Ten Years of Pastoral Visits to Migrant Workers Ten Years of Pastoral Visits to Migrant Workers Table of Contents

Forward: From the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, & Travelers...... 1 Introduction: Letter from the Episcopal Liaison to the Migrant Farm Workers...... 2 Invitation: Letter from the Executive Director of Cultural Diversity in the Church...... 3 History: A Message from the Previous Associate Director of Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, & Travelers...... 4 Map of Pastoral Visits by Diocese...... 6 August 22-25, 2003: Dioceses of Cleveland, Columbus and Youngstown, Ohio ...... 7 October 31-November 4, 2004: Archdiocese of Miami, Dioceses Palm Beach, Orlando, Venice, St. Petersburg, Florida...... 8 October 6-10, 2005: Diocese of San Bernardino, California...... 10 Graph: Country of Birth of Hired Crop Farmworkers, 1991-2009 ...... 12 October 19-22, 2006: Diocese Stockton, California...... 13 October 22-27, 2007: Dioceses Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina ...... 15 Graph: Hired Farmworkers by Region and Metropolitan Status, 2012...... 18 December 3-7, 2008: Dioceses of Tucson, Arizona, and Diocese Mexicali, San Luis RC, Sonora, Mexico...... 19 September 21-23, 2009: Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah...... 22 September 9-11, 2010: Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas...... 24 Photos credits: iStock. October 3-7, 2011: Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado...... 26 September 4-8, 2012: Diocese of Yakima, Washington...... 28 Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, rev. ed.© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 of Christian October 21-25, 2013: Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama ...... 30 Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, elec- Graph: Annual Mean Wage of Agricultural Workers, All Other, by State, May 2013...... 32 tronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Conclusion from the Current Assistant Director of Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, & Travelers...... 33 the copyright owner. USCCB Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, & Travelers...... 34 Excerpts from Francis, Message for the 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, September 3, 2014, copyright © 2014, Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), . Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2015 United States Conference of Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder. Foreward: From the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers

n recent times I hope this report will be a means for needs and how the Church can be involved in more than in the you to discover the various ministries to the responding with the complexity of situations I past, immigra- migrant workers and their families and hope- and immigration law. tion has become one fully inspire a coordinated approach to serve I pray that the findings will prompt of the major issues about which everyone in the needs of the migrant workers. Also, I Catholics and others to seek ways to work our country is concerned. The Church, on her hope you will find this resource helpful as you with the migrant farmworkers. I hope you will part, considers it a moral imperative to express live out and manifest the universality of the enjoy reading this report and that you will find her concerns and seek avenues toward address- in rich and positive ways. it helpful in your various ministries. This pub- ing the challenges and difficulties confronting I thank Bishop John Manz, auxiliary lication has been prepared by the Secretariat immigrants into the United States. bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the of Cultural Diversity in the Church\ Pastoral, I am pleased to present the “Ten Years of episcopal liaison to the migrant farmworkers, Care of Migrants, Refugees, & Travelers. Pastoral Visits to Migrant Workers” report. and Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS, past Assistant This report is sponsored by the United States Director of the Subcommittee on Pastoral Sincerely, Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Care of Migrants, Refugees & Travelers, for Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, the pastoral visits to the migrant farmworkers Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, and for their continued support. I thank Joyce Refugees, and Travelers. This report brings Duriga, editor of the Archdiocese of Chicago together the successful stories and recommen- newspaper, and the various people who helped Most Reverend Rutilio J. del Riego dations that will help support the ministry to us to make the, “Ten Years of Pastoral Visits to Chairman, Subcommittee on Pastoral Care migrant farmworkers. The various dioceses vis- Migrant Workers” report possible. The par- of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers ited made significant suggestions, recommenda- ticipation of the various dioceses was vital to tions, and pastoral action plans, and proposed the success of these pastoral visits. I commend structures that, if implemented, will help in the migrant farmworkers in the various geo- creating awareness and the need for pastoral graphic areas visited for their deep faith and outreach but also immigration reform. hard work. The reports explain the various 1 Introduction: Letter from the Episcopal Invitation: Letter from the Executive Director of Liaison to the Migrant Farm Workers Cultural Diversity in the Church

or more than work, it is not high paying, and there is a great I hope that reading through this booklet Dear friend, vulnerable to abuse and exploitation due to these annual pastoral visits. You will have a ten years, I need for it. On these trips, I spend a lot of will give you a glimpse of the life of immigrant round the their irregular situation. glimpse at what some local dioceses, parishes F have had the time listening to the people and hearing their and migrant workers in this country and that United Hearing the call of the Lord to be compas- and organizations are doing to assist as well as privilege to travel personal stories of working in the fields or in your awareness will increase both of the need AStates hun- sionate and merciful with the stranger, “I was some recommendations. on behalf of the the plants. for immigration reform and that we all must dreds of thousands a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35), We share these stories with you in hopes United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Migrant or undocumented immigrant work to help these our brothers and sisters of farmers and farmworkers work hard every the Church feels compelled to minister to that each of these vignettes will encourage to meet, talk with, and celebrate the sacra- workers live in a constant state of fear that in Christ. day to put food on our tables. Some work in these brothers and sisters both in their pastoral pastoral outreach and provoke reflection: ments with migrant farmworkers all across the they will get picked up and be deported. They the fields, planting and harvesting; others are and physical needs. She accompanies them to What is my local community of faith doing United States. come here because they need the money, but Sincerely, herders, and numerous others are employed strengthen them in their faith, listens to their to heed the plight of migrants in our midst? Through the years, we have been north, they would most likely rather be at home. at meat, poultry, hog, dairy and fresh produce needs and advocates for dignified and just We hope you can find in them inspiration and south, east, and west. The faces may change, That is the famous push-pull factor. The farms as well as processing and packing plants. working, living and social conditions. ideas for your own ministry. I invite you to along with the type of work they do, but what pull is, “Hey, there are jobs there.” The push Many of these workers are migrant fami- The Catholic Church in general, and the join us in sowing the good seed of the Gospel remains the same is that each person is a child is, “Hey, we got nothing here so we can’t lose lies and individuals who move seasonally from U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in partic- on the fertile ground of the life and faith of of God who needs to know that God—and his anything by going up there.” The workers face place to place to fill essential agricultural jobs. ular, has a long history of ministering to people our migrant brothers and sisters. Church—are there for them. dangerous working conditions, deportation, Among these migrants, vast numbers of them on the move and welcoming and integrating

We originally started out visiting migrant abuse by bosses, and exploitation by shady are immigrants arrived from other countries. immigrants. The USCCB Committee and Respectfully, farmworkers who would stay in one place lawyers or officials who take advantage of their These workers provide key services to many Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church Bishop John Manz for a season and then return to their home language barrier or ignorance of American U.S. industries. They often work long hours particularly is charged with the Pastoral Care Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of countries. In more recent years, our visits have law. And that’s just when they get across in very harsh conditions for menial pay. The of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers. Chicago morphed into a ministry to rural immigrant the border. limited number of visas available versus the I am pleased to introduce to you the Liasion to the Migrant Community on communities. The growth of big process- It is a humanitarian crisis. There has to demand for workers, as well as bureaucratic report Ten Years of Pastoral Visits to Migrant Behalf the United States Conference of ing centers, whether for dairy or meat, has be concern for what is going on because it delays in visa processing in an industry so Workers, 2003-2013. In it you will find Catholic Bishops enabled immigrants to stay in one place for affects us, and we are involved in it because dependent on seasonal workers, has left many windows to the lives of migrants and the Mrs. Mar Muñoz-Visoso, MTS longer periods. we’re benefitting from the work these migrants of them with no option but to remain undoc- realities they face in different industries and Executive Director, Secretariat of Cultural These