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Archdiocese of Chicago’s National Pastoral Migratoria (Immigration Social Ministry) Institute to Hold Leadership Workshops from Thursday, July 27 until Saturday, July 29, 2023

More than 75 U.S. diocesan pastoral leaders are expected to participate in the hybrid Spanish-English -language presentations

Chicago (July 26, 2023) – The Archdiocese of Chicago announced today that the National Pastoral Migratoria Institute will host representatives from seven U.S. Catholic dioceses from Thursday, July 27 until Saturday, July 29, at Catholic Theological Union (CTU), 5416 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, will open The Institute with remarks at 3 p.m. The Institute brings together diocesan staff and parish leaders as a national community to seek ways to serve our immigrant sisters and brothers through grassroots leadership.

“The work of Pastoral Migratoria is a great vehicle for helping dioceses, leaders and partners to put the Gospel into practice and to keep fresh our identity as a pilgrim people,” said Cardinal Cupich.

The Institute will offer workshops for the development and implementation of the immigrant-led Pastoral Migratoria ministries in parish communities. In addition, a series of online presentations will explore how the Church can meet the needs of immigrants today, through the Pastoral Migratoria ministry of service, accompaniment and justice actions.

Participants from dioceses with a Pastoral Migratoria ministry include Baltimore, Chicago, and New York. The dioceses of Joliet, Orange County (Calif.), Palm Beach (Fla.), and Salt Lake City, are exploring a Pastoral Migratoria ministry. Representatives from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Hope Border Institute will also attend the institute, which will be conducted in Spanish.  Several other dioceses will be joining online.

Schedule of the workshops is below, all times listed are CST.

Thursday, July 27 sessions topics and presenters will include:

  • An introduction to Pastoral Migratoria by Elena Segura, senior national coordinator for immigration at the Archdiocese of Chicago at 4:30 p.m.
  • “Exploring Pastoral Migratoria’s connection to synodality” by Sr. Mila A. Diaz Solano, OP, former instructor of scripture at the ISET graduate school of theology in Lima, Peru and Mundelein Seminary in Illinois at 5:15 p.m.

Friday, July 28 workshop topics and presenters will include:

  • A theological reflection by Sr. Barbara Reid, OP, president of Catholic Theological Union at 9 a.m.
  • “The role of the Church in the national response to the asylum seeker crisis” by Dylan Corbett, executive director of HOPE Border Institute at 11:15 a.m.
  • A video message by Dr. Emilce Cuda, secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America at 1 p.m.
  • “The reality of the asylum community – policy, advocacy and services” by Celina Maria Marquez, J.D., policy consultant for the USCCB Migration and Refugee Services, and Jeff Bartow, Southwest Organizing Project at 2p.m.

Friday evening will feature a one-hour panel “Perspectives of the past, present and future of Pastoral Migratoria” at Saint Clare of Montefalco Church, 5443 S Washtenaw Ave., Chicago, at 6 p.m. Speakers will include Rev. Gary Graf, pastor of Our Lady of the Heights Parish in Chicago Heights; Rev. Homero Sanchez, OSA, pastor at St. Rita of Cascia Parish in Chicago; Rev. Eric Cruz, Catholic Charities of the Bronx, NY; and Pastoral Migratoria leaders from the Archdiocese of New York.

Saturday, July 29 session topics and presenters will include:

  • “Pastoral Migratoria and the heart: a theological perspective on” by Carmen Aguinaco, formerly of the Office of Cultural Diversity of the USCCB at 10 a.m.
  • “Learnings from self-help groups for the emotional health of immigrant women” by Cary Rositas, Ph.D., Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; Maria Vidal de Haymes, Loyola University of Chicago; Dr. Graciela Polanco Hernández of la Universidad Iberoamericana of Mexico City; and Pastoral Migratoria leaders from the Archdiocese of Chicago at 2 p.m.
  • “Impact of S.B. 1718 in Florida and the role of the Church and advocacy” by Juan Pablo Chavez, Alliance for Justice and Security; William Becerra, D. Min, Catholic Relief Services; and Raymundo Valdez, National Pastoral Migratoria at 3 p.m.

A dinner celebration at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Catholic Theological Union will feature a keynote presentation “A perspective on the current immigrant reality” by Dylan Corbett, HOPE Border Institute.

For links to presentations offered online visit forms.office.com/r/9jKBUm5s9k

The Institute will conclude on Sunday, July 30 with a commissioning ceremony at the 8 a.m. Mass on Sunday, July 30 at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 4821 S. Damen Ave., Chicago.

The events listed above will be open to the media.