Noticias

Chicago, IL (July 5, 2018) – The Archdiocese of Chicago will host Instituto Pastoral Migratoria July 11-15, 2018 at the Catholic Theological Union (CTU), 5416 South Cornell Avenue in Chicago. Staff and members of the archdiocese’s Pastoral Migratoria (Hispanic Immigrant-to-Immigrant Ministry) will train diocesan, pastoral and lay leaders from across the United States on how to start this immigrant-led ministry for service, justice and accompaniment in parish communities to serve the needs of immigrants. Delegates from 11 dioceses including Los Angeles, San Bernardino (Calif.), Stockton (Calif.), New York, Atlanta, St. Louis, Des Moines, Little Rock and Kansas City–Saint Joseph (Mo.), will attend the institute, which will be conducted in Spanish. 

“We are joyful for the opportunity to share Pastoral Migratoria with other dioceses,” said Elena Segura, senior coordinator for Immigration, Archdiocese of Chicago. “Since 2008 we’ve been working with Pope Francis’ methodology of Aparecida, the document of the Conference of Bishops of Latin America. In this ministry, immigrants are actors of their own development, transforming their lives and society as leaders in their parish communities.”

Instituto Pastoral Migratoria will provide attendees with training and resources based on Catholic social teaching aimed at equipping them to develop and implement Pastoral Migratoria in their own dioceses. Additionally, the institute includes site visits at parishes in Chicago where this ministry is active, a dawn prayer vigil at the Broadview Detention Center, 1930 Beach Avenue, Broadview, and the commissioning of new Pastoral Migratoria leaders at a closing Mass. After completing their training and being commissioned for this ministry, the lay leaders will work at the parish level to identify and prioritize the social and pastoral needs of their local communities, and respond with service, justice and accompaniment actions.

Pastoral Migratoria was established in 2007 as a parish-based ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity. It was created as a result of the failure of comprehensive immigration reform. Pastoral Migratoria has been recognized as a national leader for its support of undocumented and documented immigrants through developing lay leaders dedicated to serving the needs of immigrants. More than 200 Hispanic lay leaders, across 40 Hispanic parishes, actively participate in Pastoral Migratoria in the archdiocese. The ministry’s goal is to create a nationwide network of Catholic parish-based immigration ministries.

Archdiocese of Chicago Pastoral Migratoria leaders are replicating the ministry nationwide through the Pastoral Migratoria National Pilot Initiative. The Dioceses of Stockton and Kansas City–Saint Joseph launched their pilot programs last year and the goal is to expand the ministry to three new dioceses in the next year.

Since May 2005, the Archdiocese of Chicago, its bishops, priests and religious congregations have been a voice for 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 Instituto Pastoral Migratoria, click here.

For the Spanish version of the release, please click here.