News and Press Releases
Letter from John Stowe, Bishop of Lexington, to the Franciscan Border Experience 2022
Greetings Sisters and Brothers in the Franciscan Family, I am really pleased to be part of the...
Franciscan Border Experience and Binational Mass
The current humanitarian crisis on our southern border calls us to compassion and mercy as well as greater understanding. The Franciscan Network for Migrants–USA Team organized a three-day experience for a total of 28 people who witnessed firsthand the impact of US and state policies towards our migrant brothers and sisters.
Crisis in the Darien Gap
On October 11, the designated team of the parish went to the capital of Panama to buy the different elements to make the kit, these were: plastic flip-flops, soap, toothbrush, towel and bag. In total, some 192 kits were prepared for the migrants, a “little” for the average that is crossing the Darién jungle. The data is alarming, with more than 154,000 migrants who have passed through said jungle until the month of September, and for this day, October 12, it is reported by social networks that there are about 10,000 migrants waiting to cross Necoclí, Colombia to the jungle of Panama.
On October 12 we were a team of 8 people, including members of the RFM and the La Pintada parish. Upon arrival in Zapallal, Darién, we were surprised to find that the government, through the border military (SENAFRON), had evicted 85 migrants from the facilities of the Zapallal chapel, arguing that it is not a appropriate place to receive migrants. Since July 17 of the present, the Christian community of Zapallal has been attending to the migrants who arrive from the jungle. In total, they have assisted some 8,000 migrants. This parish is carried out by the Claretians. Fr. Eric received us and shared how the work is done. They are part of the kitchen team: Migdalia, Marlenis, Esther, Chela, Marta, Gladys, Vicky, Ángela, Alicia. There are other young volunteers in this team who receive the migrants.
Public statement on the situation of thousands of people crossing the Darién Gap.
According to official data, as of September 30, about 151,572 migrants had entered the Darién jungle, most of them of Venezuelan nationality.
Praised be our Lord for the first face-to-face meeting of the RFM Advocacy Committee!
The Advocacy Committee of the Franciscan Network for Migrants (RFM) held its first face-to-face meeting from September 30 to October 3, 2022 in the City of Bogotá, Colombia.
Migrant Center at the Church on 31st Street Is a Beacon for Immigrants, Asylum-Seekers Being Bussed to Big Apple from Texas
Migrant Center at the Church on 31st Street Is a Beacon for Immigrants, Asylum-Seekers Being Bussed to Big Apple from Texas
Where we are?
Learn about our shelters and teams
Volunteer Opportunities
Understanding, building and growing the Network
Program Focus
Capacity-Building
Members of the Network are already providing a myriad of resources to migrants. Network members will be able to enhance each other’s work by sharing information and resources via different media (bulletins, meetings and gatherings, capacity-building seminars, resource and route maps, threat advisories, etc.) that they can then pass on to migrants in their care along the route.s.
Support and Protection
Members of the Network will foster the establishment of migrant centers, shelters and houses of refuge in areas where there is a lack of resources by connecting donors to new and ongoing programs.
Advocacy and Collaboration.
Fidelity to the Gospel message compels us to not only to recognize the face of Christ in the poor and the excluded, but also to engage in a social analysis to identify the processes of impoverishment and exclusion e.g. root causes, agents, victims, mechanisms and consequences.
