by Natasha B. | Dec 4, 2018 | CMS in the News, Immigration, More News, News, Parish Outreach
On Saturday, December 1st the faithful of the Diocese of Brooklyn gathered for the Annual Diocesan Migration Day Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph. Immigrants from Brooklyn and Queens celebrated the richness of their faith and diversity dressed in traditional attire and carrying banners from their respective countries and home parishes. It was truly a multicultural experience for those in attendance.
Media Coverage:
Read the full story in The Tablet: Unity Through Christ on Migration Day
See Current’s NET TV’s news segment: Migration Day Mass
by Natasha B. | Dec 3, 2018 | CMS in the News, Immigration, Legal Services, News
Read the original story from the World Journal in Chinese: 申請入籍 移民組織免費協助
Reporter Yan Jieen, New York, reported at 06:00 on December 2, 2018
New York City’s multiple immigrant rights organizations provide legal advice on citizenship in Brooklyn (Brooklyn) on the 1st (Saturday) and help green card holders fill out the naturalization application form at no charge; the organizer said that in Trump Under the atmosphere of the government’s drastic immigration policy, the consultation activities will enable the public to apply for naturalization.
The event took place from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, the Catholic Migration Services and many other legal institutions, providing about 50 volunteers. The field serves the green card holder who wants to apply for naturalization.
The organizers said that legal services have always been expensive. Immigrants only have to pay 725 yuan to submit the application form. “Not everyone can afford it.” People in marginal areas may not be able to access perfect legal services. Decided to hold similar events throughout New York City to help applicants who need it.
The organizer explained that the applicants who attended the event on the same day had legal screening (Legal Screenings), including confirmation of visas, identity documents and legal documents, etc. They only need to carry a green card, social security number and passport, and have obtained public welfare. Applicants (Public Benefits) must obtain a letter from the relevant agency.
The Trump administration’s immigration policy has tightened, and the recent amendments to the “Public Charge” rules have made many green card holders afraid that the naturalization application will be affected. However, the organizers reiterated that the amendment has not yet been finalized. Most people will not be implicated, reminding people not to be ignorant; on the contrary, people should actively participate in the resources provided by the community and understand the relevant procedures, “to be more confident in responding to naturalization applications.”
In addition to the activities on the day, the organizers said that people who need to apply for citizenship assistance can call the hotline (212)-225 4400 to confirm that they meet the naturalization requirements, and then arrange an appointment with the citizenship clinic.
by Natasha B. | Oct 29, 2018 | CMS in the News, Immigration, Legal Services, News
Catholic Migration Services is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a two-year grant from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to help Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) apply for United States citizenship. This is a highly competitive grant, with only two grant recipients in New York City and only forty in the entire United States.
Receipt of this highly competitive award is a recognition of the outstanding work performed by our staff and dedicated volunteers, and by our partner, LaGuardia Community College. Through our partnership, LPRs obtain coordinated naturalization services, with Catholic Migration Services providing legal services and LaGuardia Community College providing civics and ESL classes. Together, we help more than 500 LPRs become citizens each year! These new citizens can now enjoy the rights and privileges that come with citizenship, including the right to vote.
Our citizenship work is especially important now, when immigrants are facing new and difficult barriers to achieving the dream of citizenship. Unfortunately, government grants do not fully cover the costs of this critical work. Please support our citizenship work so that we can continue to ensure that all LPRs have an opportunity to fulfill the dream of American citizenship.
by Natasha B. | Oct 23, 2018 | CMS in the News, Immigration, Legal Services, News, Parish Outreach
On Friday, October 12th and October 19th, Catholic Migration Services hosted the 2018 Annual Shining Star Award Dinners at Gargulio’s Restaurant in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Approximately 1000 attendees gathered to celebrate honorees who, through their efforts in their communities embody the mission of “welcoming the stranger among us”.
This year 30 leaders representing 29 ethnic ministries received Shining Star Awards. Honorees were selected by their peers in their respective ethnic ministries and were treated to an evening of festivities which included the award ceremony, dinner, and dancing. The 2018 program introduced Rev. Jason Espinal, Associate Vicar for Migration and Ethnic Apostolates and the Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Angels in Brooklyn. Fr. Espinal offered the Invocation and introduced Very Rev. Patrick J. Keating, Esq., CEO of Catholic Migration Services for the Opening Address. In his address, Fr. Keating shared the importance of the role of the immigrant community in the life of the community and Church.
