News Releases

Chicago - (Oct. 28, 2021) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Immigration Ministry will host its ninth annual Keep Hope Alive benefit virtually at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Keep Hope Alive is the archdiocese’s annual fundraiser to support its local and national immigrant-led ministry Pastoral Migratoria, its Polish immigrant-to-immigrant ministry and to recognize community leaders who have responded to the needs of immigrant communities. The event can be found at https://youtu.be/Ir7SvyAXv4k.  

“The transformative work of our Immigration Ministry and of Pastoral Migratoria is essential to ‘widening the we’ as the Holy Father has called us to do,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “Being in communion in diversity is one of the most important things we can do as Christians. Keeping open minds and hearts to our immigrant brothers and sisters enriches our Church.”  

Cardinal Cupich will provide remarks about the importance of immigrant lay leaders in parish communities throughout Chicago and the United States, highlighting Pastoral Migratoria’s role in responding to COVID-19, which has increased uncertainty and stress among immigrant and refugee communities.

Additional speakers will include Bob Reiter, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor and member of the immigration ministry advisory board; Jessica Martinez, a lay leader at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Chicago;  Elena Segura, senior coordinator of the archdiocese’s national immigration ministry and founder of Pastoral Migratoria; Bill Canny, executive director of Migration and Refugee Services of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Leyden Rovelo-Krull, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph; Niurka Surejo Trejo, a lay leader at Saint Anthony Padua Parish in the Bronx, New York. Rev. Rosendo Urrabazo, provincial of the Claretians USA-Canada Province and a member of the National Pastoral Migratoria advisory board, will offer the closing prayer.

Music will be provided by Old St. Patrick’s Parish Choir in Chicago, Jill Kaeding, world-renowned cellist, and Rich Daniels, saxophonist and music director of the City Lights Orchestra.

Community leaders to be recognized for their dedication to immigrants and immigration reform  include:

• Colleen McHugh, parishioner at Saint Clement Parish in Chicago - Journey to Emmaus Award
• Daniela Alulema, Center for Migration Studies of New York - Frances Cabrini Award
• Rev. Carl Quebedeaux, CMF, Claretian Missionaries - Lifetime Achievement Award
• Pastoral Migratoria ministries at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Chicago and St. Anthony of Padua, Bronx (New York) – Saint Toribio Romo Award
• Rev. Corey Brost, CSV, Viatorians - Strangers No Longer Award
• Bishop Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore - Pope Francis Award

The Immigration Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Pastoral Migratoria, serves as a national model for supporting undocumented and documented immigrants and promotes the Gospel imperative for communion among all persons, including immigrant and refugee  communities. Pastoral Migratoria embodies the principles of service, justice and accompaniment in Catholic parish communities as answer Pope Francis’s call in Fratelli Tutti to foster a universal “culture of encounter” and charity whereby everyone can “live, develop and find fulfillment” through “the sincere gift of self to others.”

Since May 2005, the Archdiocese of Chicago, its bishops, priests and religious congregations have given voice to immigrants through the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform. The Campaign was established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to educate Catholics and the public about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and to influence legislation for a permanent and fair solution to immigration issues in this country.

For more information about Keep Hope Alive, please visit https://pvm.archchicago.org/human-dignity-solidarity/immigration-ministry/keep-hope-alive.