Immigrant & Refugee Ministry

A ministry rooted in the example of Jesus Christ that welcomes the stranger and fulfills the commitment of the U.S. Catholic bishops to protect the life and dignity of the human person. We serve and advocate for immigrants, refugees, asylees, migrants, unaccompanied children and victims of human trafficking.

What we do:

Immigrant & Refugee Ministry (IRM) provides care and resources for immigrant families, and equips and empowers parishes to develop their own immigrant response programs. To date, this ministry has hosted regional Know Your Rights trainings, immigration summits, walking pilgrimages, vigil Masses, fund collections, listening sessions and other special events in an attempt soften hearts and bring comfort to immigrant families while advocating for their needs. In addition, we continually offer weekly services and access to sacraments inside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma.

Local Burmese refugees participate in a Share the Journey event.

Accomplishments since IRM's inception (2016)

Voter registration drives in immigrant parishes
Regional listening sessions with immigrant communities
Creation and facilitation of three consultative leadership bodies
Regional Know Your Rights and mental health workshops in parishes
Immigrant Family Support Fund for border issues
Simultaneous regional immigration vigils
Clergy advocates for Immigrants
Events, retreats and pastoral listening for DACA recipients
Events to increase awareness of human trafficking and garner resources for trafficking survivors
Share the Journey events and communication

Co-sponsor of four Annual Catholic Immigration Summits
Co-Sponsor of Walking and Witnessing Pilgrimage (1000+ participants, 4,300+ miles walked, 70+ parishes involved and 27 immigration formation events)
Co-Sponsor of Cultures United Community Festival
Sponsorship of immigrant and refugee youth soccer team
Consolidation of online resources for immigrants and allies on IRM website
Creation of visible Catholic solidarity via statements, e-mail networks, social media campaigns and advocacy alerts
Ongoing chaplaincy at Northwest Detention Center (ICE)

Immigrant & Refugee Ministry in Action

Consultative Leadership Groups:

Immigrant and refugee networking meetings

Overview:

IRM networking meetings occur on a quarterly basis. These are open meetings for anyone who is working on immigrant and refugee matters in their respective parishes, schools, agencies and lives. All are invited to attend, Catholic or secular, including government entities.

Attendees have an opportunity to report on their immigrant and refugee support activities to collaborate, problem-solve and network with other workers in the vineyard.

2021 Networking Meeting Schedule:

Thursday, January 14, 2021, from 1-3 p.m.
Thursday, April 8, 2021, from 1-3 p.m.
Thursday, July 8, 2021, from 1-3 p.m.
Thursday, October 14, 2021, from 1-3 p.m.

All networking meetings are held at St. James Cathedral's Pastoral Outreach Center (Seattle) in the Mother Mary Rose Room.

*NOTE: COVID restrictions may require networking meetings to occur on Zoom.

Immigrant and Refugee Ministry discernment committee

Overview:

Founded in the spring of 2018, during the height of a national immigration crisis, the discernment committee was charged with helping the archdiocesan Immigrant and Refugee Ministry (IRM) discern current needs and select appropriate pastoral responses. The committee is comprised of a diverse collection of concerned Catholics who meet on a quarterly basis to steer archdiocesan immigrant support efforts.

Committee Members:

Catholic Immigration Leadership (CIL)

Overview:

Catholic Immigration Leadership (CIL) is comprised of major Catholic entities that regularly engage in immigrant support. The purpose of this group is not to create new projects together, but rather engage in big-picture strategic planning to better hone and coordinate the overall Catholic response to immigrant needs in our region. This group meets on a quarterly basis.

Benefits:

Better integrate and coordinate our overall efforts.
Uncover opportunities for partnerships and shared resources.
Foster deeper understanding of immigration, immigrants and each other’s work.
Identify ways that we can support, collaborate and enhance each other’s efforts.

CIL's Charge:

Update each other on the current goals and activities of our immigration work.
Discuss the challenges we face and the ways we can support each other’s work on immigration.
Identify gaps in service and opportunities for encounter, accompaniment and community development to better accomplish our own missions, not create or implement new projects.
Provide advice and support to each other.

CIL Membership:

Mario Villanueva, Washington State Catholic Conference
Giselle Carcamo, Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center
Anna Johnson, Maryknoll
Joe Cotton, Archdiocese of Seattle Immigrant and Refugee Ministry
Chris Koehler, St. James Cathedral Immigrant Assistance
Mirya Munoz-Roach, Society of St. Vincent de Paul Seattle/King County
Jennifer Ibach, Catholic Relief Services local representative
Jesus Huerta, Catholic Relief Services at-large representative
Jose Ortiz, Catholic Community Services of Western Washington
Lauren Madrid, Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps
Helen McClenahan, Archdiocese of Seattle Communications
Sandy Barton-Smith, Archdiocese of Seattle Catholic Schools

Ukraine Welcome Circles

Learn how you can help welcome and help a Ukrainian family.

Learn more

Immigrant & Refugee Resources

Events

Groundwork for Solidarity on Immigration

Virtual Catholic Immigration Summit

Hope in Solidarity: The Catholic Response to Immigration Practices and Policies in the U.S.

The 4th Annual Catholic Immigration Summit has moved online! We’ve collected videos from leaders in local organizations to help our community learn more about the challenges facing immigrant communities by exploring topics such as advocacy, DACA, spiritual practice and resilience, mental health, legal assistance and more.

Click HERE to view the Virtual Summit!

Know Your Rights