CHARLOTTE — About 50 parishioners of St. Peter Church attended a recent discussion on immigration led by Jesuit Father Sean Carroll, executive director of the KINO Border Initiative in Nogales, Ariz. Father Carroll, visiting Charlotte’s Jesuit-staffed parish in June, updated people about the work of KBI as well as the impact of U.S. immigration, detention and deportation policies on the U.S.-Mexican border.
St. Peter parishioners have been supporting the KBI initiative for a while, with a delegation even going on an “immersion visit” to the Nogales area last summer to get an up-close view of the impact of U.S. border policies. The parish has also formed teams to accompany and mentor migrants and refugees in the Charlotte area.
Father Carroll described the Nogales area, where KBI’s Mexico and U.S. facilities lie only five miles apart from each other, as a place that contains tragedies of lost hope, triumphs of gained freedom, the darkness of inhumane abuses and the light of “a helping hand.” KBI serves as a refuge for immigrants who find themselves on either side of the border.
“Our goal is to make a path leading to light. We do not condone building a wall, but a bridge,” he said, echoing the words of Pope Francis.
“People flee the home countries due to economic need, family separation, violence, disaster and war. The ultimate goal is to create no need for migrants to flee. (There needs to be) a humane and reasonable path to citizenship so people do not dwell in the shadows and feel vulnerable. Targeted economic development with a viable way of life and peace (is the long-term goal),” he explained.
“A lot of migrants flee due to violence,” he continued. “For example, Nya and her 8-year-old grandson Kevin were accused by gang members in Honduras for telling on them to the police. Nya came home to find her house being burned down by gang members. She held her grandson’s hand tight and knew that it was time to get out. Their escape was difficult because they had to take the cargo train ‘La Bestia’ from Central America through Mexico. With the help of the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, it was amazing to see the transformation in Nya after only a couple of weeks. She became brighter and more confident. Eventually, Nya and Kevin were able to make arrangements to reunite with Kevin’s mother in Dallas, Texas.”
According to Ivette Fuentes, director of development and outreach for KBI, women and children are helped by providing them refuge in one of the six apartments the mission operates in Mexico. These women and children are in the process of asylum or in a transitional process. They are given meals and housing, and they make necklaces and bracelets to sell so they can find a bit of financial independence. However, these women and children do not represent the majority of the mission. The majority is mostly men who are deported back to Mexico from federal detention centers.
Father Carroll noted, “Right now we have six apartments we are using in Mexico. One is a shelter for women and children, one is where we serve meals, an advocacy office, donations area, group activities, and a place to host visitors. Our facilities are small and we are in process of buying a building for around $800,000 to $1,000,000. This building will help house 50 to 60 women and children instead of eight.”
Carroll described the average day at the KBI center in Nogales: “In the morning people lineup, around 40 (it used to be 80). They are greeted and seated and we pray with them. We create a home feel because a lot of these people come in feeling humiliated, like they don’t matter. They are then given a meal. They are able to make phone calls to loved ones. They are able to cash checks. A lot of them are given first aid due to injuries endured. They come in weak and dehydrated. Abuses are documented and recorded. The Mexican consulate comes to help with bus fare for Mexican citizens to return to their town of origin in Mexico. They are given clothes and dinner and leave (uplifted) in a humane manner.”
During his presentation, Father Carroll stressed the importance of dialogue in the immigration debate.
“Dialogue opens a path to consensus, which creates deeper solidarity. Deeper solidarity leads people to become more committed and finally change. Only then are solutions pursued. But the most important thing is to get the conversation going. Dialogue between party lines is crucial, especially at this time,” he said.
He also encouraged parishioners to write to their federal representatives, advocate on behalf of asylum-seekers, and pray. People may also donate items to help those KBI assists, especially shoelaces, men’s sneakers, men’s pants, women’s clothes, backpacks, Neosporin and travel-sized toiletries. To conduct a “Kino drive,” contact Ivette Fuentes at 520-287-2370. Packages can be UPS delivered to P.O. Box 159, Nogales, AZ 85628-0159.
— Lisa Geraci, Correspondent
CHARLOTTE — Feeding the hungry, helping people in a financial emergency, funding faith formation programs and supporting evangelization efforts are just some of the ways recipients of this year’s Diocese of Charlotte Foundation grant award winners will help others across the diocese.
