Border Ministry: Symposium on Human Dignity

by Sandra Salazar, RJM

from our sisters from USA-HAITI Province

Mater Dei Symposium on Human Dignity

On March 21, 2024 the Mater Dei Symposium on Human Dignity took place at Mater Dei Catholic High School. University professors, members of different ONGs, legal experts, border patrol agents and members of religious congregations were invited to share with students and faculty about the present lived reality of the migrants. 

Brother Keith Warner OFM invited me to partner with him in his presentation to talk about Social Catholic Teaching and Pope Francis’ invitation to journey with the migrants. Brother Keith is the Director of the Francisca Renewal Project for the Franciscan School of Theology at the University of San Diego. He is an expert and gives classes about migration. He shared about how being created in the image of God is at the center of our human dignity. He explained the relationship between human dignity and human rights. He also shared about Pope Fracis’ view on the right to migrate and the right to not have to migrate. I shared about my ministry at the border and about different hardships that the migrants experienced in their country of origin and during their journey to the United States. 

I gave examples of events in which the dignity of migrants was violated due to persecution, violence and injustice. I talked about Pope Francis invitation to be proactive by responding to the reality of migration by “welcoming”, “protecting”, “integrating” and “promoting” 1. 

The students expressed interest in the topic and asked questions about how to get involved in helping. I offered some ideas and provided my contact information to their teacher in case the school was interested in following up with a plan. After the presentation a group of presenters gather at the library for lunch. It was a good opportunity for networking and for learning about other programs that provide services to migrants in Tijuana.

1. Message of Pope Francis for the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2018. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/migration/documents/papa-francesco_20170815_world-migrants-day-2018.html

Border Ministry

 from our sisters from USA-HAITI Province

They shared: 

"Our profound experience connecting with our Mexican Province with young adults from Mexico City who lived with us and ministered to the migrants during their Holy Week Mission.  It was a very energizing experience as we shared mission and prayer reflections together."

This article was published in Bridges, at April.

  

Migrant Ministry Update

Province of USA Haiti

This week Srs. Natalia Mejia and Rosie Nicholson were joined by Cathy Minihan (left) Pat Clausen (middle) and Cheryl Nichols (right), who carne to experience the lives of the asylum seekers in the San Diego border area. They received a warm welcome from the workers at the shelter, participated in ad activities with us and met migrant families with new born babies. This weekseveral migrants were in quarantine dueto theflu.

Also, this week ICE and Border Agents were not releasing many migrants from the detention center nor at the border entry. Please pray that migrants will be released promptly. After learning ofthis at theshelter in the morning on Wednesday, Feb. 26 that same night we participated in a movement "Doctors for Camp Closures" (being held in several Iocations including Washington, DC, NYC, Newton and Plymouth MA and others on Feb. 26). They hung banners and held lighted signs over several highway overpasses saying "Restore Asylum". Here are Cheryl and Sr. Rosie Nicholson on the overpass.

This was in response to a study by Physicians for Human Rights which stated that our harmful US immigration policies - remain in Mexico, detention, deportation and family separation - causes violence comparable to torture to migrants entering the US seeking asylum. This was quite a moving day that we shared at our night prayer!

We also spent time meeting with the young adults at the Border Angels off ce who shared their experiences of working with migrants by leaving water bottles in the Borrego Desert (left)for those entering illegally, assisting with free immigration la wyers, post ng bail to release migrants in detention to reunitefamilies, 'caravans of love' delivering donations to shelters in Tijuana, etc.

While wewere visiting Chicano Park afterwards we briefly met Enrique Morones (retired founder of Border Angels now with Gente U nida) who keeps me informed of migrant issues and events such as the one Feb. 26. Chicano Park presented colorful artistic murals, such as this one, depicting the journey of the Latino people over the centuries.

Next, we met Pedro, a friend of Cheryl, who works with several groups enhancing human rights especially with the many migrants in our area. It was energizingto meet with so many people of various ages, different faiths, all weaving a web of relationships to provide hope and new life to our migrants and immigrant communities here and across our country.

Our next stop will be the desert to see where many dangerously seek entry into the US and to pray for 'our neighbor' - living and deceased. On Saturday, we will head to the Border Angels shelter in Tijuana, Mexico on the beach next to the border wall. Every day I hear in my heart the question, "Who is my neighbor?". There is always freshness and newness in response to this question. This week while tenderly holding a newborn in my arms at the shelter, the question was quite clear...and so was the answer.

Sr. Rosie Nicholson, RJM

Beyond our boundaries..

Province of USA Haiti

Province of USA-Haiti

Ministry to the migrants while they were at their fourth shelter location in one year:

On the Border

Province of USA-Haiti