Holding on to Stories of Hope - These are very difficult times with the beginning of the long-threatened surge of DHS and other federal agents to the Chicago area and the possibility of a National Guard deployment. Although not insignificant (660 migrants served at Centro San Edmundo in the month of August), our numbers are down compared to last year. Our asylum-seeking brothers and sisters are hesitant to leave their homes. At Centro San Edmundo we have a Rapid Response Plan and an ICE Emergency Signal Group chat. We are nervous and anxious about the possibility of an ICE “visit,” but we still open our doors every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Lead volunteers carry walkie-talkies; many volunteers carry rosaries.

We can continue because we hold close to our hearts stories of HOPE, and we experienced one this week. We met Jhon in Fall 2023 when he and his family were living outside the D15 Chicago Police Station in Austin. This photo was taken as Jhon watched his family leave on a bus to be taken to a family shelter. He could not join them because he was already 18 years old. The irony was immense between what was written on his donated jacket and how he was being treated. (As Jhon did not understand English, he had no idea about the jacket’s message.) Through our intervention, he eventually was able to join his family because of a health condition.

This past week Jhon came to see us at Centro San Edmundo. He spoke to us in English, and proudly announced that he had graduated from a CPS high school and was enrolled at Kennedy-King Community College. WHAT WONDERFUL NEWS!!! We were so happy and proud of him! An immigrant story, a story of HOPE.

Pivoting has been our hallmark in the Migrant Ministry. Services in the Saint Edmund school building will end on October 9 and will move to another space. Until further notice, we will pause donations on Monday, September 15. Immigration and ESL will move across the street to Murphy Hall, and we are still seeking a location for the “free stores.”

Our work would not be possible without the volunteers and your generous donations.

For more information, email [email protected].