OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
Central American migrants in Tapachula, Mexico, sleep outside the Mexican Commission for Refugee Aid, June 10, 2019. (CNS photo/Jose Cabezas, Reuters)
“It is not just about migrants, it is about our humanity.” (Pope Francis, World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2019)
During a recent mission trip to Tapachula, Mexico, we were blessed to break bread and talk story with migrant families, on the move amid life-threatening challenges. As we huddled in an outdoor chapel through a heavy thunderstorm, we were inspired by the homily of Bishop Jaime Calderon, who spoke about our faith in a God who constantly gives and receives love, and Christ who calls us to do the same.
Bishop Jaime refers to himself as a “migrant servant.” His Tapachula Diocese stretches nearly 400 kilometers, about 250 miles, across coastal plains and mountains on the Guatemalan border in Chiapas, the poorest state in Mexico. His congregation this stormy evening was made up mostly of migrants seeking refugee status. The chapel was a seminary structure transformed into a shelter for homeless migrants, mostly women and children fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. The bishop wore a simple wooden cross around his neck, a sign of his humble commitment to service. Since coming to Tapachula last year, he has spoken about migrants and service in every one of his weekly local newspaper columns and homilies.
After one homily, a migrant mother nursing her newborn while holding her 2-year-old toddler in tow, slipped into the offertory procession behind the humble bearers of fresh baked bread and locally made wine. As she cuddled her baby in one arm, she also carefully clutched a dirty handkerchief with something apparently very valuable inside.
As Bishop Jaime bent down to bless her baby and toddler, the migrant mother motioned to her hand, indicating she wanted him to take her handkerchief. He did so and inside was a “pollito” — a live newborn chick. The bishop accepted the tiny offering, then blessed the women with a gentle kiss on her forehead as tears in his eyes. This “pollito” gift of hope in new life was all this migrant mother had, yet she gave it freely with all her heart.
This is just one of the many memories imprinted on our hearts upon returning from the Encuentro of Bishops and Pastoral Ministers from the “Northern Triangle” of Central America and Mexico to discuss how the church can best accompany migrants. Recently the Chiapas border has become increasingly militarized by the Mexico National Guard yielding to U.S. government pressure to block points of entry from people migrating north.
We have seen and heard some of the results of this recent effort to stop legal and illegal immigration (also called “regular or irregular” migration by the United Nations). These “results” include children being separated from their parents and forced into overcrowded detention centers. Hundreds of thousands, young and old, are being deported to dangerous border areas. Even some who entered the U.S. legally with medical disabilities or serious illnesses are receiving deportation letters saying they have 33 days to leave.
What you may or may not have seen or heard about are the real human stories behind the media images. For example, at the Tapachula shelter we talked story with a young man from Honduras named Miguel. He left his job, home, loving wife and four children to flee gang violence and seek asylum in the north. Months before, his brother had also fled gang violence in Honduras, but was deported from the U.S. after seeking refugee status there. Three days later, back in Honduras, he was murdered by the same gang threatening Miguel and his family. Miguel hopes to receive permission to migrate his family to Mexico for a life of safety and security, plus continue serving in parish family ministry as they had done in Honduras. Another example of migrant servants.
Equally memorable are the inspiring responses of Tapachula residents opening their homes, hands and hearts to accompany migrants seeking a more peaceful, hopeful future; young Mexico doctors, lawyers, psychologists offering free services to refugees; parishioners gathering before dawn and working until after dusk to cook and serve meals as part of their mission to encounter God in accompanying the vulnerable. All examples of migrant servants.
In our next Talk Story, we will share more from the Mexico-U.S. border. Meanwhile, please visit www.migrants-refugees.va for more on the World Day of Migrants-Refugees 2019.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
