Tuesday in Texas La Posada Providencia

This is where I spent the last two winters.  I hope to serve there again.  Does anyone want to be on this journey with me?  Become a Winter Texan!

La Posada Providencia's E-Newsletter Tuesday, July 24, 2018 Thank You Catholic Extension! Fr. Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension, presents a $25,000 check to Sister Margaret Mertens, CDP, Site Coordinator, and Andi Atkinson, Executive Director, during Catholic Extension's visit to La Posada July 12. Fr. Gary Graf (left) and Fr. Joseph Tito listen to client Jessica as she relays her story. On Thursday, July 12, 2018, La Posada welcomed several visitors from the Chicago, Il. area who came to learn more about immigrant families who flee from danger in their homelands to the United States. They were especially interested in learning more about the recent tragedy that some families are suffering as a result of being separated from their children at the southern U.S. border with Mexico. Visiting priests included: Rev. Gary Graf (St. Procopius/Providence of God Parish); Rev. Fred Pesek (Queen of the Rosary Parish); Rev. Tom Hurley (Old St. Patrick’s Church); Rev. Terry Keehan (Holy Family Parish); Rev. Bob Heinz (St. Norbert/Our Lady of the Brook) and Rev. Joseph Tito (St. Nicholas Parish (Evanston). Leading the visiting priests was Father Jack Wall, President of Catholic Extension and members of the Catholic Extension staff Joe Bolland, Tim Muldoon and Tom Gordon. The Catholic Extension Society has formed a new fund, the Family Reunification Fund as a response to the recent family separations. The Catholic Extension website explains “The fund will support ministries that provide direct outreach and advocacy for immigrant families separated as a consequence of our broken immigration system. The fund will mainly benefit existing ministries on the southern U.S. border with Mexico, specifically those that are actively sheltering, defending, and caring for immigrants and their families.” La Posada is the first beneficiary of the fund and was presented a check for $25,000. This unexpected gift could not have been more timely as we continue to welcome increased numbers of families with children, especially women and children. We are sincerely grateful for this support, THANK YOU! Accompanying the Chicago entourage were media representatives from WGN and ABC news. See related stories below: https://wgntv.com/2018/07/12/crossing-the-border-and-staying-together-shelter-helps-those-awaiting-court/ http://abc7chicago.com/religion/chicago-priests-visit-migrants-living-at-long-term-shelter-in-texas/3754215/ Families Reunited Reunited mother and son, William (left) and Dunia La Posada has had the privilege of assisting 8 families who successfully reunited with their children after being separated at the border. Recently, one such family from Honduras stayed at La Posada. Mom and son will stay with us until they can travel to their resettlement location in Philadelphia. Generous individuals and funders have donated airline miles and paid for other travel expenses making it easier for asylum seekers to reach their final destinations. To read more about our recent family, select the link below: https://m.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/asylum-seeker-reunited-with--year-old-son-in-brownsville/article_ead8bef5-f1ea-544d-b6c5-5496e74f5c1b.html?mode=jqm Donate to La Posada Help the stranger and give to La Posada online today using a secure server. Make a monetary donation using your credit or debit card DONATE NOW Connect with La Posada F O L L O W on F A C E B O O K F O L L O W on T W I T T E R VISIT our WEBSITE Present Client Census: 26 Clients representing 11 different countries 9 Women: 1-Russia, 1-Ukraine, 1-El Salvador, 1-Congo, 1-Zimbabwe, 2-Honduras, 1-Guatemala, 1-Eritrea 7 Children:  1-Russia, 1-El Salvador, 2-Honduras,1-Congo, 1-Guatemala, 1-Eritrea 10 Men: 1-Mexico, 2-Eritrea, 2-Cuba, 1-Cameroon, 2-El Salvador, 1-Guatemala, 1-Ukraine

La Posada Providencia, founded and sponsored by the Sisters of Divine Providence, is a ministry for people in crisis from around the world, who are seeking legal refuge in this country. The shelter staff provides a safe and welcoming home; mentors to promote self-sufficiency and cultural integration; and imparts values which witness God's Providence in our world.

EAPPI Latest

As most of you know I served with the World Council of Churches in 2013 as an Ecumenical Accompanier Palestine and Israel (EAPPI.) 

We were the guest at more than one of these Bedouin communities. 
We were shown generous hospitality. 

We listened to their stories of injustice! 

Our hearts were sad when we heard and saw the problems they and their children suffer. 




Below is the latest form an EAPPI Blog.

Khan Al Ahmar Bedouin community strives for justice amid grave daily challenges by EAPPI Khan Al Ahmar-2018 Photo by:EA Ecumenical Accompaniers from the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (WCC-EAPPI) report that residents, international non-governmental organizations, media, politicians have joined local Palestinian and Israeli peace activists in nonviolence resistance, protesting demolition actions by Israeli forces in the Khan al Ahmar Bedouin community. Khan al Ahmar is a Bedouin community located in East Jerusalem, in the E1 area. It is home to 32 families, 173 people, including 92 children and youths. The community has a mosque and a school, which was built in 2009 and serves more than 150 children between the ages of six and fifteen, from Khan al Ahmar and other nearby communities. On 24 May the Israel High Court approved the Israeli Defense Minister’s order to demolish Khan Al-Ahmar village. The High Court has now issued a temporary restraining order freezing the demolition and ordered the state to respond to the Palestinians’ claims by 11 July. After the state submits its response, the High Court will either decide to reject the petition and allow the state to resume the demolition process, or conduct deliberations that could delay or prevent the demolitions. The Khan Al Ahmar community has a history of being forced from their homes. The Bedouin village is home to a few dozen families from the Jahalin tribe, which was expelled from its home in the Negev to the West Bank in the 1950s. A spokesperson from Khan Al Ahmar community, Abu Khamis, believes there is a hidden agenda behind demolition orders. “Now it starts with us; later it will effect all Bedouin communities in West Bank in favor of illegal Israeli settlement expansion”, said Khamis. Abu Khamis expressed his hope saying” I hope that the international community understands the responsibility they hold here, knowing that these actions and threats jeopardize the achievement of a just peace in occupied Palestinian territories”.  “A large majority of its population is Palestinian refugees from 1948, who have very few sources of income left; they suffer a serious lack of health and welfare services. They live without basic infrastructure such as an electricity network, a sewage system or proper roads. Demolishing their homes and school would deprive them of all they have left.” EAPPI was created in 2002 by the WCC based on a letter and an appeal from local church leaders to create an international presence in the country. Read the statement by the WCC general secretary 13 July, 2018 EAPPI | 07/20/2018 at 12:40 PM | Categories: Advocacy & resources, Demolitions & evictions, EA Life, Land confiscation | URL: https://wp.me/p2XvuN-12l