processing centers draw the immi- are doing. umented. If the life of a migrant farmworker, parts of the country, seen through the eyes Diversity in the Church grant community because it is usually dirty by the nature of the work, is often arduous, of the episcopal liaison for migrants and the United States Conference of 2 undocumented immigrants are especially teams that have accompanied the bishops in Catholic Bishops 3 Catholic Reflections on Food, Farmers, and The Office of Pastoral Care of Migrants, Archdiocese of Chicago. Farmworkers [USCCB: Washington, DC, Refugees and Travelers of the USCCB/ History: A Message from the Previous 2003], See online: http://www.usccb.org/issues- Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the With peace, Assistant Director of Pastoral Care of and-action/human-life-and-dignity/agriculture-nu- Church is very grateful to the episcopal trition-rural-issues/for-i-was-hungry-catholic- liaisons for their generosity of time and their Migrants, Refugees and Travelers agenda-for-action-part-2.cfm). commitment over the years to bring God’s The Church’s pastoral concern for farm- love to migrant farmworkers and those who workers has been articulated concretely in serve them. he first Since then, succeeding episcopal liaisons difficulties, including unremitting and some- the context of the times, through various A special thanks goes to Bishop John episcopal have made pastoral visits to various dioceses times exhausting physical effort and a lack programs, activities, and pastoral outreach. Manz of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the cur- Sr. Myrna Tordillo T liaison to in the country. During their visits, they were of appreciation on the part of society, to the Former Assistant Director, Pastoral visits of episcopal liaisons to migrant rent episcopal liaison, who has served the lon- migrant farmworker ministry appointed by informed about the agricultural reality in the point of making agricultural people feel that farmworkers in different parts of the country gest in that capacity. We gratefully acknowl- Pastoral Care of Migrants, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ field, fruit orchard, nursery, dairy farm, food they are social outcasts” (Pope John Paul II, are examples of the pastoral solicitude and edge the Catholic Migrant Farmworker Refugees, & Travelers, Secretariat of Committee on Migration was Bishop Thomas processing plant, meat packing plant, etc. Laborem Exercens [USCCB: Washington, DC, commitment of the bishops. Network for sending its executive director or Cultural Diversity in the Church Daily of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. They also provided direct pastoral care to 1981], no. 21). Twenty-two years later, the reports of its representative to participate in the episco- United States Conference of In August 1991, Bishop Daily visited the migrant farmworkers and encouraged those He adds, “the right to work can be the episcopal liaison visits to migrant farm- pal liaison pastoral visits all these years. Catholic Bishops Diocese of Fresno and the Diocese of Toledo, who work with or provide pastoral outreach to infringed when the farm workers are denied worker ministries around the country have The visits in this report are from 2003- Ohio. The visits were arranged with the migrant farmworkers. Likewise, the episcopal the possibility of sharing in decisions concern- provided insightful information and offered 2014. Thanks also to Joyce Duriga, who collaboration of the bishops’ office of Pastoral liaison would give a report to the relevant ing their services, or when they are denied recommendations on ways to promote migrant accompanied the 2013 episcopal liaison to the Care of Migrants and Refugees, the diocese’s committee of bishops. the right to free association with a view to farmworker outreach nationally and to the Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama, to cover Hispanic ministry office, and the Catholic The Catholic Church has long been their just advancement socially, culturally and dioceses visited. the visit for Catholic News Service and the Migrant Farmworker Network. concerned about the dignity of work and the economically” (no. 21). Bishop Daily’s pastoral visits were occa- rights of workers, in particular those who The United States Conference of sions to get to know the ministry to migrant labor in agriculture. For more than 100 years, Catholic Bishops affirms, “Farmworkers have farmworkers by meeting with pastoral agents the ’ encyclicals and various documents been among the most visible concerns of our and with farmworkers in the fields and par- from episcopal conferences assert the dignity Conference. We renew the commitment to ishes, visiting entities that provided social and and rights of those who work. St. John Paul II lift up their situation and to work to improve immigration services to migrants, and meeting reminds us, “The world of agriculture, which their lives and those of their families. They with the local bishops and concelebrating provides society with the goods it needs for its are among the most vulnerable and exploited Mass with them in the presence of migrant daily sustenance, is of fundamental importance. people in our land. Their situation demands farmworker communities. . . . Agricultural work involves considerable a response from people of faith” (USCCB, 4 5 Map of Pastoral Visits by Diocese August 22-25, 2003: Dioceses of

Salt Lake City, Cleveland, Columbus and Cleveland, Columbus, and Youngstown, Ohio UT 2009 Pueblo, CO 2011 Youngstown, OH 2003 Yakima, WA 2012 The team celebrated Mass, visited and dia- placement of their children in special logued with workers and migrant ministry education classes. RECOMMENDATIONS pastoral leaders, and met leaders involved with • The area bishops supported the grow- the Tri-Diocesan Immigrant Worker Project at ing Hispanic community in their • Spanish-speaking priests are needed Centro San Jose in Canton. dioceses and hired a religious sister to to provide for the celebration of the coordinate pastoral outreach to the sacraments and pastoral outreach migrant communities across the tri-di- with the workers and their families PROFILE AND ocesan area. There was strong com- who are people of deep faith. OBSERVATIONS mitment and collaboration among the • There is a need for affordable immi- staff and volunteers of the Tri-Diocesan gration legal services. • Workers in these areas are involved Immigrant Worker Project as well as in • There is a need for training for in a variety of agricultural labor along the parishes working with them in the communities to implement with working in poultry plants and on three dioceses. locally the pastoral letter Welcoming Raleigh and dairy farms. the Stranger Among Us and the joint Charlotte, NC pastoral letter of the Mexican and 2007 • In 2001, the bishops in Ohio issued “God’s Welcoming Presence: A U.S. Episcopal Conferences Strangers Stockton, CA No Longer: Together on the Journey 2006 Call to Stand in Solidarity with Ohio’s Immigrants.” of Hope; along with a strong Span- ish-language evangelization. San Bernardino, CA 2005 • The farmworkers have difficulty obtaining drivers’ licenses, have limited • The Tri-Diocesan Immigrant Worker Birmingham, AL 2013 access to prenatal care and transla- Project could expand to include the Diocese of Steubenville. Tucson, AZ, and tion services for pregnant migrant Mexicali, San Luis RC, women, lack health care benefits and Sonora, Mexico 2008 Little Rock, AK 2010 services at their jobs, have no trans- portation to Catholic parishes, and Miami, Palm Beach, experience inappropriate educational 6 Orlando, Venice, and St. 7 Petersburg, FL 2004 Petersburg led the group on a tour of Mass was concelebrated with Bishop the Florida Department of Business October 31–November 4, 2004: Archdiocese of the San Jose Mission complex. Priamo Tejeda, retired bishop of Baní, and Professional Regulation. This Miami, Dioceses of Palm Beach, Orlando, • The final days of the pastoral visit Dominican Republic. department is responsible for enforce- were spent in the Diocese of Venice, • The visit concluded on November 4 ment in the agricultural indus- St. Petersburg, and Venice, Florida beginning at the Coalition of at Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic try around farmworker labor and Immokalee Workers office. Lucas Church in Fort Myers. The morn- transportation issues. It was the first time in the fourteen-year Cathy Gorman, SNDdeN, Sr. Ann was held at St. Francis of Assisi Parish Benitez led a tour of some of the ing was dedicated to meetings and • It is hoped that the focus on migrant history of the annual episcopal liaison visit Kendrick, SNDdeN, and their staff at in Apopka with priests of the Orlando housing controlled by a slum land- discussions with government repre- and seasonal farmworkers and their with farmworkers that the visit was made the Office for Farmworker Ministry diocese involved in Hispanic ministry. lord in the area and the site of the sentatives, legislators, and the media families in five of the seven dioceses in the state of Florida and was coordinated in Apopka, which they cofounded in • The executive director of Catholic future center for the Coalition of about what Bishop Manz saw and of Florida during the 2004 episcopal in conjunction with the state Catholic 1971. Afterward, a luncheon meeting Charities in the Diocese of St. Immokalee Workers. heard over the past four days and to liaison visit will stimulate greater sup- Conference. The team visited farmworker • A dinner meeting was held at identifying priorities for the future in port for pastoral outreach, particularly camps destroyed by Hurricane Andrew ten Guadalupe Social Services, located farmworker ministry pastoral care and in rural areas, and for beneficial policy years earlier and rebuilt in the Homestead at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, advocacy. Representative Michael and workplace changes benefiting area south of Miami; farmworkers and their with the local pastoral leaders. An Davis, who serves Eastern Collier and farmworkers and their families in the families; clergy and lay leaders involved in outdoor Mass under a tent followed, Western Broward Counties, attended state of Florida. ministry to migrant farmworkers and their with farmworkers and their families this meeting as well as David Nolan families; a worker camp; St. Mary Parish from the area around Immokalee. and two farmworker specialists from in Pahokee greenhouses.

