Columban missionaries have been accompanying communities along the US/MX border for over 25 years. Every day we see how border communities are models of hospitality and creative cross-cultural encounters. We’re friends with the families that call this place home, who cherish their binational heritage.
We also see how inhumane immigration enforcement and extreme militarization sow fear and distrust in our communities. And for those that do not live here, conflicting media reports and demonizing rhetoric may be their only source of information about this unique region.
We invite you to come and see the reality beyond the rhetoric.
During this webinar, we discuss what’s really happening on the US/MX border and how people of faith can stand in solidarity with migrants and the border communities that welcome them.
Panelists
Fr. Rafael Garcia, SJ is a Jesuit priest serving as Pastor of Sacred Heart Church adjacent to the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso. He is also the director of the Encuentro Project, an educational and experiential border immersion program. He has also worked in migration ministry when he was pastor in Albuquerque, NM and Kansas City, MO. Presently, he is one of several priests that provide pastoral care at the immigration detention camp in Ft. Bliss for unaccompanied minors.
Cristina Coronado Flores is the Director of Migration Ministry for the Missionary Society of St. Columban. Working in Ciudad Juárez, she coordinates “Casas de Acogida,” or shelters that provide food, medications, rent assistance, and other necessities to migrants. She also coordinates a case resource navigation site. In her role, Cristina has participated in a number of NGO and intra-governmental meetings as an advocate for the needs of migrants, bringing their perspectives to governments and international institutions.
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