No to State of Emergency on the Border, Yes to Human Rights
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns condemns President Trump's emergency declaration and calls on Congress to enact immigration policies that protect human rights.
Migrants
Maryknoll missioners have worked with migrants and people on the move for decades. They have served Burmese refugees in Thailand, Thai workers all over Asia, Burundian and Rwandan refugees in East Africa, and have accompanied Guatemalans, who, after years in Mexico, returned home to start anew in a more peaceful country. Our faith compels us to stand in solidarity with migrants.
Here in the United States, we are profoundly affected by the contribution of migrants in our society, and we have a responsibility to treat them, like all the rest of God’s creation, with dignity and respect.
Faith Community to Congress: Reduce Funding for Unchecked Immigration Enforcement
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined thirty-six national, faith-based organizations calling on Congress to rein in funding for unchecked, unaccountable detention, deportation, and border enforcement policies.
Faith leaders defend right to asylum
We call on Congress to reverse the course of the Trump administration.
Maryknoll Leadership Statement on the Migrant Caravan
A call for compassion and transformation.
Faith Leaders Oppose Lowest Resettlement Goal In History
Leaders of faith-based organizations oppose the historically low resettlement goal for Fiscal Year 2019 and urge the Trump administration to resettle 75,000 refugees.
Maryknoll leadership statement on the ongoing "zero tolerance" and family separation crisis
As the leadership of the Maryknoll Sisters, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, we denounce the cruel and immoral “zero-tolerance” immigration policy enacted by the Trump Administration which has resulted in the separation of over 2,300 children from their parents, the criminal prosecution of anyone who crosses the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, and severe restrictions on asylum applications.
Maryknoll Missioners stand with immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and Africa
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns issued the following statement on January 16, 2018.
Save the Dreamers, Justice for Immigrants
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns issued the following press statement on September 5, 2017.
Catholic groups send letter to Congress on welcoming Syrian refugees
On November 20, 14 Catholic organizations, including the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, sent a statement to members of Congress regarding the Syrian refugee crisis and the need to welcome Syrian refugees.
Maryknoll calls for compassionate welcome of Syrian refugees of all faith traditions
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns issued a statement on the Syrian refugees.
Maryknoll responds to Obama’s decision to defer deportation for millions
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns congratulates President Obama for his Nov. 20 announcement to take executive action to provide protection from deportation for possibly five million undocumented persons.
Toward global solidarity: Maryknoll leadership statement on migration
The following statement was approved on September 6, 2006 by Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers General Council, the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic Congregational Leadership Team, and the Maryknoll Lay Missioners Association Leadership Team.
Articles, alerts, events
Religious groups oppose State Department’s upgrade of Malaysia’s trafficking status
Maryknoll and 13 other religious organizations sent a letter to members of a Congressional conference committee to express deep moral concerns related to H.R. 644, the “Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015” (also referred to as the Customs bill), particularly that the final bill could weaken strong anti-trafficking provision in the trade promotion authority bill signed into law June 29.
Trade: Human rights violations by TPP nations
Public Citizen released this press release on the occasion of the publication of the State Department's annual human rights report on June 25.
Myanmar: Rohingya face discrimination, exploitation
The recent surge of 4,000 Rohingya migrants that fled Myanmar and Bangladesh in April and May illustrates a story rooted in discrimination and ostracism based on anti-Muslim bias that permeates the Buddhist-majority nation of Myanmar.
Eliminate detention bed quota for immigrants
The U.S. has the largest immigration detention infrastructure in the world. The expansion of this system in recent years is partly due to the immigration detention bed quota, policy passed by Congress under which 34,000 immigrants are held in ICE detention at any given time: “. . . funding made available under this heading shall maintain a level of not less than 34,000 detention beds.” This policy is unprecedented; no other law enforcement agency operates on a quota system.
Tell ICE: Release mothers on hunger strike at ICE detention center
Women held in a Texas Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) prison work for $3/day, their children's health is deteriorating, and many haven't been given the opportunity to post a reasonable bond for their release.
Resources for March-April 2015 NewsNotes
Resources on International Women's Day, World Water Day, Earth Day, the crisis at the border, and more ...
Central America: Biden Plan is more of the same
The following article was written by Marek Cabrera, the Central America intern for the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, and was published in the March-April 2015 NewsNotes.