The annual awards are given out based on need and the impact the funds are expected to have on their local communities.
This year $73,211 was awarded to 21 parishes and missions, six diocesan outreach ministries and six food pantries. Three direct assistance grants were also awarded to diocesan ministries. Four faith formation initiatives and a parish-sponsored pro-life outreach to local families also received grants.
The foundation grants ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. Since 2001, the foundation has awarded 335 grants totaling $838,489.
Some of the recipients of this year’s grants are the diocesan African Affairs Ministry office; Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte; Our Lady of the Mountains Mission in Highlands; and Catholic Charities’ Respect Life office.
“It is my immense pleasure to express our gratitude to the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte for granting funding for two projects to our church and to support a social service organization close to our hearts – the Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center,” said Father Francis Arockiasamy, parochial administrator of Our Lady of the Mountains Mission in Highlands.
The Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center provides free pre- and post-natal care and education for individuals and families in a two-plus county area in western North Carolina. Its mission is to advocate for life, and to make the choice to bear a child the reasonable, moral and attractive choice for those who otherwise are considering abortion.
“This grant, for $4,883, will significantly enhance the important educational support available for those who come to the Pregnancy Care Center. We are pleased to have a part in the fulfillment of its mission for life,” he said.
Father Arockiasamy expressed that the Highlands faith community is small, primarily fulfilling the spiritual needs of retired families. “Ours is a summer mountain resort town, and the majority of our congregation consists of seasonal parishioners and visitors. Balancing our uneven income with the requirements to maintain a year-round church is sometimes challenging.”
“This (second) grant, $4,428 for repairs and additions to our church-wide lighting system, will make a significant difference to our older communicants, enabling a more active participation in the liturgy. In addition, our ongoing expenses for lighting should be reduced to a more manageable level due to the efficiencies in the improved system,” he explained.
Joseph Purello, director of Social Concerns and Advocacy for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, also expressed thankfulness for the grants the agency received, especially the $2,500 award for the Respect Life office to offer a Spanish language program.
“Catholic Charities is very grateful to the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte for this grant,” Purello said. “With these funds, Catholic Charities will work in the coming year with the diocesan Hispanic Ministry Vicariates to expand access to Respect Life related educational events and resources. The grant-funded project ‘Evangelizing for Life – Evangelizar Para Toda la Vida’ will assist Catholic Charities as it witnesses to the sanctity of human life and proclaims that all human life is to be respected.”
For more information about Diocese of Charlotte Foundation grants, contact Ray Correia, diocesan director of planned giving, at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
2017 Diocese of Charlotte Foundation grant recipients
African American Affairs Ministry $5,000
Black history, cultural awareness and educational programs
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte $2,500
Respect Life education program, Spanish language program
Catholic Charities Central Regional Office $3,500
Provide baby clothes, diapers and equipment for eligible families
Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Office $2,500
Provide interpreters for the Refugee Cultural Orientation Program
Charlotte Vicariate Hispanic Ministry $2,500
Faith formation program
Greensboro Vicariate Hispanic Ministry $2,500
Fund formation programs for laity, update office equipment
Holy Redeemer Church in Andrews $4,900
Replace front entry doors
Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle $2,500
Food for Stanly Community Christian Ministry food pantry
Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte $5,000
St. Martin de Porres food pantry
Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro $2,500
Thanksgiving Baskets program to feed hungry in Greensboro
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte $2,500
Emergency aid for families separated from a deported parent
Our Lady of the Mountains Mission in Highlands $4,428
Lighting repairs and additional lighting
Our Lady of the Mountains Mission in Highlands $4,883
Funding for life-affirming local outreach to empower pregnant families
Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont $3,000
In-home Bible study program
St. Aloysius Church in Hickory $2,500
Hickory Soup Kitchen
St. Barnabas Church in Arden $2,500
St. Vincent de Paul ministry, provide emergency rent money to those in critical need
St. Eugene Church/St. Lawrence Basilica/St. Joan of Arc Church in Asheville $5,000
Financial assistance for those in crisis
St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson $2,500
Food for mobile food pantry
St. Helen Mission in Spencer Mountain $5,000
Parish evangelization program
St. Lucien Church in Spruce Pine $3,500
Ave Maria food pantry, update facility
St. Joseph Church in Kannapolis $2,000
Update equipment/purchase food for two local food pantries
St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville $2,000
Provide Thanksgiving Day community meal for those in need