Faith, family, immigration — Upholding human dignity
Encounter at Catholic Charities, Director of Family Immigration Services
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“I’m a new bishop and I’m an immigrant. Coming from Mexico to the United States, me and my whole family thank you so much for this.”
With those words, Auxiliary Bishop Jose Maria Garcia Maldonado of Chicago offered a deeply personal witness at the recent U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, speaking in support of the Special Message about the situation of immigrants in the United States.
Moments later, the bishops voted overwhelmingly in favor of the message.
The Special Message explains why so many immigrants live in what Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso and chair of the USCCB Committee on Migration calls “a deep state of fear” — citing profiling, vilification, harsh detention conditions, threats to sacred spaces, mass deportations and family separation.
Thus, the bishops proclaim, “We feel compelled now in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity.”
At Family Immigration Services of Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri (CCCNMO), we know these realities firsthand.
The foundational principle of all Catholic Social Teaching is the Life and Dignity of the Human Person.
The USCCB explains that we as Catholics, “believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.”
Rooted in this belief, Catholic Charities remains steadfast in its mission to uphold human dignity by guiding families through the complexities of the U.S. immigration system — even as we confront unprecedented challenges affecting many of our clients.
A months-long pause in processing certain cases has worsened the immigration backlog, leaving many without jobs when their work permits expired despite the timely submission of renewal applications.
Even more have lost status after the end of their home countries’ Temporary Protected Status.
Still others face extended processing times, additional fees, the travel ban, new requirements for citizenship and uncertainty and anxiety due to rapid changes in immigration policy and enforcement.
Yet, hope remains.
Just last month, we celebrated the approval of a young child’s immigration case after more than a year’s delay.
The child, who has special needs, had lost healthcare while waiting.
Her mother’s case had been approved quickly over a year ago, but the unexplained delay in her daughter’s case caused great fear and helplessness.
But when the approval finally arrived, joy replaced anxiety.
One of our most significant achievements this year was helping a family of 13 secure their green cards after four years of continuous applications for temporary status and work authorization.
This milestone ensures their continued safety in the U.S. and a direct path to citizenship in the future.
Our team has also taken on the religious worker visa cases for the Diocese of Jefferson City, submitting our first application earlier this month.
We are truly blessed to support our immigrant priests as they selflessly share their gifts with our parish communities.
While these successes bring relief and joy, the bishops’ Special Message affirms and fortifies the continuation of our work: “We note with gratitude that so many of our clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful already accompany and assist immigrants in meeting their basic human needs. We encourage all people of goodwill to continue and expand such efforts.”
Nevertheless, as Bishop Seitz emphasized, “Statements are not enough.”
Bishop Oscar Cantu of San Jose, California urged his peers to consider a prophetic gesture within their own dioceses — turning words into deeds that embody the Gospel’s call to welcome the stranger and reflect Christ’s sacrificial love.
Therefore, along with their Special Message, the USCCB announced a new initiative in support of immigrants called “You Are Not Alone.”
This initiative includes resources for emergency and family support, solidarity through public prayer and witness and accompaniment and pastoral care.
At CCCNMO, we are grateful to know that we are not alone in our work and look forward to partnering with ministries across the diocese to expand our reach through prophetic gestures — physical actions with spiritual significance that help immigrant communities also believe they are not alone.
We invite you to join us in this mission.
Pray for immigrant families who live in fear and uncertainty.
Learn more about the bishops’ initiative by visiting the USCCB’s website:
justiceforimmigrants.org/you-are-not-alone/
And consider volunteering with our Family Immigration Services team — even simple tasks like scanning and digitizing immigrant case files offers invaluable support.
As Bishop Garcia Maldonado’s words of gratitude remind us, faith, family and immigration are inseparable when viewed through the lens of human dignity.
May we, as a Church, continue to stand together in this Jubilee Year, so that hope remains, and no one feels alone.
