Our St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish is partnering with Ascension/St. Edmund Parish to form an organization that is called IIM (Intercultural Immigrant Ministry). Our goal is to work toward hosting migrants. We received a family from Venezuela in September. IIM is working with ICDI (Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants), who will be providing case management services for this family.
PLANNING TO HOST ANOTHER MIGRANT FAMILY AS OF MAY 2023 – The Catholic Parishes of Oak Park (St. Catherine of Siena – St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish and Ascension and St. Edmund Parish) are submitting a request for funding to Catholic Charities to partially support a second migrant family for at least six months. Catholic Charities will act as case management, ensuring that the family is complying with all legal migrant requirements and applying for any benefits to which they are entitled. They will also accompany the parish team, identifying families who will be good fits for the program, training the mentors, helping to secure an apartment, and maintaining regular communication with the parish team.
Volunteers are needed to accompany the family during their first few months in activities such as shopping, using public transportation, assisting with communication, and becoming comfortable with a new area and language. Ability to speak Spanish is ideal but not required. Finding and moving needed furniture and household items will also require volunteer assistance. Children will need to be enrolled in school and accompanied. Ongoing fundraising will be needed to support the family.
If you are interested in volunteering for any of this, please contact either Celine Woznica, celinewoznica@gmail.com, or Margie Rudnik, margaretrudnik@gmail.com.
To make donations, please write a check to St. Giles Parish and note that it is for the St. Giles Refugee Fund OR contribute online by using the button below:
Thank you for your generous hearts!
