For more than a century, Catholic Extension Society has partnered with dioceses and parishes, religious sisters and priests, and various faith-based nonprofits that offer direct pastoral and charitable care to immigrant families.
That support continues today through our Holy Family Fund which is helping Catholic leaders and organizations respond in Christ’s name to the plight of migrant families on the southern border.
One such organization is Kino Border Initiative, a binational organization that reaches asylum-seekers in two towns across the border that share the same name: Nogales in Arizona and in Mexico.
The initiative offers compassion and humanitarian aid to people who often have had traumatic experiences on their migration journeys. It gives them food and drink and provides clothing and shoes.
It also offers pastoral support and referrals to help them with their many difficulties.
Two women who received support from Kino Border Initiative recently shared their stories.
Laura found comfort for herself and her family when living in a house with other women accompanied from Kino:
I met people who were like angels in my pathway… I take with me the lesson of helping others, of creating networks among ourselves. I feel the need to continue to help.”
And now, Laura is welcoming newly arrived women with the same compassion she received. She said,
“I learned that just like many people helped me, I have a duty to do the same with others I meet along the way.”
Another migrant, Rubi, is thankful for the unwavering support she and her daughters received from Kino Border Initiative, especially during the pandemic. Kino provided Rubi’s daughter a space to continue her studies online.
“I thank God, and I thank all of you because you never abandoned us,” said Rubi. “Even during the pandemic, you never left us and were always there giving us what we needed along the way.”
With gratitude, she continued,
We had no clue where to turn, but thanks to God and to you, I learned to get to know the city, the people, and now I feel that I am no longer the person I used to be… Thank you wholeheartedly for accompanying us.”
Through a grant from Catholic Extension Society’s Holy Family Fund, Kino Border Initiative was able to support the salary of a social worker. She plays an instrumental role in accompanying migrant families as they navigate accessing resources such as housing assistance and job placement.
This position supported by Catholic Extension Society donors helps migrants seeking asylum gain access to the services they need to promote and protect their lives and dignity:
“It is no exaggeration to say that families are often on the brink of homelessness or are forced to sleep on the streets if they do not receive other assistance,” a representative from Kino Border Initiative said.
On Wednesday, July 28, Kino Border Initiative held a #SaveAsylum press conference. During the bilingual event, migrants seeking asylum shared their experiences in a call for a full restoration of asylum.
By giving to the Holy Family Fund, you can help border ministries such as Kino Border Initiative guide those in crisis towards new, faith-filled beginnings.
