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Migrant & Refuge Ministry
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The Saint Anne Catholic Community is called to welcome the stranger and the marginalized, to counter the divisiveness of “us vs. the other,” and to see the face of God in all people. In that spirit, the initial focus of this new parish-wide ministry is to assist migrants newly arrived in the Chicago area in three main ways:
- Accompany the Newly Arrived In partnership with Catholic Charities, Saint Anne is sponsoring three migrant families living in Chicago.
Our role is to walk alongside them in friendship and connect them to support services that will enable them to become self-sufficient within six months. This includes assisting with the paperwork to obtain work permits, ESL, schools, social networks, church communities, setting up an apartment, etc. - Educate Ourselves Understanding the flight of immigrants and refugees from their homelands helps us better connect our Catholic faith to their issues and become stronger citizens.
- Advocate Experiences and knowledge compel us to speak up for just and compassionate policies around immigration and support reform efforts.
If you would like more information or would like volunteer time or treasures, please contact [email protected]
- Accompany the Newly Arrived In partnership with Catholic Charities, Saint Anne is sponsoring three migrant families living in Chicago.
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Current Work
- Family 1 is Venezuelan and is made up of a married couple and their daughter. This family is situated in the city. Dad is working on a work permit, their 10-year-old is in school, and Mom is learning English, so she too can work.
- Family 2 is a Columbian mother with three children: a daughter (age 8) and boys (ages 9 and 10). The 9-year-old has significant special needs and is wheelchair bound. The husband disappeared in Costa Rica. For this family, we are providing mentorship since their rent and utilities are being paid by a generous donor for a year. They are located in a nearby suburb and all three children are in schools in that district.
- Family 3 is of mixed Venezuelan and Columbian heritage. There are three sons: the oldest is a junior in high school, the middle son will be a freshman, and the youngest will be entering in 5th grade. Both adults are working in the suburbs and will be soon moving closer to work.
- Family 4 is not part of the official sponsorship program but is one our team identified as needing mentorship only. This household consists of a single mother and her 15 -year-old son. They are Venezuelan and lived in a shelter on the southside all of 2024. Mom is working and her son is enrolled in a charter school where he is excelling. This family is located south of the Loop. Through contacts at the Archdiocese, our Migrant and Refugee Ministry was able to make a connection with Catherine’s Caring Cause, who had an apartment on the Southside that would allow the son to stay in his present school.
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