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The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry to receive the Pro Bono Partner Award from the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services

The Archdiocese’s Pastoral Migratoria is being recognized for its work in coordinating legal services for immigrants

Chicago, IL (May 15, 2018) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry, Pastoral Migratoria, will receive the Pro Bono Partner Award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) in recognition of the ministry’s supportive and inclusive efforts on behalf of Chicago's immigrants. Reverend Peter Wojcik, director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Department of Parish Vitality and Mission, will accept the award on behalf of all the employees who work in immigration services provided by the archdiocesan parishes, Catholic Charities and agencies of archdiocese at the firm’s annual volunteer award ceremony on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 5:30 p.m. at River Roast, 315 North LaSalle Street, Chicago.

“The Archdiocese of Chicago is committed to standing in solidarity with immigrants as we are one family of God,” said Fr. Wojcik. “Faithful services of Catholic Charites, our parishes and Pastoral Migratoria transform communities through service and accompaniment with our immigrant brothers and sisters in their pursuit of creating better lives for themselves and their families.”

CVLS partnered with Pastoral Migratoria to set up clinics for a wide variety of immigration-related legal services at parishes with large Hispanic populations. The services focused on providing families with emergency plans as they face difficult decisions in preparing for the possibility of being separated from one another. Planning for issues such as naming a legal guardian to make important decisions for a child in a parent’s absence are complex as each state has its own laws, legal forms and processes. Pastoral Migratoria was pivotal in making the connections between parishes and CVLS.

The Immigration Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago serves as a national model to support undocumented and documented immigrants and promote Christ’s desire for communion between immigrant and non-immigrant communities. In 2004, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) committed to immigration reform as a priority of the U.S. Catholic Church, and to creating a culture of welcome in which all migrants are treated with respect and dignity.

To learn more about the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry, please visit https://pvm.archchicago.org/human-dignity-solidarity/immigration-ministry/about-us