Catholic Charities of Colorado Springs » Family Immigration Services

Solidarity in Light of Migration

Rochelle — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:46:51 +0000

On March 19, 2010 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at Sacred Heart Church, there will be a presentation on Catholic Social Teaching by Dan Groody, CSC PhD, Theologian, Author, and Film Producer from the University of Notre Dame.

Rev. Groody served as one of 7 academic adviser to the Vatican’s conference on migration in November 2009. He is Director of Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture at Notre Dame and Assistant Professor of Theology. He has spent many years working in Latin America, particularly along the US-Mexican Border, and is the author of various books and articles which have been translated into five languages.

This is part of Sacred Heart’s Catholic Social Teaching Speaker Series. For more information on this event, call 719-351-7765.

Colorado Springs Churches Together for Border Experience

Rochelle — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:05:48 +0000

The Pikes Peak Immigrant and Refugee Collaborative (PPIRC) under Catholic Charities is hosting an inter-denominational trip to the U.S./Mexico border at Douglas AZ/Agua Prieta MX from February 21st through February 25th. Representatives from five (5) Christian denominations from Springs churches are getting together to witness some of the reality of the immigration system at the heart of its impact, the border. They will meet with people who are at the center of the border crossing crisis, including some of the people who are motivated to make such a risky and treacherous journey, so that they can better understand why.

Along the way, they will walk in the desert, talk with migrant shelter workers, listen to the experience of the border patrol, and pray together. The purpose of the trip is to bring together people of faith and leadership within the Chrisitian community in Colorado Springs to take a stand for welcoming the stranger in our community. The PPIRC recognizes the need for leadership on this issue from other faith traditions as well, and that this is only a start. Corey Almond, PPIRC Director, and others at the PPIRC believe that our faith leaders have a responsibility to speak with a caring voice to the issue of immigration as it pertains to the lives of decent and good human beings, indeed as it affects our brothers and sisters in faith among us.

picture of Corey Almond, PPIRC director and Jesus Reyes, lead pastor at Centro Familiar Nueva Vida

Don’t Get Caught in Immigration Scam

Rochelle — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:31:37 +0000

It is true that disasters and times of crisis bring out the best and worst in people. USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) warns Haitians applying for temporary protected status to be aware of immigration scams. USCIS has issued a fact sheet and a warning that says:
Please be aware that some unauthorized practitioners may try to take advantage of you by claiming they can file Temporary Protection Status (TPS) forms. These same individuals may ask that you pay them to file such forms. We want to ensure that all potential TPS applicants know how to secure legitimate, accurate legal advice and assistance.

Filling out immigration applications and paperwork can be daunting, but it does not always require the assistance of an attorney. USCIS provides a list of BIA recognized and accredited agencies for seeking authorized help with immigration paperwork, and Catholic Charities Family Immigration Services (FIS) is on that list. FIS received partial recognition in 2008 and has accredited staff to help and serve low income immigrants and refugees with low cost, honest and fair assistance.

For qustions, please contact us at 719.632.8093. For more information regarding this warning, see the TPS Fact Sheet.

For your convenience, listed below is all files available for download on this page.

: Title: TPS Fact Sheet
File: TPS-fact-Sheet.pdf
Size: 46 kB

National Migration Week

Rochelle — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:23:41 +0000

Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice is the theme of the 2010 National Migration Week, held January 3 – 9. The observance began over 25 years ago by the bishops to be a moment for Catholics to take stock of the wide diversity of the Church and the ministries serving them. As the face of the local churches continue to change, these materials are becoming more and more necessary. The materials created for National Migration Week also provide an important educational resource that can be used by individuals, families, schools, and parishes to learn about the complex issues surrounding migration phenomena.

Following the lead of Pope Benedict, who is focusing on “Minor Migrants and Refugees” for the 2010 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we are focusing on migrant children as a sub-theme this year. Included in this year’s new material is a poster, a prayer card, and a bulletin insert that focuses on children’s issues. Additionally, we are launching a National Migration Week Small Grants Program that will provide funding for small projects related to migrant or refugee children, which are launched by parishes, schools and local Catholic organizations. In coordination with The Catholic University of America, a new educational website will focus on the important role that the Catholic Church has played in the immigration debate throughout Twentieth Century America. Finally, we are highlighting a fantastic new curriculum that and which was created by Jesuit Refugee Services. We hope that both educational sites will be a great resource for teachers, directors of religious education and others interested in this issue.

We hope that you will use the materials developed for National Migration Week as a resource for further reflection on these very important issues. A wide variety of resources is available through USCCB publishing to assist you in this endeavor. Contact them at 800-235-8722 or visit their website at www.usccbpublishing.org to browse Migration and Refugee Services material