Solidarity Ministry
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“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” Matthew 25: 35-43
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Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age.
Our St. Ignatius community and the Bay Area as a whole thrive through the presence and activities of many diverse people — including many immigrants and refugees. The Solidarity Ministry at St. Ignatius Parish aims to raise awareness around the issues immigrant and refugee members of our community face, explore how society can better respond to those issues, and provide support to immigrants and refugees needing assistance.
Ways we do this include accompanying individuals and families as they work through the process of becoming documented residents, directly supporting families seeking asylum and refuge, learning about and participating in political efforts to bring a Gospel-centered approach to aiding people who find themselves immigrants or refugees, and establishing relationships with other congregations to further these efforts.
How did we get here?
In February and March 2017, interested parishioners met to discern whether or not God might be calling forth from St. Ignatius Parish a communal response to the issue of refugees and immigration. Our prayerful reflections led us to adopt a position of openness to providing sanctuary for those who have left their countries of origin and are seeking refuge in our country. As a result of that discernment process, we formed the Solidarity Ministry at St. Ignatius Parish, a ministry committee actively working to address immigration issues and support immigrants and refugees through accompaniment, advocacy, and shelter. Want to get involved?
Sign up to receive updates and get involved in the Solidarity Ministry at St. Ignatius Parish by sending an email to [email protected].
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Contact Us
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Solidarity Ministry at St. Ignatius ParishImmigrationSIPgmail.com
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Mike Nearymikeyziocomcast.net
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Resources
Click the hyperlinked titles for more information:
Campaign for Hospitality invites the Jesuit and broader Catholic network in the United States and Canada to get to know people in our countries with recent stories of migration. Together, we will reflect on our common human dignity and values to create more welcoming communities and nations.
Faith in Action Bay Area is a network of faith communities committed to ensuring that the dignity of all members of our community is upheld. Through leadership development, civic engagement, and lifting up of our faith values we strive to make sure that every person receives the respect, justice, and opportunity they deserve.
Ignatian Solidarity Network The mission of the ISN is to network, educate, and form advocates for social justice animated by the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the witness of the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador and their companions.
Jesuit Refugee Service The mission of Jesuit Refugee Service/USA is to accompany, serve and advocate for the rights of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons. Founded by Jesuit Fr. Pedro Arrupe in 1980, in direct response to the humanitarian crisis of the Vietnamese boat people, JRS today works in 47 countries worldwide to meet the educational, health, and social needs of more than 750,000 refugees.
Share the Journey Campaign Pope Francis launched the new Share the Journey campaign by Caritas Internationalis in 2017 to assist families forced to migrate and promote Catholic social teaching on refugees and migrants. There are 82.4 million forcibly displaced people in the world today, according to a United Nations agency, the most since just after World War II. Overall, there are 281 million migrants in the world, according to Caritas.
The Las Vecinas de El Salvador Ministry at St. Ignatius Parish offers an opportunity to provide financial and spiritual support to our Sister Parish, Paroquia San Antonio in Soyapango, El Salvador.
Statements on Immigration and Refugees
For the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
For the 51st World Day of Peace
America Magazine on Pope Francis' Statement
Pedro Arrupe, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, 1980
Pastoral Letter by Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso
Canadian and US Provincials of the Society of Jesus
Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco
Blase J. Cupich, Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago
Robert McElroy, Bishop of San Diego
Joseph W. Tobin, Cardinal Archbishop of Newark
Jesuit Refugee Services, USA
Board of Trustees, USF
Pope Francis' call to holiness by accompanying others, especially migrants
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