IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
​JUSTICE, PEACE, AND INTEGRITY OF CREATION (JPIC)

If you have any questions or would like to join our efforts, please contact:
Ken Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)

CURRENT PROGRAMS

CHURCH WORLD SERVICES (CWS) CARE PROGRAM
(COMMUNITIES ACTING FOR REFUGEE EMPOWERMENT)

​Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) announces another opportunity to help refugees in Durham through a new initiative offered through Church World Services (CWS). The “CWS CARE (Communities Acting for Refugee Empowerment) Program” is dedicated to closing the economic gap for established refugee individuals and families by connecting clients to community groups who commit to providing social and small-scale financial support toward their educational and employment goals.
CARE teams, usually made up of 3 parishioners, may offer support by helping a client study for an exam, offering professional mentorship in a certain field, connecting clients with useful professional networks, or practicing interview skills. 
CARE team members main role is to offer moral support to clients as they accomplish their goals. The hope is that with the support of our parishioners, our Durham community can more fully benefit from the skills, talent, and expertise of refugees, while helping our new neighbors experience economic security through fulfilling work.

Are you interested in helping?
Alem, is a single mother with two children who currently works the night shift at a manufacturing plant. She is enrolled in a CNA (Nurse’s Aide) course that starts at the beginning of September. Her goal is to work in the healthcare industry where there are many opportunities for career advancement. In the future, she hopes to become a nurse. 
You would help provide Alem with community support and with needs such as studying for the CNA course, navigating the U.S. education system, and preparing for the state CNA exam.​ CARE team members can expect a time commitment of 1-2 hours per week for 3-4 months.
Parishioners interested in working with Alem and the CARE Program can email Sarah Hester, the CARE Coordinator, at [email protected].

LA 72 MIGRANT AND REFUGEE SHELTER
​La 72 Franciscan Migrant and Refugee Shelter in Tenosique, Mexico, is located on one of the most conflictive and dangerous areas on the migratory route. Since its founding on April 25, 2011, La 72 has opened its doors and cared for more than 100,000 people, the vast majority of whom are fleeing life-threatening situations in Central America.

​La 72 remains dedicated to the comprehensive care of migrants and refugees who flee abject poverty, hunger, violence, and the powerful environmental and political forces that wreak havoc on vulnerable people.

La 72 offers each person humanitarian assistance in the form of medical attention, psychosocial care, advice, case management, internet access, food, basic hygiene items, rest, shelter, clothing, and other necessary items.
Para más información ver el video
All guests receive human rights education and information, as well as legal assistance in accessing asylum and residency status in Mexico. Its fundamental task is to welcome, comfort, and accompany vulnerable people. La 72 is the first migrant shelter in Mexico to help vulnerable groups, providing special assistance to women, children, unaccompanied minors, and LGBTQ+ people.
La 72 also works to change immigration policies to guarantee the safe passage of all migrants in Mexico. This includes advocacy at the national level, establishing effective partnerships with the local population, as well as outreach and human rights education for border communities (the “School of Human Rights”).

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS & EVENTS

CRIMMIGRATION: PERSPECTIVES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER
​Wednesday, March 20, 2024 | 12:30 - 2 pm

LIFE AT THE BORDER
​LEARNING FROM CASA DEL MIGRANT
​Duke Divinity School Center for Reconciliation - 0015 Westbrook
​Thursday, March 21, 2024 | 12:30 - 1:30 pm

Duke Divinity School's Center for Reconciliation hosted a presentation and conversation with Alma Ramirez, visiting staff member of La Casa del Migrante in Tijuana, Mexico.​

Duke Divinity School has a long relationship with La Casa, both as a site for field education placements and as a partner in the Encuentro program. Alma Ramirez discussed her work at La Casa serving migrants at the US/Mexico border and ways that volunteers can be involved.

​The presentation concluded with a conversation about how Duke Divinity and La Casa might strengthen and build on our existing relationship to benefit migrants on both sides of the border. I have included a link to the presentation provided by Duke Divinity Center for Reconciliation.
Event co-sponsored by Thriving Rural Communities, Hispanic House of Studies, and the Office of Field Education. Lunch will be provided.

