Congregations sponsoring ministries at the border have established a Collaborative for Border Ministries and respond in various ways to the needs of People on the Move and victims of human trafficking. The following ministries make up the Collaborative for Border Ministries:
BORDER COMPASSION
Border Compassion invites Catholic and interfaith leadership, parishes, schools, LCWR women religious, and individuals from four Southern California dioceses to cross the U.S./Mexico border at Mexicali to offer a compassionate humanitarian response to families living at the Posada del Migrante Shelter, which houses up to 200 people.
Collaborative Representative:
Sr. Suzanne Jabro, CSJ
CASA CORNELIA LAW CENTER (CCLC),
is a ministry of the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, (SHCJ) It was founded in 1993 to provide quality legal services to victims of human and civil rights violations. Its focus has been on providing legal assistance to the immigrants seeking asylum, victims of violent crimes and trafficking and unaccompanied migrant children.
Carmen M. Chavez, Esq., Ex. Director
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Ann Durst, SHCJ, esq.
CASA DE LOS POBRES
is a Tijuana based center for the poor, founded in 1958, provides food, shelter and clothing for the needy in northern Baja. Ministry provides meals and medical services to those in need, both local and migrant. Sisters also provide food and shelter for hundreds of Haitian refugees seeking asylum in the US and manage a small hospital for mentally handicapped persons.
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Maru Espinoza, MFP
CASA DE MISERICORDIA
IGNATIAN VOLUNTEER CORPS (IVC) – SAN DIEGO
Ignatian Volunteer Corps, is a service organization for adults over 50, who desire to grow in their faith through direct service to those on the margins of our society. IVC Members support border-related projects including: shelter assistance; serving at-need educational sites for migrant children as well as ESL, tutoring, grant writing, etc.
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Anne Wente, RSCJ
RJM BORDER MINISTRIES TO MIGRANTS
Founded in 2017, this ministry is in response to the General Chapter enactments encouraging a ministerial preference for the vulnerable and poor, especially women and children. RJM Border Ministry offers support, spiritual presence and direct service to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers at the San Diego-Tijuana border.
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Rosemary Nicholson, RJM
MARY’S GUEST HOUSE
A ministry of the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary, SMSM, commonly known as the Marist Missionary Sisters, was established in 2005 to provide a safe, long term and homelike environment offering hope, refuge, and healing for women survivors of human trafficking.
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Christina Mac Lean, SMSM
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IMMIGRATION PROJECT (SCIP)
is a ministry of the Sisters of Social Service (SSS) and was founded in 2015 to provide pro bono legal services to immigrants with their primary focus on African and LGBTQ asylum seekers in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Elizabeth Lopez, SSS
STUDENTS WITHOUT LIMITS
SWOL is a 501(c)(3) organization addressing the on-going crisis of hundreds of at-risk immigrant youth. SWOL provides direct legal, mental health and education services to low-income undocumented youth and families at no cost in 20 underserved high schools across San Diego County.
Amie Scully, Esq., CEO
Collaborative Representative: Society of the Sacred Heart
RSCJ Border Ministry
In 2022 Border Ministry for the Society of the Sacred Heart reestablished ministry with People on the Move and front line workers (those who accompany migrants, refugees and asylum seekers). Border Ministry offers programs in collaboration with the Spiritual Ministry Center for front-line workers and supports volunteers, staff and asylum seekers at a shelter in Mexicali, Mexico, in collaboration with Border Compassion.
Collaborative Representative: Sr. Lisa Buscher, RSCJ
Border
Ministries
List Names of current Border Ministries and Congregation sponsorship
