We started the year strengthening our RFM team by coordinating the work shared by the San Antonio Parish, the San Vicente Migrant Fe y Alegría group, the Franciscan Network for Migrants, and migrants residing on the border.
One of the first actions was to walk the streets of Paso Canoas to encounter new migrants and invite them to participate in a meeting in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, where we shared food and clothing they needed. In this first meeting, 150 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti participated. The Franciscan Network’s “San Vicente Migrante” team made this meeting possible.
Then we then started organizing with the migrants themselves. Eduardo Javier, a Venezuelan migrant, joined the team and together with him we began assessing the situation. He was well known by the other migrants, which allowed us to establish a rapport with them more quickly.
It should be noted that our support and accompaniment to migrants included aid and donations of clothing and food from the different parishes and Franciscan presences located in La Pintada, Panama City, David, Chiriquí, Paso Canoas, Puertos Armuelles. Also, we received cash donations, both from individuals and from parish communities.
San Antonio Parish organized a solidarity bazaar with sales of clothes in good condition. With the money raised, food will be bought for the migrants. This represented one form of self-management. The first sale raised $200.00. The administration of this money was left in the hands of the coordinator of San Vicente Migrante, who will make the respective reports to the parish, the Franciscan Network, and Red Clamor, since the clothes that are sold are from the campaign church without borders, motivated by members of Red Clamor. It was decided to organize this way since a lot of clothes were donated but what is needed is food.
Another action carried out is the establishment of a small shelter in the Immaculate Conception chapel in Paso Canoas. Currently there are 5 migrants who were previously on the street. At the moment they are engaged in informal trade and thus earn money that allows them to continue their journey to the North.
Likewise, they have sought a meeting with the bishop of the Episcopal Vicariate of Darién, to introduce him to the Franciscan Network for Migrants. At this moment in the Darién vicariate we have a volunteer named Mileydis, who is also part of the El Zapallal community team that, together with Father Erick Fernández, is part of the vicariate’s Human Mobility Ministry. We hope to meet him soon. On the other hand, it should be noted that we have requested a meeting with the bishop and cardinal of the diocese of Chiriquí, and we are still waiting for his call.
The participation of the Franciscan Network in a fraternal and solidarity meeting with the team from the El Zapallal community, Darién, has been confirmed. The Network donated some 300 health kits and clothing for migrants to this community. This activity will take place on March 10, about 15 people will participate.
In the same way, donations are being processed in Miraflores. Money was obtained for the transfer to Chiriquí.
A project proposal for the formation of volunteers has already been delivered to Fr. Edgardo, Regional Councilor of Panama, and it will be presented to the Franciscan Help Foundation (formerly Misión Central Franciscana) of Germany for its approval and financing, via the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Central America. Some 25 migrants are expected to participate. The purpose of this training is to strengthen the work with migrants that has been carried out in Paso Canoas.
This is how we are starting this year as the Franciscan Network team in Panama City. La Pintada, Cocle; David and Paso Canoas in Chiriquí. With the articulations mentioned, the accompaniment of the our team in different places, mainly in Paso Canoas, solidarity among Christians has been strengthened and grown, making visible this path of welcoming migrants.