PROFILE AND OBSERVATIONS

• Hurricane Charley, which at the time was the second costliest hurri- cane ever, was a special focus on the 2004 trip. • Time was spent both before and after this observance with Sr. 8 9 services are needed onsite because October 6-10, 2005: Diocese of San Bernardino, California many of the people do not have access to transportation to go to the parish The visit was based in the lower desert of • The team visited a field where work- church in Mecca or are afraid of the the Coachella Valley. This is a geographic ers were harvesting eggplants and local immigration agents, police, and area of great economic contrasts, from very packing them for shipment. They RECOMMENDATIONS drug traffickers. wealthy residents to migrant agricultural also visited grape vineyards, lemon • Maintenance at the parks varied. • Leadership formation and pastoral workers and those who live on Native orchards, a packing plant that pre- Desert Home Park, also known as Los accompaniment is essential with American reservations. pares grapefruit for shipment to Japan, Duros, is located on a NativeAmerican adults but also with the youth who are The itinerary included visits with orga- and a date farm. reservation and is therefore not sub- living in two worlds. nizations providing direct services to migrant • The farmworkers and their families ject to the same housing regulations as farmworkers and their families, meetings desire a place to meet in their local • Assessment is needed of the future those located on land in the County of with rural migrant ministry pastoral leaders, communities; catechesis for children, impact on agriculture and the trailer Riverside. It is located next to a dump and visits with local Catholic migrant com- youth, and adults; programs that can parks in the Coachella Valley as more where unlawful burning takes place, munities in seven trailer parks in the area of respond to their social and educa- people move to this area. exposing the trailer park residents to Mecca, California. tional needs; day care facilities for • Lay leaders can do many things, but it harmful fumes. Near this camp is where working mothers; better schools for is important for priests to accompany Sister Gabi Williams has worked with their children; responses to abusive them and provide spiritual formation local leaders to prepare the site for a PROFILE AND treatment due to racism and discrimi- of the lay pastoral leaders. future family learning center. nation; affordable health care; immi- • Paseo de los Heroes has its own com- OBSERVATIONS • The relationship between migrant gration legal services; and ongoing munity center and was developed by ministry pastoral leaders and • of the San advocacy initiatives. local housing organizations. priests in the local parish needs to Bernardino diocese operates a food • Conditions in the trailer parks varied. be strengthened. distribution site in Mecca that began It was evident that the majority of in 2004 and is run primarily by volun- the small faith communities were • Conditions in the trailer parks are teers who meet early in the morning well established. worsening; there is a great need for a to prepare bags of food for migrant • The pastoral leaders initially spend social justice response. families in the Lower Desert. People most of their time responding to the • The diocese needs alternative local begin lining up early to receive bags basic needs of the people. Afterward, pastoral leadership formation courses for their families. they respond to their spiritual and because not everyone has access to evangelization needs. Pastoral 10 current courses. 11 Country of Birth of October 19-22, 2006: Diocese of Stockton, California Hired Crop Farmworkers, 1991-2009 The itinerary included visits with nongov- because of an influx of families from sometimes they provide undocu- ernmental, including Catholic, organizations San Francisco and Oakland looking mented migrants with information providing direct social, legal, and healthcare for more affordable housing. and referral services. Undocumented services for migrants and their families; local • Decent, affordable housing for migrants generally have nowhere Catholic migrant communities in five housing migrants is extremely rare. Good to go for legal, medical, and camps; a parish that has an outreach mis- farmlands are lost to housing other social services except to sion to migrant camps; a harvesting crew in projects. Agricultural jobs have faith-based organizations. a tomato farm, dialogues with rural migrant decreased due to mechanization and • The Diocese of Stockton has a ministry pastoral leaders, and an ocular tour of closure of asparagus farms impacted special migrant ministry structure. some of the farms and dairy ranches where the by competition with Central A team of four pastoral ministers migrants work. American countries. Fewer migrant directs the care that is delivered workers seem to come to Stockton. through three host parishes, which • The number of families below the have missions to migrant commu- PROFILE AND poverty line is increasing in the nities in worker camps. The part- OBSERVATIONS diocese, and environmental degra- time diocesan coordinator directs dation has brought numerous health the ministry and is responsible for • Stockton is changing and growing. problems to the population, includ- developing and implementing the There are 1.1 million people in ing the migrant families. diocesan “Plan de Evangelización en the Diocese of Stockton, and it is • Most direct services (social, legal, La Pastoral Migrante,” in collabo- estimated that 19 percent (223,350) and healthcare) are provided by ration with the staff team and local are Catholics; of that, 50 percent are nongovernmental organizations volunteer migrant leaders. of Hispanic/Latino origins. There and are partially or fully funded by • Three religious sisters are assigned are an average of 76,000 migrant government grants. These ser- to three different host parishes and seasonal farmworkers who vices are available only to clients (Sacred Heart, St. George, and live and work within the diocese’s (including migrant farmworkers) St. Mary). They provide full-time boundaries. More than 70 percent who have legal documents. While outreach ministry to the migrant of these workers are Catholics. The these agencies are legally bound to worker communities within the serve only documented immigrants, parish territories. Migrant ministry 12 population of Stockton is increasing 13 also works closely with the dioce- — Where possible, regular Sunday to Mexico and Guatemala; san offices for Hispanics, Religious Mass on site (Sacred Heart vibrant youth and young adult Oct. 22-27, 2007: Dioceses of Raleigh and Education, Youth Ministry, and Mission), because migrants do ministry, including cultural and Charlotte, North Carolina Escuela de Ministerios. not have transportation to go social adjustment counseling • Documented and undocumented to the parish church; contin- with youth who are straddling The team visited parishes with outreach to season. Ninety-four percent are native • The Diocese of Charlotte has a total migrant farmworkers endure diffi- ued catechesis and English- two worlds; continued lead- migrant farmworkers; dialogued with pas- Spanish speakers, and roughly half population of 4.5 million, and 124,000 cult living and working conditions. language classes on site; access ership formation for the local toral leaders, parishioners, and community are undocumented. are Catholic. However, this num- These range from a lack of decent to safe ways to transfer money pastoral leaders. organizers; visited homes of two parishioner • Major crops requiring hand labor ber does not include an estimated housing to subhuman housing con- migrant families in a trailer park (one, a young include tobacco, Christmas trees, sweet 148,000 unregistered Hispanic/Latino ditions, lack of medical care, lack husband taking care of five children while potatoes, strawberries, and blueberries. Catholics. The diocese is a model for of adequate legal aid, a constant the wife is in ICE detention, and the other, Many farmworkers also work in green- Hispanic ministry, especially in out- threat of pick up and deportation RECOMMENDATIONS a family with a member who was arrested, houses and nurseries. North Carolina reach services to migrant farmworkers. by immigration authorities, and • The diocese should look into a collaborative legal-aid program to respond to the dire need of deported, and later returned to the family in boasts some of the largest chicken, The director of Hispanic ministries the demands from “coyotes” and the numerous victims of labor abuse, discrimination, and racism. Red Springs); visited with religious leaders and turkey, and hog processing plants in the