Catholic St Francis of Assisi Church welcomes immigrants in distress

               “Suffer not the little children…”

The road to St. Francis of Assisi Church right smack in the middle of Manhattan was an easy breezy walk for me that autumnal day of October. 

Coming out from a Singaporean food court on 50th Street, I walked towards the church on 31st Street, happy that I have fulfilled my daily good walk for good health routine (21 streets down, yes). I was to attend a big dinner for newly arrived immigrants tendered by the Franciscan friars and community to celebrate the Latino tradition El Dia de los Muertos (the day of the dead).

 This celebration is the American Halloween counterpart and the Filipino celebration of the All Saints’ and Souls’ Day.

As it turned out, the Franciscan-led party was especially meaningful to me than mere fanfare. The community here welcomed people escaping the wrath of poverty and persecution in their home country Venezuela. It's reminiscent of Israelites who fled Egypt to free themselves from bondage. 

At the St. Damian Hall of the church, my heart melted away seeing the children enjoy the toys they received from the community. I saw the lovely glee of children excitedly eating New York pizza and hot chicken soup that cold evening.

Most people that I know don't like what's in the news where hordes of Latinos do their own exodus towards the American borders of Texas, Arizona, Florida, and California. Like water, they flow inside the US.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott had been sending busloads of these people to New York, a Democratic state. In the beginning of November 2022, there were about 21,000 refugees in the Big Apple, and growing.

At the receiving end, the city government provided shelter for them in various hotels in the five boroughs.

 The Franciscan church, meanwhile, stepped up to give immediate relief: food, medical assistance, and clothing in line with its vocation to welcome immigrants and people in transit.  At the party, the Franciscan community was vigorously attending to about 200 families in attendance.

I believe that welcoming newly arrived immigrants is the essence of Christianity, which is to love and accept everyone, as a commandment of God.  As Matthew 25:31-46 noted, “Whatsoever You Do to the Least of My Brothers You Do unto Me,” the Franciscans did just that.

 Although American politicians are quick to politicize immigration issues, the Franciscans have remained true to its vocation to take care of the needy. They took the initiative to solicit for jackets, strollers, clothes, and food for the immigrants.

I had an inspiring conversation with Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM, about this. He is the director of the Migrant Center at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

A selfie time with Fr. Julian Jagudilla, OFM (middle) with NYC Commissioner for Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro and Fr. Kevin Mullen, OFM.

Fr. Jagudilla sympathized with popular sentiment against ‘crossing the borders’ and jumping the immigration process. But as part of the church, how can you close your doors from the neediest and most vulnerable people when they are right at your doorstep? he asked.

He leads a congregation with a diverse faithful of Latinos, Blacks, Asians, and Whites in the city. He said that he leads “by creating a multicultural community and by celebrating multicultural events and liturgies.”

NYC Commissioner for Immigrant Affairs Manuel Castro said that the city government is assisting in the processing of immigration documents of families as well as their health needs. Most of them will be seeking political asylum in the US.

That evening, I had a technology-assisted chat with Greece Delicia, one of the women who walked from Venezuela to Texas in search of a better life. She was among those hoarded to New York from Texas.

It was amazing how we were able to connect with each other through Google translate. I spoke in English on her phone which translated it to Spanish. She spoke back in Spanish and the phone translated it to English. And from there, I learned about her story.

Greece and son

As a journalist, it was the first time for me to be assisted by Google Translate! It was simply amazing.  

Greece told me that she came to the US alternatively on foot and on the bus until she and a bunch of others from Venezuela reached the border of Mexico and Texas. Her son, a little over a year old, was with her. She said that her husband works and lives in New Jersey but is sick with cancer. She said she was finding a way to meet with him.

Asked what kind of job she can do, Greece said that she worked in a marketing office in Venezuela. But the lack of prosperity and peace in her hometown has made her decide to leave and gamble to see her sick husband in New Jersey.  

During our conversation, Greece was staying in a hotel in the city for two weeks and was seeking help to be able to reach out to her sick husband.  I intend to reconnect with Greece to find out if she and her child had finally reunited with her beloved. #