As we enter the Spring and Summer growing season, the St. Francis Migrant Ministry is already preparing to welcome the migrant workers who travel here each year. Some of these guest workers have already arrived, but most come in May and June. They travel and work through H2A visas and are here to help out with working on farms and gathering the crops grown in the area, and the St. Francis Migrant Ministry is here to help make their stay a better experience.
“We are a spring and summer-focused ministry,” says Tom Carlson, one of the new ministry leaders, along with Carlos Panameño. The ministry has already collected clothing and toiletries to distribute to the migrant workers as they arrive at the camps in and around Louisburg and Our Lady of the Rosary parish. After they collected the supplies in early March, our TFS 7th graders helped sort and organize the donations to put together welcome bags for the workers. Those kits include chemical gloves, long-sleeved shirts, hats, soap, deodorant, shaving supplies, and towels. They will put together about 110 kits by May 10th and distribute them in the weeks after that as the workers arrive.
Working with the TFS students during their ‘Catholic Social Teaching’ (CST) days at the school, Carlos says, “We take this as an opportunity to ground the students in what we are doing in the ministry. The workers are here for a short period, and we want to ensure there’s no misunderstanding about why they are here and discuss some facts about the workers’ experience.” These camps only provide the bare necessities, and the supplies provided by the ministry help provide dignity and show our respect for what they do.
“During the CST days working with students,” says Carlos, “we shared the biblical vision of love for the stranger. In Matthew 25:35, Jesus says, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in,’ and it’s important they see the link.” He also highlights Galatians 3:28, where St. Paul says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Christ, the human race is one before God, equal in dignity and rights. This ministry focuses on those teachings and shares that vision with the students.
Tom and Carlos are working on schedules, and things are picking up for the ministry. “We are working on creating, packing, and organizing welcome bags. We are also trying to coordinate our donations and looking to help potential drivers get their documentation for driving in place, and making sure the volunteers are all in REALM.” “We have a list of our volunteers, and we anticipate sending out dates for the summer soon, but we always need people to volunteer,” says Carlos. St. Francis is known for its outreach to all communities through its ministries. The Migrant Ministry is a great way to get involved and live out the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ call, “We are a human family regardless of ideological, national, racial, ethnic, and economic differences.” That comes home with this ministry, and they could use your help. To get on the mailing list and help this season, please contact Tom at tcarlson28@gmail.com or Carlos at cpanameno@discoveryed.com.