugee situation and the heroic efforts of many church people emerged. Another highlight was the audience with the Pope who made great effort to greet many of the participants and spoke to us of migrants and refugees as a sign of the times to which the Church must respond. All of the American delegation gathered for dinner one night which gave us a chance to meet each other (since all parts of the country were represented) and enjoy each others' company. As a final part of the Congress, a paper will be published on the proceedings and on the summaries of the small discussions and plenary sessions.

News From Around the Network

Archdiocese of Boston —
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Office of Ethnic Apostolates joined again to celebrate one Church in mission on World Mission Sunday, October 18. The theme was "Reflecting God's Love for All,", the 1999 National Week Theme, which is a fitting phrase to honor those who have gone out from the archdiocese to the "ends of the earth," and to reflect the gift that the myriad ethnic communities have become to the Church of Boston.

Diocese of Worcester —
Congratulations to St. Joseph's Church, the oldest Polish-American parish in New England, for officially being dedicated as the first basilica in the Diocese of Worcester on October 5. The papal honor of basilica is reserved for churches that have played a historically significant role in the history of the Catholic Church. Founded in 1887, St. Joseph's was the first church in New England dedicated to serving Polish Catholics arriving in this country. Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki, pastor, acknowledged the priests and religious who served the parish throughout the years, but most of all was grateful to past and current parishioners for their wonderful support.

Archdiocese of St. Paul —
Congratulations to Rev. Daniel Taillez and his staff at the Hmong-American National Catholic Association, St. Paul (MN) for their Hmong newsletter, TSIM NEEJ TSHIAB!

Announcements
NCCB Committee on Migration

On November 15, 1998 the NCCB Committee on Migration met for the last time under the chairmanship of Most Reverend John S. Cummins, Bishop of Oakland. Mark Franken presented Bishop Cummins with a plaque for his dedication and commitment to the work of Migration and Refugee Services during his tenure as Chair. The committee reviewed MRS programs and accomplishments these past three years and focused on several issues that will be looked at during 1999. At the General Bishops' meeting later that week, Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Auxiliary Bishop of Newark, was voted as the new Chairman. Bishop DiMarzio has assumed the responsibilities as committee Chair and is currently seeking membership on the committee. The NCCB General Secretary will announce all committee assignments within the next few weeks. The next meeting of the NCCB Committee on Migration is scheduled for Monday, March 22, 1999.

National CatholicGathering for Jubilee Justice
July 15 - 18, 1999 UCLA Los Angeles, CA

Migration and Refugee Services is planning a pre-meeting for all members of its network (Refugee Programs and PCMR) which will begin on Wednesday, July 14 at 1:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity to learn about the bishops' key concerns and policy issues affecting migrants and refugees, meet others in the network, and participate in a few workshops that can help you in your ministry. WATCH FOR A SPECIAL MAILING WITH MORE INFORMATION IN LATE JANUARY!

PCMR Awards Ethnic Ministries Small Grants

In December 1998 Migration and Refugee Services' Office for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees granted more than $11,000 to various ethnic communities around the country through its Ethnic Ministries Small Grants Program. This program was developed in 1996 to provide seed money to local initiatives that seek to: encourage an appropriate welcome of the newcomer into the Church, provide language and culturally appropriate liturgical and religious education materials, or assist with leadership development from within ethnic communities. This year's recipients and a brief description of the projects include:

African Childrens' Festival: Seeks to teach African children in the Archdiocese of Boston about their heritage through prayer, games, history study, music and dance, and arts and crafts.

Children's Catechumenate: To prepare a group of Cambodian children in Lowell, MA, for the reception of the sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church.

Hmong Catholic Burial Rite: A program which familiarizes Hmong converts in the Archdiocese of Boston with Catholic beliefs on death (and the soul's encounter with God) and compares those beliefs to traditional Hmong beliefs and rituals.

Outreaching and Evangelization: Endeavors to reach out and evangelize the Ghanaian Community in Brooklyn and Queens through open houses, bulletins, workshops, and culturally-sensitive liturgies and bible studies.

Hmong Woman as Participant at the Permanent Diaconate Formation Program: To prepare a refugee from Laos to serve as a catechist among the Hmong community in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as her husband prepares to become a permanent deacon.

Women in Need of Support: This program in Manchester, NH, seeks to initiate new programs to assist new refugee women in adapting to unfamiliar surroundings and to provide opportunities for different cultural groups of women to gather and share their concerns and frustrations.

Chinese Ministry Initiative: A program which provides language and culturally-appropriate liturgical and religious education materials, and which stimulates leadership development from with the Chinese community in the Archdiocese of Miami.

Asian Study and Internet Grant: Seeks to foster an understanding of Khmmu traditions and culture among the youth of the Khmmu community in Oakland and to bolster contact with their own cultural group through use of the Internet.

Reaching out to the Newcomers with Hope, Mercy and Justice: To develop a census of immigrant families in the Diocese of Saint Cloud and assess their needs.

Cambodian Ministry: Strives the help Cambodians in the Diocese of Stockton to feel a part of a parish community in order to participate more fully in the sacramental life of Church, and facilitates the creation of small faith sharing communities.

African Connections: A program to facilitate an organized pastoral response to the African immigrants in the Diocese of Toledo through evangelization, community building, dialogue, and cultural celebration.

Legal Services and Outreach: A two-fold program to provide immigrants in the Diocese of Worcester with better access to legal services and to reach out to and educate ethnic women.

Thanks to all who submitted grant requests!

U.S. Catholic China Bureau
17TH NATIONAL CATHOLIC CHINA CONFERENCE

February 12-14, 1999
Mercy Center - Burlingame, CA
Theme: Peace and Justice in the Chinese Context

In addition to the keynote lecture, the program includes panel presentations, topical workshops, discussions, reports on China projects or programs, and an exhibit of China books/resources.

For more information contact: Sr. Janet Carroll, MM, Seton Hall University, phone: 973-763-1131; e-mail: chinabur@shu.edu.

An application form is enclosed with this mailing. To request additional applications, contact MRS/PCMR at 202-541-3230.

Meetings of National Representatives
- Washington, DC -

During December, PCMR convened three separate meetings of the national representatives from the African, Asian/Pacific Islander, and European apostolates.

These meetings provided an opportunity for the new PCMR director, Fr. Anthony McGuire, to become acquainted with many of the representatives who have been affiliated with PCMR for many years, as well as the occasion for the representatives to gather together and share their experiences with their ethnic communities. The national representatives provided PCMR staff with updates of their apostolates. They discussed pastoral care issues and concerns, heard presentations on policy initiates of the NCCB, and received helpful information on how to seek foundation funding.

MRS/PCMR Scheduling Spring Regional Meetings

To date, regional meetings have been scheduled in the following cities:

Los Angeles:March 24
Seattle, WA:March 26
Oakland, CA:March 29

Additionally, meetings are being planned for the Mid-Atlantic, South and Midwest regions. As soon as details are finalized, invitations will be mailed to diocesan directors in each region!

Pastoral Leadership Course for Farmworkers

The Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network (CMFN) is sponsoring its second annual pastoral leadership course for farmworkers at the Mexican American Cultural Center from February 11-16, 1999.

Thanks to a three-year grant from the Mercy Sisters, CMFN is able to cover the costs of room, board and travel to the course.

Anyone wishing to recommend a farmworker or farmworker couple for attendance at the course should contact Ms. Celine Caufield, Executive Director of CMFN at 208-384-1778.