I love to serve in the Migrant Ministry. It is a privilege to see the small blessings Our Lord gives us.

When I worry about the Migrant Ministry, somehow the worry leaves me after I pray, and my attitude changes and I feel lighter in my heart.

The farm workers show me their true faith. One of them told me a couple of days ago, he does not come for the clothing items we give them during the meals. He comes for the Mass. This makes my soul sing.

The sister of two farm workers died and the workers from different camps had a collection for them to fund a flight home for the funeral. Love thy neighbor.

I took leftover food from the Sunday dinner to two camps that could not come because they had to work, and they tell me they will not take but a few dishes so a third camp can get food as well.

I am so lucky to be around anyone who participates in the Migrant Ministry. The volunteers have such great dedication. They serve with their heart. Thank you, Lord, for putting me here among the Migrant Ministry farm workers and volunteers. I love them all.

Three farm workers arrived as early as the first week of February this growing season, anxious to work so they could feed their families back home. They started to work in a packaging plant on the rancher’s land which kept them out of the cold. The Migrant Ministry assembled large plastic bags that contained warm clothing, hygiene kits, quilts, religious articles, and shoes. We transported them to Sunday Mass, and they wanted to participate in it by taking up the offertory in thanksgiving for their safe trip to begin this year’s growing season.

Atilano did not return to his usual camp this year. He had been coming to a ranch in Fuquay for more than 24 years and had been a St. Bernadette parishioner. He attended Mass frequently. He texted me with the sad news. He is in his sixties and is thinking it would be too much for him to have to start working at a different camp out of our area. We will miss him.

The workers move in and out of the Migrant Ministry, due to

the rancher’s decision not to ask them to return to his camp

illness

family decision

age

While they are here, they are part of our parish family and when they move out of our care, we certainly miss them. We will keep them in our prayers.

Peace,

It always amazes me to see God’s hand in the Migrant Ministry.

He shows himself in the farm worker who is not returning to the camp that has been home to him for more than 15 years. He lands in an unknown far away camp from St. Bernadette parish and he calls me to let me know he has arrived, and can I help him find a Catholic parish nearby because he would like to attend Mass on Sundays.

“But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold” (Mt 13:23).

Here are some of the churches where the farm workers attend Mass on Sundays when they are back home in Mexico.

Nuestra Sra. De Belen

It’s a joy working with the guest farm workers every year.  If every parishioner could see what I see every time I take food & clothing to them at their camp, they would see our beloved Jesus Christ in these men that sacrifice so much for their families.  Even though their hands are calloused and rough looking, they hand me a bottle of water with such tender care.  Their faces are sunburned and eyes red from working in the tobacco fields, but their smiles light up my heart.  During harvest time their back muscles are screaming with pain, but they are ready to help me carry heavy boxes of produce from my car.

If I had a chance, I would give them the world because in a way they give me their world when we are together.

They know sacrifice as our Lord did and they show such love like our Lord shows us every day.

Peace.

The first guest farm workers arrived in the area in early February.    We had freezing temperatures when they got off the bus.  Some covered themselves with a blanket from head to toe.  Mexico has warm temperatures at this time of year, so the workers aren’t used to such cold temperatures.

Luis and Efraín from a camp about 20 minutes from St. Bernadette, were the first workers to contact me.  They asked if we could pick them up on Sunday so they could attend the 5:00 pm Mass.  Absolutely, I could.

When they arrived at the church, they asked to take the bread and wine to the altar during the Offertory in thanksgiving for arriving safely from their homes.

They have great faith and always place God first in their lives.

Peace.

I’m starting to hear the guys making plans for their return trip back home so it must be close to saying goodbye to them again.  Some are leaving mid-October (those that work with only tobacco), others mid-November (broccoli workers from Dupree) and the rest in December (die-hards like Luis from Closed Gate).

Two things happened during this year that are memorable:

In the previous years, when the Sunday meals started, the workers would ask if I needed help in setting up the tables and chairs and I would decline any help because I had volunteers coming to do that for me.  Then the workers would go into the Gathering area and wait for Mass to begin.

This year was different, they came into the social hall and started pulling out tables and chairs and I didn’t have the heart to decline their help.  They even placed the tablecloths on the tables with great care.  When we had free haircuts for them, I noticed a list of names on the clinic table.  One of the workers had started a list so whoever wanted a haircut would place his name on the list rather than stand in line for their turn.  Then I understood, the workers are owning this event.  They are parishioners of St. Bernadette, and this is what parishioners do; they organize and help.  They don’t want to be treated as guests, they are parishioners, and they belong here.  A lot of them have been parishioners for 24 years; more than probably many of us.  They have made a statement and we hear them.

The second thing that happened during this growing season was more evidence of the Holy Spirit engrained in the Migrant Ministry.

I used to worry about not having enough drivers, shirts, etc. for the workers but not anymore.  It was the last Sunday meal for this year, and I needed one more driver.  I was standing in the gathering area after the 9:30 Mass on Sunday and someone came up to me and said she was ready to drive.  Evidently, Linda and I had talked about the Migrant Ministry previously and I had told her to check back with me when she was ready to drive.  She was willing to drive that day and when I told her the camp where she would go was difficult to find, she knew exactly where it was because she lived about 10 minutes from there.  She asked what time was pick-up for the return trip and I said a volunteer was offering free haircuts so maybe around 6:40 pm.  She said I’m a professional barber and I’d like to cut their hair as well.  Oh my gosh, I was stunned that day.  This happens to me often when I’m working with the Migrant Ministry, and I know the Holy Spirit is working through us for the migrant workers.

Blessings.

Thank you, Holy Name of Jesus, and Raleigh Diocese folks, for a delicious meal!

I love to serve in the Migrant Ministry. It is a privilege to see the small blessings Our Lord gives us.

When I worry about the Migrant Ministry, somehow the worry leaves me after I pray, and my attitude changes and I feel lighter in my heart.

The farm workers show me their true faith. One of them told me a couple of days ago, he does not come for the clothing items we give them during the meals. He comes for the Mass. This makes my soul sing.

The sister of two farm workers died and the workers from different camps had a collection for them to fund a flight home for the funeral. Love thy neighbor.

I took leftover food from the Sunday dinner to two camps that could not come because they had to work, and they tell me they will not take but a few dishes so a third camp can get food as well.

I am so lucky to be around anyone who participates in the Migrant Ministry. The volunteers have such great dedication. They serve with their heart. Thank you, Lord, for putting me here among the Migrant Ministry farm workers and volunteers. I love them all.

Three farm workers arrived as early as the first week of February this growing season, anxious to work so they could feed their families back home. They started to work in a packaging plant on the rancher’s land which kept them out of the cold. The Migrant Ministry assembled large plastic bags that contained warm clothing, hygiene kits, quilts, religious articles, and shoes. We transported them to Sunday Mass, and they wanted to participate in it by taking up the offertory in thanksgiving for their safe trip to begin this year’s growing season.

Atilano did not return to his usual camp this year. He had been coming to a ranch in Fuquay for more than 24 years and had been a St. Bernadette parishioner. He attended Mass frequently. He texted me with the sad news. He is in his sixties and is thinking it would be too much for him to have to start working at a different camp out of our area. We will miss him.

The workers move in and out of the Migrant Ministry, due to

the rancher’s decision not to ask them to return to his camp

illness

family decision

age

While they are here, they are part of our parish family and when they move out of our care, we certainly miss them. We will keep them in our prayers.

Peace,