In March, Catholic Charities USA asked the Religious Women's Leadership Conference (LCWR) to volunteer at 19 Catholic Charities border sites in California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. This was in response to the large number of unaccompanied migrant children and families crossing the southern border. Of these, Laredo, McAllen, Tucson, Yuma, San Antonio and San Diego experienced a significant influx of arrivals and had to face the challenges of caring for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 250 sisters answered the call to help in this emergency situation. The San Antonio Mennonite Church, affiliated with the U.
S. Mennonite Church USA, an Anabaptist denomination in theology and practice, has allocated resources of all kinds to care for migrants and asylum seekers who pass through San Antonio on a daily basis. The church members do not inquire about the legal status of those they help; instead they assume that virtually all of them are asylum seekers. On average, San Antonio receives nearly 600 arrivals daily and more than 500 need overnight accommodation. The City of San Antonio is committed to strengthening coordination and connection to services for its immigrant community.
American Gateways, Catholic Charities and RAICES offer free legal representation to San Antonio residents. Christopher reached out to San Antonio District Councilwoman Shirley Gonzalez who immediately responded by contacting the hotel association to see if they were willing to accommodate any of the families. ISN was founded in 2004 as a 501 (c) 3 organization run by lay people. It works in partnership with Jesuit universities, high schools and parishes, along with many other Catholic institutions and social justice partners. Over time, members of the San Antonio Mennonite Church began incorporating what they were learning into their work with those who came to them. The response from faith-based organizations in San Antonio has been remarkable.
More than 250 sisters answered Catholic Charities USA's call for volunteers at 19 border sites in California, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The San Antonio Mennonite Church has allocated resources of all kinds to care for migrants and asylum seekers who pass through San Antonio on a daily basis. The City of San Antonio is committed to strengthening coordination and connection to services for its immigrant community.