​CONTACT
Center for Reconciliation
[email protected]

JPIC PARISHIONERS TRAVEL TO LA 72

​Several members of our Immaculate Conception community, including our pastor Father Jacek, our Latino Pastoral Associate Katushka Olave, and two extremely devoted young adult parishioners, Osely Vasquez and Isaac Martinez, traveled to Mexico to visit and bring medication/supplies to La 72, a Franciscan-run migrant and refugee shelter dedicated to the comprehensive care for those fleeing abject poverty, hunger, violence, and the powerful environmental and political forces affecting the most vulnerable. You may recall the JPIC’s most recent support of LA 72 during our parish’s “Advent Alternative Gift Fair.” We are truly grateful for their dedication and all those who helped make this trip possible.

BUILDING BRIDGES OF WELCOME
A WORKSHOP ON ACCOMPANIMENT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS

BUILDING BRIDGES OF WELCOME
A WORKSHOP ON ACCOMPANIMENT OF ASYLUM SEEKERS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND AGENDA

Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) is proud to support New Hope Presbytery Peacemaking Network who is sponsoring this free workshop to bring together churches within the Triangle and eastern North Carolina, community support immigrant agencies, professionals, volunteers, and others already engaged in this work who want to learn more to imagine our communities to be a more welcoming, compassionate, and viable place for immigrants seeking refuge. Our JPIC Immigrants and Refugees team hopes many of our Immaculate Conception parishioners will join together in learning how we can become allies to asylum seekers and imagine how communities can be prepared to welcome our neighbors.

Please REGISTER by October 8th by contacting Libby Johnson at 865-789-8912, or call/TEXT Linda Rapuano at 917-991-4138.
This event is sponsored by the New Hope Presbytery Peacemaking Committee with special guest Susan Krehbiel PCUSA/PDA’s Associate for Migration Accompaniment Ministries
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
​​Church World Service-Durham Office; NC Council of Churches; Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; Iglesia La Semilla-NC Conference of the United Methodist Church; Immigration Justice Initiative of the Community Church-UU, Chapel Hill.
9:30-10 am: Arrival - What is home to you?                     
  • Sign in sheet, name, email address, affiliation
  • Breakfast/coffee
Opening Exercise: “What does home mean to you?”
  • Find two or three people you haven’t met and exchange what “home” means to you.
  • Have blank wall/space/board where people can write what home means to them, so it can be visible throughout duration of the day.
  • Depending on size, everyone introduces themselves and says in one sentence what home means to them.
 
10-10:10 am: Welcome
  • Introductions by Rev. Frank Mansell, welcome and introduction of workshop facilitator, Susan Krehbiel
  • Opening prayer/litany
Raising Your Hand Activity: “Raise your hand if you are a faith leader;” “If you are a social worker;” “If you are an activist;” “If you were born outside of the United States;” “If you have done accompaniment work before;” “If you have never done accompaniment work but are excited to learn more;” etc.
 
10:10-10:30 am: Mini Keynote on theme of “Accompaniment”
  • A short introduction on the work of “accompaniment” by Rev. Susan Krehbiel
 
10:30-11:15 am: Experiences in the U.S - Two Asylum Seekers and Community Representative Speak Out (Fishbowl) with interactive Dialogue
  • Two asylum seekers offer their stories and experiences of their time in the U.S. How the strength of community got them through and what the community might have done better. One community representative working with asylum seekers to participate in this interactive dialogue. They will speak in tandem with each other using a “fishbowl platform.”
 
11:15-11:30 am: Break
  • When returning, ask participants to sit at round tables (4-6 people per table).
 
11:30-12:30 pm: Asset Mapping – Naming Our Assets
Theme: What Is It We Bring to the Table? Why it Works and Why it Matters.
  • Description of the purpose of Asset Based Community Mapping, how it works, and why it matters.
  • Using Worksheet Part 1, generate as many assets as possible. Begin writing assets on half sheets of paper (large post-it notes) and then taping them to the wall.
 
12:30-1:30: Lunch
  • Provided by a kitchen crew led by Sandra Marquina, wife of Jose Chicas, who was in a sanctuary for three years at the School for Conversion in Durham. 

1:30 – 2:30 pm: Asset Mapping – Recognizing Possibilities
Theme: Making Connections and Combining Assets into Possibilities
  • Recognizing possibilities: How to work collaboratively and partner with other organizations.    
  • Using Worksheet Part 2, connect the dots and combine assets from Part 1 for possibilities. Be concrete and collect contact information for mobilizing the possibilities. Use a display board or large screen visible to all participants.
 
