The holidays aren’t over yet: Next up, Epiphany!
Across the United States, between Christmas and New Year’s Day, naked Christmas trees await pickup by local garbage services and holiday decorations disappear from store shelves. Despite signs that the holiday season is over, Catholics have one more celebration – Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day!
Twelve days after Christmas on Jan. 6, Epiphany is celebrated to honor the three Kings’ visit to Baby Jesus, as well as Christ’s baptism and the miracle at Cana. Catholic churches around the world celebrate this important day with a special Mass, along with other traditions including an annual parade or eating a special treat to remember this important occasion. In recognition of Mary and Joseph’s migratory journey, the day has also been designated as a celebration of immigrants and the struggles they face in search of a new life.
In an effort to empathize with immigrants and encourage understanding, the Minnesota Catholic Conference has dedicated the Sunday of Epiphany as “Immigration Sunday” since 2009. This celebration reminds participants that all humans deserve respect, regardless of their differences, be it ethnicity, nationality or immigration status.
In preparation for Immigration Sunday, the MN Catholic Conference provides its parishes with activities and event ideas that promote immigrant integration. These suggestions (found in their activity guide) are appropriate for any setting, including at home, in a parish or out in the community. For example, parishes can hold a rosary procession in a public space, where everyone can join and pray for the safe journey of all immigrants and their families. Congregants are encouraged to share a story about their family tree and its history, providing an opportunity to examine their own immigrant history and learn more about their neighbors. Donating food, clothes or time to newcomers is also a great way to welcome immigrants and refugees who are new to the community. Each of these ideas do not take much to organize, but they leave lasting impressions on the communities that offer them.
A special feature of this year’s Immigration Sunday is a postcard campaign in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients, or Dreamers. The MN Catholic Conference encourages parishioners to send a postcard to their members of Congress to express support of the youth and young adults who were brought by family to the United States as minors. The postcard urges sponsorship of the Dream Act of 2017, as well as public support of the Act. Parishioners can also participate by sending an online message to one’s representatives.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference is using, in great part, resources offered by the Share the Journey Campaign. Caritas Internationalis, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services created this campaign in 2017 in response to a call to action by Pope Francis. At that time, Catholics were called to “promote a culture of encounter – to see people on the move with humanity, to open hearts and minds [and] to change perceptions”.
The campaign toolkit offers resources, tools and events for a year-round emphasis on immigration and a way to honor the journey of the migrant. Everyone is encouraged to participate on social media using the hashtag #ShareJourney. CLINIC, too, has joined Pope Francis in creating a culture of encounter. As we continue to pray and stand in solidarity with immigrants and refugees all over the world, CLINIC promotes immigrant integration by mobilizing its network to accept Pope Francis' challenge to create a culture of encounter.
Church holidays and celebrations offer a wonderful opportunity to share traditions and customs with those around us regardless of their country of origin. CLINIC applauds the Minnesota Catholic Conference and other entities for highlighting the important role of immigration to our nation’s shared history and promoting communities where everyone’s background and cultural traditions are welcomed.
Image
Information and Resources Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
For more than 30 years, CLINIC’s core value has been to welcome our immigrant neighbors through our network of committed agencies and legal representatives. Those values guide us as we move into a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that challenges remain and we draw inspiration from the immigrants we serve.
As communities largely return to life as it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, operations at U.S. governmental agencies remain disrupted, leading to periodic announcements relating to modifications in policies and procedures. CLINIC will continue to track and report the changes that affect immigrant services in agencies and the immigration courts to provide you with the most up-to-date status information.
We are also advocating for measures that promote public health and safety and protect immigrants, their families and their legal representatives while agencies continue to move on to a post-pandemic phase of operations. In addition, we are closely monitoring how immigrants in the United States, abroad and at our borders continue to be affected. Please make sure to regularly check our website for these updates. Legal representatives and program managers are also encouraged to review our program management materials that address the special challenges agencies continue to face in providing legal services.
On each of the pages linked in the table of contents below, you will find a summary of policy and operational changes made due to COVID-19. Please check back frequently for updates.
Libraries, the best advocates for immigrant integration
Some of the best resources communities have are libraries and librarians. As information specialists by trade, librarians are the communities’ best advocates to offer various resources and services. They create a space where everyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, occupations or immigration status, is welcomed. CLINIC affiliate, Hartford Public Library is bringing together newcomers and long-term residents to create a community of belonging.
Like most libraries across the country, Hartford Public Library offers a variety of services to the immigrant community. Through their We Belong Here initiative, the library offers special programming that focuses on linguistics, civic integration, academics and economic stability. Since receiving their recognition by the Department of Justice in 2010, the library has significantly expanded its efforts of integration. In addition to English and citizenship workshops, Hartford Public Library has provided several programs to meet the various needs of immigrant families.;
One of their programs works with immigrant youth between the ages of 17-18 years old. “They are aging out [of public schools], they are isolated academically and culturally, we want to create a sense of belonging with a strong focus on academics,” said Homa Naficy, executive director of The American Place, which oversees the services to immigrants and adult education at Hartford Public Library. The after-school program brings together youth with tutors and mentors to assist in schoolwork. Together, they explore the community outside of a library or school setting. With 25 active volunteers and two certified ESL Instructors, the attendance for the after-school program has been perfect. “It’s like school but better” Naficy recalled a student saying. Other services help the family and individuals. With the help of volunteers, newcomers are paired with a cultural navigator. Together, they work through obtaining vital community services, establishing friendships and providing support where needed.
Employment sustainability and work skills training is another popular program at the library. In 2016, the library began collaborating with Hartford Public Schools’ Food, Child and Nutrition Services Division to provide on-the-job training — via its 43 school kitchens — for those interested in pursuing a career in the food industry. Program participants have learned work kitchen skills along with their workplace rights. Upon completing the program, many participants have received their Servsafe Certification. These certifications led them to work in the schools’ institutional kitchens, creating a more diverse workforce for the city. In 2019, the program had over 250 participants.
Most libraries have resources for the immigrant community to access. Another opportunity to promote integration and achieve a sense of belonging is to “hire immigrants, someone that is tied to the community and collaborate with them to provide the services. That will naturally create the relationships of trust and sense of belonging we are looking for,” said Naficy
CLINIC applauds Hartford Public Library for their efforts in promoting a safe, educated, diverse and welcoming community for the many families and individual they serve. Want a chance to be featured in our affiliate newsletter? Share with us your community’s unique integration efforts.
