July / August 2019, Vol. 37, No. 7
The official publication of the Diocese of Austin
En Español: Páginas 27-30
RGV respite center welcomes asylum seekers By Shelley Metcalf | Editor
A delegation of four from the Diocese of Austin traveled to the Rio Grande Valley June 21-23 to help at the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, which is run by Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley. The delegates were Vianey Hernández, the diocesan Missions coordinator; Allison Cavazos, parish relations coordinator at Catholic Charities of Central Texas; Steve Macy, who serves on the Diocesan Mission Advisory Council; and Pat Macy, who recently retired as director of Social Justice Ministries at St. Austin Parish in Austin. The group helped with various tasks at the center including sorting donated clothing and feeding those waiting at the respite center. While there, they also presented Missionaries of Jesus Sister Norma Pimentel, the director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, with a check for $25,000 from the 2018 Diocese of Austin Ashes to Easter Grant Program. The respite center provides temporary shelter, donated clothing, meals, baths, but most importantly compassionate support for immigrants seeking asylum. Hernández said their work at the center was difficult but rewarding. “When we arrived in McAllen on Friday we were asked to help in the kitchen as they prepared to feed all of the people in the respite center. We quickly ran out of the donated sandwiches and tacos, so we had to improvise and make soup to feed the rest of the 750 people in the center. After three hours we had served everyone,” she said. Saturday’s work included sorting the donated clothing received at the respite center. “Our job on Saturday was to sort through the clothing donations then
help families find clothes they needed,” Hernández said. The clients come in, often wearing the clothes they have been in for a week or more. Cavazos said the work accomplished at the respite center is a testament of faith. “Despite the circumstances that led the families to flee to the United States, and despite whatever they faced on their long journeys, the families at the respite center had hope,” she said. “This stop was one step closer to being reunited with loved ones in the United States. A place to be greeted with a smile and treated with dignity –– and to receive a hot shower, a warm meal, and clean clothes for the journey.” It is important to note the people who are staying at the respite center are there legally. They traveled to the U.S. border and then presented themselves to the U.S. Border Patrol where they requested asylum. “Most are seeking asylum from the Central American Triangle (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador) where it is both dangerous and filled with poverty,” Steve Macy said. Once they are processed by the Border Patrol, they are sent by bus to the respite center where they may stay until they have completed arrangements to go to relatives where they will await their court hearing regarding their asylum request. The respite center provides phones for the asylum seekers to contact their families to let them know they are in the U.S., and to make sure their relatives are ready to take them in. Volunteers make travel arrangements (most travel by bus) for the asylum seekers as well as put together a travel packet including the itinerary, their documents and a note on the outside of the envelope that explains their journey. The families of the asylum seekers provide the money for the transporta-
tion as well as money for the travelers. While they are waiting for their bus, they are provided three meals a day, clothing and a place to sleep. “We helped between 750 and 1,000 people on the days we were there,” Steve Macy said. “Most were families with both parents or one parent and young children.” The people had few if any possessions other than the clothes on their backs. The children had no toys, so they were given paper and were very creative in making airplanes. Many people simply were resting, exhausted from their long trip. They were also very quick to volunteer whenever work needed to be done, he said. “Before putting down the mats for sleeping, the floors had to be swept and mopped. Several women immediately volunteered and got it done quickly. Then, the men put down the mats,” Steve Macy said. Pat Macy said the trip was a good reminder that all are called to serve.
“Our Catholic social teachings call for all of us to live in solidarity with our brothers and sisters on their journey. Also, in Matthew 25, we are called by Jesus to feed, clothe and welcome the stranger among us,” she said. Both Steve and Pat Macy welcomed the opportunity to help serve those seeking asylum. “Our trip was a gift to us, especially witnessing the volunteers, staff and asylum seekers all working toward the goal of making their journey a little bit easier and safer,” the Macys said. A donation page is available at www.catholiccharitiesrgv.org/Donations.aspx. A list of items that are needed is provided there; donations can be made there via credit card as well. Checks can be mailed to Humanitarian Respite Center, c/o Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, 700 N. Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589; please specify the donation is for the Humanitarian Center.
From June 21-23 a delegation from the Diocese of Austin traveled to the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen. They helped serve in various capacities including preparing food and sorting clothing. The delegates also presented Missionaries of Jesus Sister Norma Pimentel, the director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, with a check for $25,000 from the Diocese of Austin Ashes to Easter Grant Program. (Photo courtesy Steve Macy)
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