Migrant Ministry - Family Needs Help

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Migrant Ministry Update as of January 15, 2024.
The Herrera family is adjusting to apartment living in Pilsen. After 3 months of living in a tent at the Police Station and 4 months of living at the shelter, it has taken them a bit of time to adapt to living with just 4 people. Many thanks to all who supported them with donations, moved them into the apartment, facilitated furniture delivery, and took them to the grocery store. Both children are enrolled in school. Andrexis celebrated her 13th birthday and Jeremías (5 y/o) is quite the musician.
Matt Brophy is accompanying them through the TPS (temporary protected status) process. This gives asylum seekers permission to work and receive a social security number. They do qualify but need to go through the steps. Together they attended a Catholic Charities (CC) sponsored information event at St. Edmund and have an appointment on Monday, January 22 with CC Immigration services to complete their documentation. Once they receive their TPS and work permits, they can legally begin to seek employment. This is an expensive process, but the Oak Park Catholic Community will provide the funds.
The recent snow and cold spell were a bit of a shock and amazement for them. Matt bought them a snow shovel and provided a link to YouTube on how to use it! Sounds funny to us, but it is all so new to them. Thanks to so many parishioners they have warm clothing, coats, and boots as they walk to school. Jose and Andreina are “infinitely grateful” for everything and feel God’s blessings.
How can you continue to help? Monetary donations are being accepted to offset the cost of their utilities, cell phones, and groceries. In addition, we need volunteers who speak Spanish to take them grocery shopping each week. A SignUp Genius has been created. Continue to pray for them as they settle into this new place called home.
Question? Please contact Matt Brophy at [email protected] or Paula Jo Belice at [email protected].

The Migrant Ministry at St. Paul VI needs your support & help. 
As you know, many of our grandparents and great-grandparents have migrated to the United States out of need for employment, food, adequate housing, and more opportunities for their families. Their countries of origin were no longer a place to raise a family for any number of reasons. In the last months, we have witnessed the arrival of a new migrant community mostly but not exclusively from Venezuela. More than 20,000 migrants have arrived in the greater Chicagoland area within the last year.  We look to our Father to guide our Parish through the necessary steps needed to help and support these migrants as we can.

St. Paul VI Parish is joining the many Catholic parishes in our surrounding community that have stepped up to support migrant families. With Oak Park Parish, St. Paul VI Parish supports a family of four from Venezuela. The family, Jose (father), Andreina (mother), Andrexis (daughter in 7th grade), and Jeremías (son in kindergarten) are currently in a shelter in Rogers Park. Jose is undergoing the TPS (temporary protected status) process, which will make him eligible for a work permit.  Andreina was a nurse in Venezuela and although she cannot work as a nurse in the U.S., her skills would be applicable as a patient aide or tech as a beginning step. They want to build a new life in the United States and St. Paul VI Parish has committed to supporting them.
How can the St. Paul VI Parish help?  Current plans include an apartment in the Pilsen Community, which will be available in January to support them for 6 months.  Thank you to all who have provided items to get their apartment started.

GIFT CARDS & MONETARY DONATIONS are welcome & can be dropped off at the Lyne Pastoral Center.  Place in an envelope addressed to 'Matt Brophy- Migrant Family'.

• Gift cards for Target, Walmart, Tony's Finer Foods & Jewel.
• Monetary donations, and checks made payable to St. Paul VI Parish.
• Click here to make an online donation.

For questions, contact Paula Jo Belice at [email protected].
Thank you St. Paul VI Parish for your help.