oversees the pastoral work of ten vicari- contratistas (crew leaders) who often • The diocese has a very good model of ministry with migrant farmworkers that can be repli- the Industrial Areas Foundation network for country, which employ large numbers ate coordinators in collaboration with extort money. cated in other dioceses. The Diocese of Stockton Migrant Ministry Pastoral Plan is in place. community building and empowerment; vis- of Hispanics who labor in very difficult forty-six parishes and many volunteers. • Primary needs of the farmworkers The diocese has also published an expansive directory of important information and a list of ited a sweet potato farm and packing facility; working conditions. Market demands • The Charlotte diocese has a $600,000 and their families identified by the organizations in the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties that provide assistance to farm- toured a turkey processing plant, Christmas have created a significant shift to cot- annual budget for Hispanic ministry, people and the pastoral workers workers. This may be an opportune time to evaluate the stability of all current parish missions tree farm, and wreath factories; and visited a ton farming in the past eight years. which is exceptional. The third pasto- during these visits include: and expand the migrant ministry to areas still not reached. migrant camp. • In the Diocese of Raleigh, registered ral plan for Hispanic ministry is being — Legal aid services for victims of • The diocesan migrant ministry team should explore how the ministry designed for evange- Catholics number 188,000, which is developed and includes evangeliza- abusive labor practices, racism, lization can include direct services to respond to social needs, like on-site English languages 4.6 percent of the population. This tion and missionary options to newly and discrimination, and for classes, and on-site information about education and healthcare. In collaboration with the PROFILE AND figure may not include those who arrived people, immigrants, and other immigration matters, especially host parishes, the migrant ministry team should explore how to expand regular on-site cele- come from Mexico or Central and disadvantaged groups. for the undocumented who OBSERVATIONS bration of Masses and outreach programs for youth and young adults. South America. The diocesan Office of • The migration influx experienced currently have nowhere to go • The diocesan migrant ministry team should explore the possibility of regional and interdioce- Hispanic Ministry coordinates pastoral in many areas is a result of migrants for help; healthcare services for • North Carolina ranks sixth in the san coordination of ministry to migrant workers and their families with the neighboring Dio- care to migrant farmworkers and their searching for work and retired people the uninsured; better housing, nation in number of migrant farmwork- ceses of Fresno, Monterey, Sacramento, and Oakland. A more coordinated regional approach families through host parishes that from other states lured by lower costs especially for the single men; ers, with approximately 150,000 work- and sharing of resources may yield more efficient and effective responses to common needs have missions to migrant communities of living. information and referral to ers and their dependents each growing and issues. in worker camps. 14 services that respond to social 15 and educational needs • In an agricultural shift, there are at storage and bathroom facilities. Break- which allows foreign guest workers to these for fear of retaliation, arrest, numbers workers least twenty-seven vineyards in what ins by robbers is common, and gangs perform seasonal farm work under a or deportation. furnished to the RECOMMENDATIONS used to be tobacco fields. prey on neighborhoods. temporary visa, these legal farmworkers • In meatpacking plants, safety issues company found • There is a pervading fear among • Migrant farmworkers are often subject are not covered by medical insurance include repetitive motion injuries that many workers • Workers requested bilingual priests, not only to cel- migrant farmworkers caused by to labor and wage exploitation and and have to pay out of pocket for care. lead to systematic denial of work- systematically fired. ebrate Mass but also for other sacraments and coun- increasing crackdowns and raids in the have few protections. While docu- Most vulnerable are the undocumented ers’ compensation when workers are Some have moved seling; Hispanic ; more formation courses worksite, trailer homes, and streets. In mented farmworkers come to North who suffer more abusive living and injured. Additionally, the “no-match out of state to other for migrants and their families; leadership formation some cities, however, it was reported Carolina under the H-2A program, working conditions and cannot report letters” indicating discrepancies “safer” places. for parish pastoral leaders; access to information and that local police openly between the names and Social Security legal services, especially on labor and immigration declare they will not issues; education about human rights; transporta- engage in immigration tion to and from work, Mass, and shopping; better enforcement. Local housing conditions; and quality, affordable, and community organizers safe housing. and parish groups are • Explore the possibility of a “priest exchange pro- educating the migrants gram,” e.g., Spanish-speaking priests who study in about their rights and Rome can help in parishes in North Carolina during what to do in case of summer vacations. raids and arrests. • Services for legal, social, • Explore ways to make legal aid more available, and medical care are especially on labor, wage, and immigration matters extended by nongovern- for migrant farmworkers. mental entities, includ- • Increase dialogue, acceptance, and understanding in ing Catholic organiza- parishes with Hispanics and non-Hispanics so that tions, with referrals to all recognize the gift each one brings to the church. appropriate agencies for • The Diocesan Hispanic Ministry, in its tasks of specific needs. evangelization and mission, should explore more • Most migrant farmwork- ways to expand outreach programs and social ser- ers live in substandard vices to migrant farmworkers. housing conditions that include overcrowding 16 and inadequate food 17 Hired Farmworkers by Region and December 3-7, 2008: Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, and Metropolitan Status, 2012 Diocese of Mexicali, San Luis RC, Sonora, Mexico

The team met with produce growers, farm tightened in past years, disruptions labor contractors, lobbyists in Arizona and PROFILE AND in the daily availability of labor California’s Imperial Valley; migrant ministry OBSERVATIONS has caused major financial losses to pastoral leaders; parishioners and community produce farmers in the industry. organizers; and organizations providing direct • There are 20,000 farms in Arizona • While there are good farm growers legal, social, and healthcare services or refer- growing vegetables such as lettuce, and farm labor contractors, there rals. The team visited two lettuce farms and a broccoli, cauliflower, and spinach, are also those who exploit undoc- cauliflower field. and fruits like melons, oranges, umented workers in many ways, The team also visited Friendship Park and dates. Farms also grow cotton such as wage cheating, nonpay- for the 14th Annual Día del Campesino and wheat. There are 175,000 ment or underpayment of worker’s (Farmworker Appreciation Day), a commu- acres of irrigated land in the Yuma compensation, and violation of nity fair that provides free breakfast, medical region with the Colorado River as worker protection laws. Document services, information, and referrals to over the source. and notary services fraud is com- 4,500 farmworkers and family members. • The Yuma fresh-produce industry mon on the Mexico side. In San Luis, RC, Sonora, Mexico, the supplies more than 90 percent • The majority of farms in Yuma team visited Centro Independiente de of the lettuce sold in the United are family owned, with the excep- Trabajadores Agricolas (CITA), which is States during November through tion of a few large corporations. a –funded, grass- January. In the San Luis and Yuma Arizona passed the Employer roots, farmworker community organization area, there are between 15,000 to Sanctions Law that imposes large that responds to the needs and problems of 18,000 workers who travel over fines for growers and employers agricultural workers and employers. They the border to work each day. The found employing undocumented or visited the homes of migrant farmworkers border crossing takes several hours falsely documented laborers. who travel daily to and from Yuma for