2:30-4 pm: Vote with Your Feet
Explanation of the 4 Breakout Groups (4 or 5)
  • Voting on whether we would like to create a new one.
  • Departing to breakout room locations throughout the church.
  • Breakout groups meet for 45 minutes – 1 hour.
Breakout Groups
  1. Community Church, UU: UU shares their model of accompaniment over past five years, pearls of wisdom, and experiences.
  2. CWS on Building Healthy Relationships: Allyship vs. power dynamics, paternalism and dependency, and cultural awareness.
  3. First Presbyterian in Durham (Gordon) with leaders from Judea Reform Congregation, St. Michael’s Lutheran, etc.: Hosting Healthy Conversations with/in your congregation, community, or organization; tools for engagement; and mobilizing others in the work of accompaniment.
  4. Advocacy: Dynamics for changing the narrative on migration in our churches and communities, connecting with legislators to impact immigration policy reforms, joining groups for visits to the border.
  5. Topic of interest that might surface from participants (i.e. affordable housing: Organizations with properties).
 
3:45-4 pm: Afternoon Break
 
4-4:30 pm: Closing Reflection
  • Closing/Continuation Ceremony: Blessing Our Time Together initiated by Rev. Susan Krehbiel, followed by litany and “continued” by words, prayers, and gestures by voices from refugee/asylum seekers and those who accompany them/representatives in the local community.
  • As we come back together, everyone is offered a pledge/commitment card. They will take a moment in silence to consider, then write down, what actionable step(s) they will take as a result of this gathering, and/or “what is the one faithful thing I can do?” Turn in pledge/commitment cards as an “offering” as part of closing reflections, culmination of the workshop.
  • Reminders of completing evaluation form, how to reconnect if have questions or need speakers, wish to volunteer, and/or want to stay engaged (could be included in registration packet).

THANK YOU FOR HELPING A PARISHIONER FROM CONGO IN NEED!

 A profound thanks to all parishioners who have previously donated to the love fund. Because of your generous support, in collaboration with Church World Service (CWS), we were able to help a new member of our community with several months of housing, along with furniture and other needed items, to make it a home through our JPIC’s Furniture Project of Durham. A fellow parishioner also has volunteered to assist with ESL so he can continue to develop his English skills. 

BUILDING THE FUTURE
​WITH MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES

Immaculate Conception’s own Pastoral Associate, Katushka Olave, was recently featured in a Franciscan Network for Migrants hosted interactive workshop on practical ways for building the future with migrants and refugees. Franciscan Action Network co-sponsored this workshop which included presentations about Franciscan-inspired parish and community-based responses as well as a brainstorming session of other ideas.
A link to a summary of ideas shared by speakers and participants.
 A link to the Pope’s message on World Day of Migrants & Refugees - Migrants & Refugees Section (migrants-refugees.va)

INTERNATIONAL JPIC COUNCIL
​FATHER JACEK ON MIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND INTERGRAL ECOLOGY

Father Jacek serves as a member of the Franciscan “JPIC Animation Committee.” In this article from a recent gathering of the Franciscan Order’s “International Council for Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation,” Father Jacek says this is our opportunity to discuss conversion, climate justice and integral ecology, migrants and refugees, and nonviolence and peacebuilding in a broader social and ecological context​.

AN INVITATION TO A SIMPLE SUPPER/SHARING
(COURTESY OF THE RAPUANO-DIRR FAMILY)

You are invited for a light fellowship supper at the home of Linda Rapuano Dirr and Joe Dirr.
 
Friday Evening, March 24, 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Join/leave honoring your needs

RSVP Linda by Wednesday, March 22, via email.
 Address and directions will be sent to you if you are able to join us.
This evening is for us to get to know each other and share our thoughts and concerns regarding immigrant and refugee issues in a relaxed space. We will open with a prayer followed by a simple supper of soups and bread. For those who would like IC’s Fish Fry, please let us know by Thursday and we will pick a few up for you.
For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. ​- Matthew 25

MIGRANT POSADA
A NOVENA FOR ADVENT

The Liturgical Materials Team of the “Franciscan Network for Migrants” have shared this beautiful Advent Novena with our community.
© All rights reserved.
If you have questions regarding our various JPIC ministries, please contact me directly.
Kennith M. Chiha, Director of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church - 901-A West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701
(919) 682-3449 Ext. 293 - [email protected]
​
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH   |  810 W CHAPEL HILL STREET, DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27701  |  919-682-3449


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