Say no to anti-migrant HR 1148
The House Judiciary Committee will be considering the Michael Davis Jr., in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act (HR 1148), a very negative bill that would harm our communities and congregations.
Support the End Modern Slavery Initiative Act of 2015
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns endorses the recently introduced End Modern Slavery Initiative Act, sponsored by Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN).
Protect Haitian migrants in Dominican Republic
On January 27, 51 people, including 30 Dominican-born children, some of their mothers and 14 other adults were deported without due process to Haiti from the Dominican Republic. More mass deportations of Dominicans of Haitian descent and Haitian migrants are feared.
2014 vigil at SOA, Stewart Detention Center
On November 21-23, over 2,000 people gathered at the gates of Ft. Benning in Columbus, GA to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the murders of six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her daughter at the Universidad Centroamericana (University of Central America, UCA) in El Salvador. Those responsible for the massacre were military leaders who had trained at the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA), located at Ft. Benning; the program has been re-named the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).
No longer slaves, but brothers and sisters
Pope Francis’ address for the World Day of Peace, January 1, 2015 was a strong condemnation of the various systems of slavery that deny our shared humanity.
Call Congress this week; urge just, humane immigration reform
Take action and call Congress during National Migration Week, Jan. 4-10, 2015.
National call in days to protect families from deportation, Dec. 9-12
Another round of call in days will be held this week, Dec. 9-12, to urge Congress to protect families from deportation.
Contact the White House and urge broader relief for undocumented immigrants
Immigrant rights groups and faith communities across the country have been urging the administration to take bold, concrete actions to stop the pain that families and communities face due to deportations.
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Scripture reflections
Feast of the Holy Family
December 30, 2018
Maryknoll Father Jack Sullivan reflections on the Holy Family and the call to recognize holy families today.
Fifth Sunday of Lent
March 12, 2018
Maryknoll Sister Miriam Frances Perlewitz in Bangladesh reflects on the need for a clean heart and steadfast spirit when facing life's challenges.
First Sunday of Advent
December 3, 2017
Kevin Carroll, nonviolence and peace fellow at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, reflects on his students who have awakened him to hope and peace on this first Sunday of Advent.
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 22, 2017
The following reflection was prepared by Judy Coode in 2014, while working with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. Ms. Coode is the coordinator of the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative, a project of Pax Christi International.
Second Sunday of Lent
March 12, 2017
Alfonso Buzzo, former Peace Fellow, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, writes about seeing Jesus in the suffering migrants and refugees along the U.S.-Mexico border.
18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
July 31, 2016
Father John Northrup writes about his mission experience in Mexico in this week's reflection.
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 19, 2016
Father Jack Northrup is a Maryknoll missioner serving in El Salvador.
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
September 13, 2015
Fr. Mike Gilgannon, who served in Peru, wrote the following reflection which was published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.
Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
April 26, 2015
Sr. Carol Marie McDonald serves as a missioner in Central America, most recently in El Salvador.
Baptism of our Lord
January 11, 2015
Fr. John Sivalon, MM, who served in Tanzania, wrote the following reflection. It is also published in A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year B, available from Orbis Books.
Feast of All Saints
November 1, 2014
The following reflection was prepared by Fr. Dave Schwinghamer, who spent much of his mission life in Tanzania. He currently serves with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
October 26, 2014
The following reflection was prepared by Judy Coode who works at the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns.
29th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)
October 19, 2014
The following reflection was prepared by Cecelia Aguilar Ortiz, a former Maryknoll lay missioner in Thailand
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
September 28, 2014
Fr. Paul Masson has served as a missioner in Chile and on the U.S.-Mexico border.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 17, 2014
Br. John Beeching has spent years in Thailand, and share many beautiful reflections about living his Christian life surrounded by Buddhism.
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Related links
- Border Action Network
- Christian Campaign for Immigration Reform
- Forced Migration Online
- Franciscans International's Handbook on Human Trafficking
- Franciscans International's Handbook on Migrant Workers
- Humane Borders
- International Organization for Migration
- Justice for Immigrants
- Migration Information Source
- Migration Policy Institute
- No More Deaths campaign
- Refugees International
- U.S. Catholic bishops and immigration: A chronology
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants