The Messenger. National Migration Week 2013 To Be Celebrated January 6-12

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1 The Messenger Fall-Winter National Migration Week 2013 To Be Celebrated January 6-12 We Are Strangers No Longer: Our Journey of Hope Continues Will launch postcard campaign for comprehensive immigration reform USCCB Committee invites Catholics to support efforts through prayer, action WASHINGTON National Migration Week will be observed in dioceses around the country January This year s theme, We are Strangers No Longer: Our Journey of Hope Continues, includes a postcard campaign that calls for comprehensive immigration reform. This year s theme also celebrates the tenth anniversary of the joint pastoral letter, Strangers No Longer: Together on a Journey of Hope, issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano in In the pastoral letter the bishops reflected on migration between Mexico and the United States as a sign of the times that is necessary and beneficial, with promises and challenges. Catholics have a responsibility to welcome newcomers into our communities and parishes, help them integrate and provide material and spiritual support that will allow them to flourish, said Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. National Migration Week is an opportunity for the Church to remember and reflect on these obligations. As part of this year s National Migration Week celebration the USCCB Migration and Refugee Services will launch a postcard campaign that calls on Congress to pass fair and comprehensive immigration reform that would: 1. Provide a path to citizenship for undocumented persons in the country. 2. Preserve family unity as a cornerstone of our national immigration system. 3. Provide legal paths for low-skilled immigrant workers to come and work in the United States. 4. Restore due process protections to immigration enforcement policies. 5. Address the root causes of migration caused by persecution and economic disparity. Catholics are also urged to support this campaign. The Administration and Congress should work together to secure legislation that will provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, provide legal means for migrants to enter our nation to work, and reform the system to allow family reunification, Archbishop Gomez said. The observance of National Migration Week began over a quarter century ago by the U.S. bishops to give Catholics an opportunity to take stock of the wide diversity of peoples in the Church and the ministries serving them. For more information on this topic please visit:

2 P Á G I N A 2 Will Volunteering Be Your New Year s Resolution?... The Migrant Ministry and Volunteers Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity.; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12: 6-8 The Diocese of Grand Rapids has had a ministry for migrant workers since the late 40 s through the hard work of many clergy, religious sisters and lay people. Year after year, the State of Michigan has been blessed with thousands of migrant and seasonal farm workers, families as well as single women and men, who have come to provide the labor necessary to plant, harvest and process our vegetables and fruits, as well as to work in other industries such as dairies and slaughterhouses, contributing to the growth of our State economy. Along with the families that stay all year round, it is estimated that there around 18,000 migrant workers here during each harvest season (which varies from region to region from May to December). The majority of them come from Texas, Florida, Mexico and other southern states and nations. Their spiritual and cultural roots are in the Catholic faith, and they bring spiritual renewal to our local church. Year after year, the State of Michigan has been blessed with thousands of migrant and seasonal farm workers This is an exceptional opportunity for those volunteers who want to respond generously to their baptismal call by not only providing pastoral services but by contributing to the human development of these families during the migrant season in Michigan (June - October).

3 What are the areas of ministry with migrant workers? Visits to migrant camps Distribute information about activities taking place in the parish and services available at local agencies: June. Catechesis for children For all ages: Beginners (ages 6-7 ), First Penance, First Communion, sacraments for young people. Catechesis for Adults Pre-Baptismal and/or Marriage preparation. I would like more information regarding Migrant Ministry. P Á G I N A 3 Name: Address: City: Zipcode: Parish: Home Phone: Camp Missions Bring migrant families the Good News and the message of God s love for them. Mass for Migrants Ministry of the Word, the Eucharist, music, sacristy, ushers, and Children s Liturgy of the Word. Rosaries in the Camps An opportunity to share our devotion to Our Lady with the migrant families. Pequeñas Comunidades Cristianas Meeting with this Small Christian Community to reflect upon and share the Word of God. Requirements for Volunteering: Be an active Catholic in your parish. Participate in team meetings. Take on your role within the ministry. Cell Phone: I would like to serve in the following Ministry: Visits to migrant camps Catechesis for children Catechesis for young people and adults Camp Missions Ministry in the Mass Rosaries in the Camps Pequeñas Comundidades Cristianas Promotion of the Parish Festival If you are interested in serving as a volunteer in the migrant ministry please complete this form and send it to the Office of Hispanic Ministry. (See back for address.)

