"En Camino": Bringing the church to the migrant farmworkers
Since July 1, 1998, the Sisters of Notre Dame and the Diocese of Toledo
have partnered in the "En Camino" (on the journey) program to bring
a welcoming presence of the Catholic
Church of Northwest Ohio to more than 7,000 seasonal and migrant farm
workers. They are joined
in that effort by over 250 volunteers who serve in 130
camps in a 19-county area. This
program involves being with the migrant families as they move from camp
to camp, from two to ten times a year to follow the crops. Catechesis remains
the primary focus, but the work is
quickly growing to encompass advocacy in health care, education, child
care, and emergency situations. The result? New vitality and renewed
hope for the
migrants.
Volunteers are the backbone of this ministry. Sisters coordinate volunteers to prepare children for the
sacraments, to
lead bible study classes and to take care of other needs.
"En Camino" addresses specific issues facing the Hispanic migrants by
networking with professionals who have expertise in the areas of
health care, legal
issues, English as a second language, and religious education. All
of these outreach efforts strengthen the migrants' bond with the
Catholic Church.
Hispanic migrant farm workers who are Catholic in origin wish to
be connected with the liturgy and the sacraments. When the local
Church
reaches out
to include the workers, they in turn bring gifts to the local faith
community. Among those gifts are a deep sense of devotion to Our Lady
of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas: a deep sense of family; and
a
trust that God will be present in all that comes to pass in our lives.
In an effort to develop leadership in the camps, part-time professionals
are paired with some migrant women to work almost
full time for the Catholic Church Migrant Ministry. The women are
being trained in catechetics and social outreach. They will also learn how
to network with all of the agencies
in Northwest
Ohio who
empower the migrant farm workers to fulfill spiritual, legal,
health, and emergency needs.
The
annual journey for seasonal farm workers may take them from the pickle and
tomato farms of Fremont, Ohio to colonies
along
the Texas-Mexico
border, to the apple orchards of Michigan, and to the orange
groves of
Plant City,
Florida. Through generous support of many organizations and
individuals, "En Camino" core team members have stayed connected with the
families as they followed the crops to Florida and Texas.
During the
months of January and March, the "En Camino" team visits the migrants in
the south. Recently members of the team have been visiting the states in
Mexico
where our workers are coming from. Part of the plan is to connect with the
families of the people they have learned to know and love. The other reason
is to
better understand the culture of the people. In March the team works with over
one hundred families in Florida.
Living among the migrants at their home base gave the
team an opportunity to learn what agencies and Church
outreach
efforts are available
to them, so that services are not duplicated. It also
allowed the team
to know
the families better, to meet people from those camps which
are not yet served, and to prepare leaders for the summer communities in
Ohio.
Many services and programs are provided for the farmworkers and their families.
- English as a second language classes in the camps
- Bible Study Groups and Faith Sharing
- Promotion of Spanish Masses throughout the Toledo diocese
- Support during difficult times and emergencies
- Home Visits/Outreach
- Counseling and Personal Development
- Assistance with documentation
- Mentoring parents to promote education in the home
- Preparation for Sacraments
It is estimated that the Hispanic Catholic population
is approaching 50 percent of the Catholic Church
membership in the United States. "En Camino" ministers
are blessed to be instruments
to reevangelize many who, because of their migrant
status, have been found at the margins of our parishes.
The blessings, however, are mutual. As an integral
part of the Catholic community, migrant and seasonal
farm
workers bring a
rich diversity of
gifts to the
local Church. The Sisters of Notre Dame
are blessed
to
share that
journey!