work, and workers often have to start at • Farm growers and labor contrac- leaving their children in the care of family 2 a.m. or 4 a.m. to be on the bus tors are using the H-2A work visas members or hired persons. by 5 a.m. to get workers to fill the gaps for • As border security and enforce- undocumented workers. However, 18 ment of immigration laws there have been complaints that 19 the Department of • Through the Manos the basic functions of recruiting and • Local parishes in both the Dioceses — Access to water, bathrooms, Labor often does Unidas Project, Catholic Re- screening Mexican farmworkers; of Tucson and Mexicali extend spir- and sanitary conditions during not act in a timely lief Services Mexico and the preparing and filing seasonal H-2A itual care, referrals, and direct social work, along with decreased fashion to pro- Catholic Social Mission of- worker applications with selected outreach to migrant farmworkers. exposure to pesticides cess applications, fice of the Diocese of Tucson family farm employers; guiding • The farmworkers expressed desire — Bilingual priests for sacraments which have to go established CITA, a bina- selected workers through passport for the following: as well as counseling to several other tional grassroots farmworker and visa processes; orienting and — Speedy border inspection for — Continuing leadership forma- federal agencies, organization that extends training workers; and placing work- workers so as not to lose time tion for parish pastoral leaders such as the DHS, services in response to the ers with employers who sign a fair to and from work — Access to information and before workers are challenges and needs in the treatment code of conduct. — Better communication of legal services, especially on processed by the agricultural industry. CITA • Services for legal, social, and medi- immigration information, labor and immigration issues consulate. There is a cooperative temporary cal care are extended by nongovern- advocacy, and legal rights — Education about their human have been many employment agency operated mental entities, including Catholic — More collective transportation rights and migrants rights glitches through in both countries and has and ecumenical organizations such to and from work which workers as SABOR. Services include infor- were not approved shortage of farmworkers will mation on job assistance, worker’s in time for the harvest. The burdens have an inevitable impact on rights, ESL classes, ID cards, driver’s of this process are prohibitive for the availability and, conse- RECOMMENDATIONS licenses, immigration, interpretation smaller, local agricultural employers. quently, the prices of fresh services, and others. • Under the H-2A program, farm winter produce from Yuma • The Dioceses of Tucson and Mexicali can growers are required to provide County. In the past, during a encourage and engage more farm owners, approved housing to H-2A workers. severe labor shortage, it was growers and farm labor contractors on both Because the majority of workers go said that marines from Yuma’s sides to work toward a balance between the best back daily to Mexico, the housing Marine Corps Air Station conditions for workers and the sustainability provided on the U.S. side is not volunteered to help bring in for producers. used, and many have gone dilapi- the cantaloupe harvest, but • Both dioceses can enhance the resources to dated, at least in Yuma County. it took them longer to do the pursue goals that will benefit farmworkers such • The average age of the farmworker work. The farmworkers are as education and workers’ rights. is forty-five. The next generation is professionals who are used to going on to college and not choos- the kind of hard work neces- sary in the fields. 20 ing agricultural work. A critical 21 of arrest or harassment. Among the September 21-23, 2009: Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah difficulties expressed were lack of work due to the economic reces- RECOMMENDATIONS The team visited parishes with outreach to Wool, honey, and turkeys also often over migrants and rural sion; inability to work because of migrant farmworkers, rural immigrants, and contribute to the economy. Hay, immigrants for work in meat pro- no legal documents; labor and wage • The Diocese of Salt Lake City should their families and held listening sessions with Utah’s largest crop, is grown to feed cessing, packing plants, and in the exploitation and few protections; encourage rural parishes and mis- pastors, ministry leaders, and parishioners in beef and dairy cattle. Petroleum and service industry, because they have inability to pursue college education sions to form a socio-pastoral group two parishes and a mission. The group also copper are the most valuable mined legal immigration status. because of undocumented status; as a parish resource on information/ visited organizations providing direct legal, products, and natural salts are • In many cities, local police work fear of immigration crackdown; referrals about immigration or social social, and healthcare services or referrals; produced from the Great Salt Lake. with ICE on crackdowns on lack of access to legal immigration justice issues. Catholic Community Services of the Diocese Migrants work more in “near green suspected unauthorized migrants. information/services; discrimination • Tap the potential of parish youth of Salt Lake City; Holy Cross Ministries agriculture,” such as dairy farms. In December 2006, during an ICE in the workplace; family separation; and young adults who are Internet (sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Rural immigrants are working more raid at a meat packing plant in and proselytization. savvy to raise awareness and get them Salt Lake City); a turkey processing plant often in the service sector because Hyrum, 156 undocumented indi- • Migrants working in meat process- involved in the Justice for Immigrants in Moroni City where 99 percent of the of demand. viduals, mostly Hispanic women ing plants often suffer carpal tunnel Campaign. The Diocesan Offices of workers are Hispanic; and the Utah Refugee • The Diocese of Salt Lake City and parents, were taken, separat- syndrome due to repetitive motion, Hispanic Ministry and Youth and Services Office. covers the state of Utah. In 2009, ing families and leaving behind and many lose their jobs as a result. Young Adult Ministry and other Catholics numbered over 50,000, children. The Diocese of Salt Lake • On a more positive note, some offices can give orientation to youth and there are sixty-three par- City reached out to those affected, migrants use community ser- about this campaign. PROFILE AND ishes and missions and seventeen who were mostly parishioners of vices, such as attending an ESL OBSERVATIONS Catholic schools. Well over 70 St. Thomas Aquinas in Logan, course, and, as a result, some are • The diocese can further promote and percent of Catholics in the diocese and the parish community came hired by local businesses such encourage networking opportunities • Utah has an area of nearly 85,000 are Hispanics. Due to the vast together to help. as supermarkets. and information sharing on immigra- square miles and an estimated popu- geographical spread and the lack • During the listening sessions in the • The workers expressed desire for tion and social justice issues among lation of 2.78 million. The majority of priests, Mass is only celebrated parishes and mission, the undoc- — More bilingual priests local pastoral leaders through the use of Utah’s residents are Mormons, once a month in remote rural par- umented were not afraid to talk — Formation of parish/mission of social media as a way to bridge the or members of the Church of Jesus ishes. On other Sundays, a , about their legal status and diffi- pastoral leaders on social jus- vast geographical distances between Christ of Latter-day . The religious, or lay minister conducts culties. This openness shows their tice and immigration issues parishes and missions. top agricultural products are beef Communion services. trust that the Catholic Church is a — Access to information and cattle and calves, dairy products, • More refugees are being resettled safe environment where they can legal services, especially on in Utah and are being hired more express themselves without fear 22 hogs, hay, and greenhouse products. labor and immigration issues 23 for need-specific services. The center recommendation from the previous proper authorities unjust labor practices September 9-11, 2010: Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas provides an identification card that the parish where the child attended CCD. or an employer’s violation of wage, undocumented can use. The photo ID, If they cannot supply the letter, the labor, health, or safety laws. The team visited churches with outreaches second in poultry and egg production, from Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and which has the basic information of the child may not be able to attend CCD • Local parishes extend spiritual care to migrant farmworkers and rural immigrants and third in aquaculture and tur- Cuba as well as Eastern Europe have bearer, is recognized by local govern- in the new parish. and direct outreach to migrant farm- and their families; Hispanic Community keys. Soybeans and cotton are other been resettled through the Catholic ment offices, such as the police, as well • Undocumented youth who want to go workers within their parish and mission Services, Inc.; and three chicken farms in top crops. Charities of Arkansas, and recent as local businesses, like banks, for trans- to the university cannot do so. churches, including lay formation; Waldron, where the team had conversations • Several global companies are head- refugees are coming from , Iran, action purposes. • Undocumented couples who want to spiritual fellowship; and referrals to with chicken farm growers, a Laotian and quartered in the northwest corner of and Burma. • With the economic downturn, most get married are refused by local gov- medical, legal, and social services. two Vietnamese. They also dialogued with Arkansas, including Wal-Mart and • Bishop Anthony Taylor speaks migrant workers find it harder to find ernment unless they provide a Social • Most poultry growers obtain con- pastors, migrant ministry pastoral leaders, Tyson Foods. Spanish fluently and is committed to jobs in the United States. Security number. tracts with poultry processors such as parishioners/migrant farmworkers, and com- • The migration influx experienced pastoral care of migrants and farm- • A complaint of some migrant farm- • Lack of legal status, i.e., inability to Tyson’s, which provide chicks, feed, munity organizers. Masses were also cele- in many areas of Arkansas is a result workers, who are spread out in the worker parents is that, in order for obtain Social Security numbers or and management. brated with the workers and their families. of migrants searching for work and heavily wooded, mountainous state, their child to attend a CCD class in driver’s licenses, adds to the challenges retired people from other states lured in many small, rural towns. In 2008, a new parish as the family moves to faced by migrants. Because of fear of by a lower cost of living and tax he released a pastoral letter on the another agricultural area for seasonal arrest and deportation, migrant farm- PROFILE AND breaks for retirees. Migrant farm- human rights of immigrants, I Was a work, they are asked for a letter of workers are not willing to report to OBSERVATIONS workers are employed not only in Stranger and You Welcomed Me. The agriculture but also in meat processing letter, which was sent to all parishes • Arkansas has an estimated population plants, fish farming, and other “near in the diocese, challenges Catholics of 2.8 million. Its people are predom- green” agriculture. Arkansas is among to open their hearts and minds to inantly Protestant. The single largest the top ten states with the highest Christ’s teachings and learn the plight denomination is Southern Baptist number of migrant farmworkers. of immigrants. Convention at 39 percent. Roman • The Diocese of Little Rock covers • The Hispanic Community Services Catholics make up about 6 percent of the state of Arkansas, encompassing in Jonesboro serves as a model cen- the population. seventy-five counties (52,068 square ter, serving vulnerable communities • Arkansas is an important producer miles). There are 122,842 registered including undocumented migrant and exporter of agricultural products, Catholics; however, this number farmworkers. The center provides with exports estimated at $3.2 bil- does not include the undocumented educational, legal, social, health, and lion in 2008. In the United States, who come mainly from Mexico and translation/interpretation services, Central and South America. Refugees and referrals to appropriate entities 24 Arkansas is first in rice production, 25 October 3-7, 2011: Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado

The itinerary included meeting with local • Thousands of Basques were recruited standards that exist for non-herding advocates and Colorado sheepherders; from Spain due to severe labor H-2A agricultural workers” visits to farming communities; visits to shortages during World War II, • There are approximately 1,500 six sheepherder camps and the home of and they came to Colorado under sheepherders in the United States, of a rancher; attending a deanery meeting contract with the Western Range which about 300 work in Colorado. to raise awareness and educate pastoral Association between the 1940s A sheepherder receives $600-700 per leaders about the plight of sheepherders; and 1970 to do sheepherding as a month for a salary. and a visit to a Migrant Services center permanent employment. • Sheepherders live in isolation out on in Palisade. • Today, Colorado’s migrant sheepherd- the range to take care of about 1,200 ers most frequently come from Peru, sheep, cattle, and/or goats. Besides Chile, and Mexico and rarely speak pasturing sheep and making sure that PROFILE AND English. Ranchers legally employ predators such as coyotes, mountain OBSERVATIONS them as part of the temporary labor lions, or other animals do not get the program called H-2A program. The sheep, a sheepherder also performs • Colorado has an estimated population H-2A program allows U.S. employers multiple tasks such as birthing ani- of five million. Its agricultural pro- to bring in foreign workers if there mals, taming horses, repairing fences, duction is dominated (75 percent) by are insufficient U.S. workers. These and irrigating fields. livestock and livestock products and workers are bound to these employers • Sheepherders are dependent on is driven by the cattle industry. Other who petition them. the employer for food, water, and livestock production includes sheep, • Herders, however, are not treated like contact with others. They live in most of the farmworkers in the H-2A a rolling camper trailer, commonly lambs, hogs, and eggs. Important field well as meager rations of canned food containers outside the trailer. month’s travel on horseback to take program. “The U.S. Department called a campito, which is often crops are wheat, corn, and hay. Beans, supplied by the employers. The stove is • Sheepherders live a nomadic life far the sheep to winter grazing grounds of Labor has issued regulations and made of fabricated steel. The trailers grain, sorghum, potatoes, and sugar the only source of heat in winter. The from civilization. They take the sheep and then another month back to special procedures that provide we visited were mostly 5-by-7-foot beets are also produced. employer supplies water for drinking, from the lower country in the winter summer pastures. specific guidelines to ranchers bring- ramshackle abodes with a bunk bed • The sheep industry is a $100 million cooking, and washing clothes, and to the fattening grasses of the high ing herders to the United States on and a wood-burning or propane stove business in Colorado. Colorado is one the water is often stored in plastic summer pastures. Normally, it takes a of the top sheep-producing states in H-2A visas. These special procedures cramped into a space that held the exempt herders from many of the sheepherder’s personal belongings as 26 the nation. 27 and social services for farmworkers, Often, these notarios take September 4-8, 2012: Diocese of Yakima, Washington the underserved, and others. Medical — In the last four years, there advantage of migrants. coverage for migrant farmworkers has been an increased — Immigrants from diverse The itinerary, which covered 950 miles in land in the state because of irrigation. financial literacy, and first-time home- injured in the workplace is required demand for single-fam- cultures bring with them Central Washington, included meetings with Yakima Valley in Central Washington buyer education. Resident meetings by state law. ily home ownership. This their faith. Popular religiosity leaders in ministry to migrant farmworkers in lead the United States in the produc- are held at each site to encourage a • Seven diocesan seminarians experi- seems to suggest that more for Hispanics includes cus- the Diocese of Yakima; dialogue with priests, tion of apples, hops, pears, and mint. stable family- and community-based enced agricultural work during the migrant families are staying in toms such as quinceañeras migrant ministry pastoral leaders, parishio- Yakima Valley produces 70 percent living environment. summer as paid laborers in the fields one place. and devotions, which offer ners, migrant farmworkers, orchard foremen of all apples and 75 percent of all • Heritage University in Toppenish as part of a learning program to better — In Quincy City, technol- moments for catechesis. In and their families, growers, and community hops grown in the United States. The has two special programs that assist prepare them to serve as priests. ogy companies Microsoft, general, it was the impression organizers; and visits to orchards in the burgeoning wine industry in Yakima students with migrant or seasonal • Additional information was pro- Yahoo!, and Intuit have built of the USCCB visitors that Yakima area and a hop processing facility in Valley is due in part to the similar- farmworker backgrounds: the College vided during the listening sessions large data centers. Quincy popular religiosity is appre- Prosser. Mass was concelebrated on sev- ity of soil conditions in the Yakima Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) and dialogue: is considered an excellent ciated in the Yakima diocese eral occasions. Valley and France. Food processing and the Heritage University HEP — Farmworkers are employed place for data centers because and is used also as a spring- companies like Smuckers, Del-Monte, Alliance Program. The CAMP not only in the fields but also of the inexpensive, reliable board for deeper evangeliza- Welch’s, and Tree Top are located Program is designed to help students in cold storage facilities, food hydropower from the nearby tion and catechesis. At the PROFILE AND within the Yakima Valley. begin their college careers, and par- processing plants, packing Columbia River. same time, it was clear from a OBSERVATIONS • Catholic Charities Housing Services ticipants receive a variety of services, plants, and sheds. — A lot of students are utiliz- couple of instances that this offers an excellent affordable-housing including financial aid in the form — Many immigrants are stay- ing the Deferred Action for focus and sensitivity has to • The Diocese of Yakima covers program in its seven-county juris- of a scholarship, tutoring, and many ing. They are skilled workers Childhood Arrivals program. be continually emphasized, 18,000 square miles in central diction. Notable is the farmworker other resources. and have steady work, and — An increase is seen in the especially with clergy, semi- Washington and has over 275,000 and workforce housing. The twelve • Farmworkers benefit from organizing there are those (Chicanos) number of notarios, immigra- narians, and pastoral agents Catholics, which is about 14 percent housing sites in rural communities labor, better wages, and better living who, over a period of time, tion assistants who charge for who are new to the area. of the diocese’s total population. are composed of seasonal units and and working conditions compared have owned lands and help on immigration issues More than 60 percent of its people permanent housing, supporting to that of other states. Farmworker become growers. and other legal matters. are Hispanic, and most parishes offer Central Washington areas’ agricul- organizing in Washington, specifically Masses, religious instruction, faith for- tural communities. On-site classes in the Yakima Valley, dates back to mation, justice education, and pro-life are offered for computer education, the early 1900s. action in both Spanish and English. English, gang prevention training, • The Yakima Valley Farmworkers • Central Washington is a desert but health care and pesticide information, Clinic, which originated in 1978, pro- immigration law and worker rights, vides comprehensive medical, dental, 28 is the most productive agricultural 29 rights groups to advocate for — Witnessing to and living October 21-25, 2013: Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama the repeal of HB 56 and push the faith is important for RECOMMENDATIONS for comprehensive immi- these immigrant/migrant The itinerary, which covered 780 miles, tomato production. • Alabama HB 56, an anti–illegal gration reform. communities. included visits and dialogue with farm- • Tomato pickers in Steele are said to immigration bill signed into law • Seminarians could be encouraged — A strong tornado in — Women farmworkers are workers—many of whom are Guatemalan be better paid than those in Florida, in June 2011 and regarded as the to have mission experience in Tuscaloosa two years ago more vulnerable to exploita- Mayan—their families, clergy, lay ministers, according to a local source. After nation’s strictest anti–illegal immigra- Hispanic Catholic Social Ser- compounded the problems tion and sexual abuse and others who work with and on behalf of harvest season, which runs until late tion law, created chilling fear among vices, not only to learn Spanish already experienced by many and harassment. migrants; Hispanic Catholic Social Services November, most migrate to Florida for the Latino communities and adversely but also to be immersed in Latino communities. — The presence and ministries in Homewood; the East Coast Migrant Head work and come back in May to plant. impacted industries dependent on culture and to get exposure to the — For the Guatemalan Mayans, of Latina women religious, Start Project in Steele; Masses were cele- • Good work has been done to reach migrant labor, such as agricultural services that the center offers. there is a sense that they such as the Guadalupana brated with the workers. out to immigrants and migrants farms and meat processing plants. • Parish outreach coordinators, pas- are even more marginalized Sisters, contribute much through the different diocesan min- Public schools were also impacted toral leaders, and Catholic groups and discriminated against. to the diocese’s mission to istries and services as well as through because of a significant drop in atten- could further tap into local com- Language barrier is one evangelize and provide pas- PROFILE AND local parishes and other Catholic dance of Hispanic children. munity organizations to enhance factor. Although a number toral outreach to immigrant/ OBSERVATIONS entities. Partnership with local com- • In October 2013, civil rights groups services to at-risk immigrant and of them learn Spanish in migrant communities, espe- munities, collaboration and network- and church coalitions reached migrant farmworker communities. Guatemala, many have to cially those in remote areas. • The Diocese of Birmingham was ing with NGOs and Christian groups, a settlement with the State of • There is a need for more bilingual learn the Spanish language in — Parish clergy in agricultural established in 1969 and includes 39 health care providers, and govern- Alabama that blocked key parts clergy. Also, a growing number of the United State to be able areas celebrate bilingual Mass, counties over 28,091 square miles in ment entities provide further opportu- of HB 56 Alabama’s controversial Guatemalan Mayans could benefit to engage with Hispanics in provide the sacraments, and the northern part of Alabama. nities for services to the underserved, immigration law. greatly if a Mayan-speaking priest addition to learning English. extend spiritual care. • Livestock products generate about 82 such as migrant farmworkers. • Additional information pro- can visit and celebrate Mass with There is also a perception percent of Alabama’s annual agri- • Hispanic Catholic Social Services, vided during the listening sessions them occasionally. among them that Hispanics, cultural production. The other 18 also known as “La Casita,” a depart- and dialogue: especially Mexicans, are given percent comes from crops. The top ment of the diocese, is a community — As a result of HB 56, the • Pastoral ministers could use pas- preference for government five agricultural products are broilers resource that offers a variety of ser- majority of the undocu- toral courses on migrant ministry services such as obtaining (young chickens), cattle and calves, vices, including language assistance; mented migrated to other offered by the Catholic Migrant car stickers. chicken eggs, greenhouse and nurs- social services and case management; states or hunkered down, Farmworker Network. ery products, and cotton. Alabama is counseling and sacramental infor- staying at home without considered twelfth in the nation in mation; immigration assistance; and work. A good number also education classes. joined grassroots immigrant 30 31 Annual Mean Wage of Agricultural Workers, Conclusion: From the Current Assistant Director All Other, by State, May 2013 of Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers

he United contributions toward economic growth of the about their human and legal rights (many States United States. migrants are detained and put in detention T Catholic The migrant farmworkers are confronted centers because they lack basic knowledge Church has a long with a lot of challenges, and they include of laws) history of providing pastoral care for migrants, • Occupational hazards (agriculture is These pastoral visits provide important thereby manifesting the universality of the among the most dangerous occupations information and offer recommendations on Catholic Church in its richness in positive in United States) ways to promote outreach to migrant farm- ways. Many arch/dioceses make significant • Harassment by immigration enforce- workers as well as to promote awareness of efforts to care for migrants. One of the many ment officers through worksite raids the reality of the farmworkers among the ways the Church shows her care is through • Low wages, long hours of work, and few leaders of the Church. The pastoral visits pastoral visits to various migrant camps and labor protections help bring the presence of the Church to the ministries. Thank you to all who assisted in • Need for easy access to immigration often isolated migrant people; and to establish bringing this publication together, and espe- information, advocacy, legal and labor communication links among those working cially Bishop John Manz, Sr. Myrna Tordillo, rights representation to meet the pastoral and temporal needs of MSCS, and Joyce Duriga. • Lack of sanitary facilities, (water migrant workers. Indeed, “Ten Years of Pastoral Visits to and bathrooms), unsanitary working Furthermore, the visits provided a better Migrant Workers” manifests the long history living conditions (many are exposed way for the bishops to understand the needs of of the Church’s pastoral care and concern to pesticides) the migrant workers and to evaluate how the about the dignity of work and the rights of • Need for more bilingual priests, not church can contribute to and impact the lives workers, and in particular of the migrant farm- only to celebrate Mass but also for of migrant workers. The visits brought a bless- workers, who are among the most vulnerable other sacraments, e.g., confessions, ing not only to the migrant farmworkers but to and exploited of our nation. During the visits, as well as bilingual counselors; need the entire Church. Through the visits, church Bishop Manz was able to listen to the stories of for leadership formation for parish communities, migrant outreach volunteers, From http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes452092.htm the migrant farmworkers and learn about their pastoral leaders migrant farmworker agencies, and agricultural 32 challenges, their working conditions, and their Need to educate farmworkers/migrants workers gathered in prayer and discussed ways 33 to collaborate and advocate for the pastoral reform, especially during this fiftieth anni- been, a Church of many cultures, languages, alive, and active among all peoples, cultures, and social needs of the farmworkers. versary of the passing of the Immigration and and traditions, yet simultaneously one, as and languages throughout the world, I join , in his Message for the 2015 Nationality Act. God is one—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” my supplications with the prayers of Jesus World Day of Migrants and Refugees, made Today, one continues to wonder what (USCCB, Welcoming the Stranger Among “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are an urgent call: “The mission of the Church, more the Church can do in addition to cur- Us: Unity in Diversity, USCCB: 2000). We in me and I in you, that they also may be in herself a pilgrim in the world and the Mother rent policy of advocacy efforts, immigration must acknowledge that, despite our different us, that the world may believe that you sent of all, is thus to love Jesus Christ, to adore reform, education initiatives on the Church’s cultures, genders, religions, languages, and me” (Jn 17:21). As we relate with immigrants and love him, particularly in the poorest and teaching, public statements on immigra- race, human persons—men and women—are and strangers in our midst, let our lives be most abandoned; among these are certainly tion issues, and the Justice for Immigrants created in the image and likeness of God animated by Christian faith and love, reflect- migrants and refugees, who are trying to Campaign. It is important to note that (Gn 1:26-27.) ing the mind and heart of Jesus who, himself escape difficult living conditions and dangers enacting the Immigration and Nationality The faith community into which the as a baby, was a stranger in Egypt and who of every kind” (September 3, 2014). Act brought about changes in U.S. demo- immigrants are well received and integrated said, “Whoever receives you receives me” The Church sees it as not only a reli- graphics that led to an increase in immi- is enriched with their spiritual gifts, deep cul- (Mt 10:40). gious but also a moral obligation to provide gration. This demographic change creates a tural values, and wealth of faith traditions. assistance for those in need, the poor, and beautiful, multicultural society in the United “The Church must, therefore, welcome all Thank you and God bless you all. the marginalized, and to find meaningful States that can be celebrated with honor, persons regardless of race, culture, language, ways to care for them. The Church is com- pride, and great satisfaction, not only for new and nation with joy, charity, and hope” mitted to welcoming everyone as Christ immigrants but for all the members of the (USCCB, Strangers No Longer: Together on himself. Indeed, the love of Christ toward local church. the Journey of Hope [USCCB: 2003], no. the migrants and the refugees necessitated The United States is blessed with the 103), and, as Pope Francis urges, “without the pastoral visits to the migrant farmworkers presence of many people of various cultural distinction or limits, in order to proclaim Sr. Joanna Okereke, HHCJ, in order to discearn appropriate pastoral and backgrounds and languages. Many parishes that ‘God is love’” (Message for the 2015 Assistant Director, social services. The importacne of the episco- have committed themselves to welcom- World Day Migrants and Refugees). In wel- Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees, & pal liaison visits cannot be overemphasized. ing these immigrants by engaging in spe- coming immigrants, the Church has always Travelers, Secretariat of Cultural Diversity The visitations demonstrate the bishops’ cial evangelization efforts for immigrants, contemplated Christ, drawing inspiration in the Church awareness of the needs of migrant workers catechizing, and celebrating liturgies in from his words, “I was . . . a stranger and you United States Conference of and their concern toward addressing them. I their native languages. Meanwhile, others welcomed me” (Mt 25:35). It is important Catholic Bishops believe that the awareness created through organize different intercultural activities. to protect and honor the dignity of every the pastoral visits will inform people’s According to the U.S. bishops’, Welcoming human person. perspective about the migrant workers and the Stranger Among Us, “The Church of the Finally, conscious of the need for unity 34 increase a sense of urgency for immigration twenty-first century will be, as it has always in the Catholic Church, which is visible, 35 By the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers This report was complied under the auspius of Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church Committee Chairman: Most Revereved Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville

Chairman: Most Reverend Rutilio J. Del Riego Most Reverend Guy Sansaricq Auxiliary Bishop of San Bernardino Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn (Ret.) Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland Most Reverend Jerome Listecki Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Savannah of Milwaukee Most Reverend Michael J. Byrnes His Eminence Cardinal Adam Maida Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit Archbishop Emeritus of Detroit Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, SDV, DD Most Reverend Mar Barnaba Yousif Habash Bishop of Fall River Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Most Reverend Frank Dewane CONSULTANTS Bishop of Venice Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki Most Reverend Joseph Perry Rev. Jean Yvon Pierre, PhD Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Vicariate VI Msgr. Anselm Nwaorgu, PhD Most Reverend John R. Manz Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, Vicariate IV For more information on the ten-year report and their visits, contact Sr. Joanna Okereke, HHCJ, at 202-541-3359 or [email protected]. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017 [email protected]