4 P Á G I N A 4 T HE M E S S E N G E R Posadas Posadas are an important part of Mexican Christmas celebrations. The word posada means "inn" or "shelter" in Spanish, and these celebrations recreate Mary and Joseph's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. Posadas are held on each of the nine nights leading up to Christmas, from December 16 to 24th. Here we share with you some pictures of the December celebrations 2012 REGION 1: OCEANA, MASON, LAKE AND NEWAYGO COUNTIES Posadas that took place in homes in both Oceana and Mason Counties. Novenas to Our Lady of Guadalupe Families in these same counties also arranged times to pray a novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here we also share these photos.

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6 P A G E 6 December celebrations 2012 (Continued) REGION 3: KENT, NE OTTAWA AND SE MUSKEGON COUNTIES Mañanitas for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Las Mañanitas are traditional songs that Mexican people sing early in the morning on special occasions, including the morning of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. These verses are also sung on the morning of someone's birthday. These are some photos of the Mañanitas that took place at Holy Name Parish this past December. Posadas The Posadas tradition was also carried out in Region 3. As shown in these pictures that we share with you, sometimes families add the nice touch of dressing up as Mary and Joseph. This brings to life even more the reality that the Mother and foster father of our Savior faced as they searched for room at the inn.

7 P A G E 7 Prayer to St. Juan Diego for Migrants St. Juan Diego, our first saint from the Americas, pray for us. We ask God the Father to pour forth the protecting love of his Spirit upon all migrants, taking special heed of those in need of support, who are isolated or separated from their native lands, whether by choice or necessity. St. Juan Diego, intercede for those torn away from their families in pursuit of work that they may be reunited: husbands with wives and parents with children. As the Virgin of Guadalupe promised you her compassionate prayers for the poor of Mexico, so now raise your merciful pleading for migrant women and children who are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of human trafficking. Seek for them protection from all evil. May we, 0 Blessed Juan Diego, receive through your prayers, the grace to welcome with love to our country all migrants who seek a home in our parishes and communities. And we ask that you join your prayers to those of Our Lady, who appeared to you as your Mother and as Mother of all in our land. May she wrap her mantle of protection around all migrant people. We beg for her love, compassion, help, and protection on all immigrants who today experience great sufferings, sorrows, necessities, and misfortunes. In the shared power of Christ and the union of the Holy Spirit, we say: Amen. Introducing...Hispanic Ministry on Facebook and Google Calendar! inally! It s the moment many of us have been waiting for...a Facebook Page for Hispanic Ministry West Michigan! This new resource will not only be a face for Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, but will be a collaborative effort of all people and parishes involved in the ministry. On this page you will find updates on the Migrant Ministry, news and information on the Apostolic Movements and their events, links to registration forms for formation courses and Diocesan-wide events for the Hispanic community, photos of these events, and more! Join us at and be sure to: We are also pleased to announce that you can stay up-to-date with events for Hispanic Ministry on our shared Google Calendar! You can view this calendar by typing the following address into your web browser: New_York What better way to start a New Year than more ways of keeping in touch!

8 OFFICE OF HISPANIC MINISTRY Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids 360 Division Avenue S., Grand Rapids, MI Director: Luis Beteta (616) Fax: (616) dioceseofgrandrapids.org Administrative Assistant : Mary Pereira (616) Fax: (616) mpereira@dioceseofgrandrapids.org REGION I OCEANA, MASON, LAKE AND NEWAYGO COUNTIES Coordinator: Sister Guadalupe Moreno, ccvi (231) / (231) gmoreno@dioceseofgrandrapids.org REGION II OTTAWA AND MUSKEGON COUNTIES (616) / Fax: (616) lbeteta@ dioceseofgrandrapids.org REGION III KENT, NE OTTAWA AND SE MUSKEGON COUNTIES Coordinator: Sister Maria Trinidad Duque, mc (616) tduque@dioceseofgrandrapids.org REGION IV IONIA, MECOSTA, MONTCALM AND OSCEOLA COUNTIES (616) / Fax: (616) lbeteta@ dioceseofgrandrapids.org For Information on Migrant Pastoral Ministry : Webpage: Facebook: