An outreach ministry based at St. John the Evangelist in Columbia does more than provide much-needed support to new arrivals to the United States. It also helps Anglo parishioners accompany their Spanish-speaking immigrants and their families.
Pastoral Migratoria Ministry was recognized nationally Dec. 9 in Chicago with the St. Toribio Romo Award at the “Keep Hope Alive” 2024 event sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago.
The annual fundraising event benefits local and national immigrant-led ministries and recognizes community leaders who have responded to the needs of immigrant communities.
Missionhurst Father Mel Portula, pastor of St. John the Evangelist, said parishioners involved in Pastoral Migratoria Ministry help immigrants both within his parish and throughout the region.
“I think these efforts impact the wider community on the level of conscientization,” he said. “Hopefully, this transforms people to have compassion for the migrants and refugees and to see them as neighbors in the sense of the parable of the Good Samaritan.”
Dinorah Cader, coordinator of the Pastoral Migratoria ministry in the parish, highlights the importance of the alliances they have been achieved with public and private institutions. The goal is assisting the immigrant community with education, resources and contacts, she said.
“Since last year, we have been able to have people sponsoring us, many people not only in Howard County, which is where we are, but in the whole state,” she said.
Following the death of her husband from a heart attack, she started the ministry in 2022. It now has about 20 volunteers.
“God gave me such strength that even I was surprised at the way I faced my husband’s absence, alone with my two children,” said Cader, who by then was building the foundation of the ministry by promoting the importance of women taking advantage of their gifts and starting their own businesses to get ahead.
“I created a website called Renacer Mujer where the main idea was to help those widowed women, but I also thought about those who were separated or divorced, because they also live a grief,” the Salvadoran mother explained.
She then sought support in her parish to develop the social initiative and spoke with Father Hilario Avendaño, associate pastor of the parish.
The ministry coordinator said the outreach offers events with representatives of the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, with the objective of “teaching our community how to get a driver’s license because many times there has been a lot of abuse and fraud.”
“As St. James says, faith without works is dead faith, and our work is to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters, to be close, to accompany them, to guide them,” said Cader, who came to the United States 10 years ago. “Why not help those who have come here, trying to give them a hand and guide them so they don’t make the mistakes we may have made out of ignorance?”
Amid the moment of fear and uncertainty that many immigrants are experiencing, due to possible upcoming changes in federal migration policies, Cader tries to reassure immigrants who are struggling.
In addition to information and training events, the group of volunteers organizes activities to celebrate the Hispanic community culture and roots, such as the recent Hispanic Heritage Week.
“There were dances so that not only we as a Hispanic community could celebrate, but also the Anglo community could get to know them,” explained Cader, who emphasizes the mutual collaboration with the Anglo Social Justice Ministry of her parish.
In partnership with organizations such as Columbia Community Care, SAMU First Response, and Howard County, the outreach ministry has held clothing, cleaning kits, and food donation events. Every Saturday from 10 am to noon volunteers from the ministry and volunteers from Columbia Community Care distribute food.
Currently, the Pastoral Migratoria Ministry’s team meets on the second Tuesday of each month at the parish to plan and schedule activities or to meet if an emergency or project arises outside the annual schedule.
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