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CMS Builds Community at St. Michael’s Parish in Brooklyn

Ben's Fotos 027Continuing the celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Thursday December 12th, CMS’ Linea Laboral Coordinator, Ben Petersen, attended mass with parishioners of St.Michael’s Church in Sunset Park ,Brooklyn. Prior to the mass, Ben marched with parishioners in a procession, led by priests carrying the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe and followed by a full mariachi band. Though it was very cold and windy,participants were enthusiastic about honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and carried roses and flowers along the route, which they laid at her alter upon reaching the cathedral. (more…)

CMS connects with the Mexican Community in Long Island City

OLG St Raphael #3

Parishioners of St. Raphael in Long Island City enjoy the Our Lady of Guadalupe festivities.

On Saturday December 6th Outreach Assistant Rebecca Rybaltowski attended a celebration for Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Raphael parish in Long Island City. During the celebration Rebecca informed parishioners about Linea Laboral. She encouraged parishioners to contact Linea Laboral if they or anyone they knew experienced unsafe work conditions and other workplace abuses commonly suffered by immigrants in New York City. (more…)

CMS Staff Members Act in the Spirit of Mercy

CMS Staff

Outreach Assistant and Mercy Volunteer Corps member Alumni Rebecca Rybaltowski stands besides current Mercy Volunteer Corps member and Linea Laboral Operator Benjamin Petersen during an immigrant reform rally.

In 2011 CMS and the Mercy Volunteer Corps began a partnership in the spirit of mercy and justice by embracing compassionate service,social justice,spirituality and a simple lifestyle in community. In our shared mission to empower undeserved communities we offer volunteers from across the nation the opportunity to gain hands on experience working with migrant communities in issues of labor, housing and immigration. This year our Mercy Volunteer Corps members are Adam Augustyn and Benjamin Petersen. Both volunteers were featured in the Mercy Volunteer Corps blog as they recount experiences which reconcile their Mercy Volunteer Corps principles with their professional and personal lives. (more…)

CMS and the Guatemalan Consulate Provide Immigration Resources to the Guatemalan Community

On Saturday November 23rd Outreach Assistant Rebecca Rybaltowski participated in an immigration informational event organized by the mobile Guatemalan Consulate at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Far Rockaway, NY. The event gave Guatemalans an opportunity to obtain passports, identification cards and renew their passports and identification cards. The event began at 9:00 a.m. and ended at 4:00p.m and over 900 people of the small close knit Guatemalan community gained access to the different services. (more…)

CMS and QHC Attend a Health Conscious Meeting

On Wednesday November 20th the Queens Housing Coalition met at St. Sebastian Parish in Woodside, Queens where a representative from Fidelis Health Care educated members about the Affordable Health Care Act. A representative from Make the Road New York presented information on the efforts to create more smoke-free housing options for all New Yorkers as well as how members of the QHC could change the healthy food options in their community.

Dahlia Goldenberg, Queens Health Organizer from The Partnership for a Healthier Queens informed members about the health risks associated with living in buildings that are not smoke free. She stressed that second-hand smoke can cause cancer.Young children and the elderly are particularity vulnerable to the chronic illness (more…)

Catholic Migration Services Fall Benefit in Review

On Friday November 8th CMS staff gathered with major donors and longtime supporters of CMS at the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. This gathering was sponsored by Time Warner, Inc. which shares CMS’ commitment to civic engagement. Guest were treated to live music by Robert Marcic and a great view of Central Park and the surrounding cityscape. (more…)

CMS Educates Parishioners on DACA and ITIN

Rebecca Rybaltowski, Outreach Assistant communicates information to parishioners about DACA and ITIN.

On Sunday October 20th over 40 parishioners at Holy Family-St. Thomas Aquinas attended an informational session on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the stall on immigration reform and the impact of recent reform in healthcare. (more…)