Following the presentation of awards, Fr. Keating welcomed the Most Rev. Witold Mroziewski, Vicar for Migrants and Ethnic Apostolates, Pastor of Holy Cross Church in Maspeth, and the former Coordinator of the Polish Apostolate who later introduced the Most Rev. Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop of Brooklyn for the Keynote Address. In his address, Bishop DiMarzio spoke about the diversity of the Diocese of Brooklyn, fondly known as the Diocese of Immigrants. He congratulated the honorees, their work and commitment to their parish communities, the Church, the City, and the Nation. Bishop DiMarzio also informed those present of the proposed change to Public Charge reiterating that Catholic Migration Services will continue to serve, inform, and advocate on behalf of the immigrant community, the backbone of our Diocese.
2018 Shining Star Award Honorees
Ms. Maricoeur Altidor – 2018 Haitian Shining Star
Mrs. Ana Lucia Teixeira Alves – 2018 Brazilian Shining Star
Mrs. Sharon Andrews – 2018 West Indian Shining Star
Mrs. Susana Villegas Armas – 2018 Ecuadorian Shining Star
Ms. Lourdes Batiz – 2018 Garifuna Shining Star
Mrs. Lesia Brykailo – 2018 Ukrainian Shining Star
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Jim & Daisy Calungsod – 2018 Filipino Shining Star
Mrs. Georgeann Campbell – 2018 African-American Shining Star
Ms. Giuditta Coccia, A.O. – 2018 Italian Shining Star
Mr. Walter L. Cooper – 2018 Irish Shining Star
Mr. Arturo Vazquez Diaz – 2018 Mexican Shining Star
Mr. Janusz Grabinski – 2018 Polish Shining Star
Mr. Joaquin Gonzalez – 2018 Shining Star (Spain)
Mrs. Teresa L. Gonzalez – 2018 Shining Star (Cuba)
Mrs. Anna Hlavata – 2018 Czech/Slovak Shining Star
Mr. Saleen Jan – 2018 Pakistani Shining Star
Mr. Terence Nedumparambil Joseph – 2018 Indian Latin Rite Shining Star
Mr. Ji Lin – 2018 Brooklyn Chinese Shining Star
Mr. Phoung Cong Nguyen – 2018 Vietnamese Shining Star
Mr. Enoch Opoku-Mensah – 2018 Ghanaian Shining Star
Mrs. Gladys N. Ozoude – 2018 Nigerian Shining Star
Mrs. Maria Rosario – 2018 Dominican Republic Shining Star
Mr. Yaicinio Rojas Sanchez – 2018 Colombian Shining Star
Mr. Kyung Soo Shin – 2018 Korean Shining Star
Mr. Raimundas Slizys – 2018 Lithuanian Shining Star
Mr. David Triestanto – 2018 Indonesian Shining Star
Ms. Veronica Y. Tsang – 2018 Queens Chinese Shining Star
Media Coverage:
Read the full story in The Tablet: Catholic Migration Services’ Shining Star Awards
See Current’s NET TV’s news segment: Lithuanian “Shining Star” Honoree Helps Restore Brooklyn Church
See Current’s NET TV’s news segment: “Shining Star” Businesswoman Devoted to Faith and Finance
Current’s NET TV’s Full News Coverage: Monday, October 22, 2018
by Natasha B. | Oct 12, 2018 | CMS in the News, Immigration, Legal Services, News
Catholic Migration Services joins the New York Immigration Coalition and over eighty partners in New York Counts 2020, a coalition to maximize participation in the census and therefore counter the expected impact of the citizenship question if added to the 2020 census. If included, a citizenship question will stoke unnecessary fear in immigrant communities and could result in a significant undercount, particularly already under-counted racial and ethnic minority groups. With immigrants constituting nearly 1 out of 4 New Yorkers, an undercount in the 2020 Census will have catastrophic consequences – costing all New Yorkers political power and billions of dollars in federal funding for key services.
Read the full press release from the New York Immigration Coalition: BREAKING: DOJ Reveals Bannon Behind Census Citizenship Question
by Natasha B. | Oct 12, 2018 | CMS in the News, Immigration, Legal Services, News
On Wednesday, a dozen people among library staff and volunteers stuffed 300 backpacks with children’s books in Spanish and art supplies to be distributed among children and adolescents placed in the care of organizations in New York. Catholic Migration Services is among the list of organizations advocating for immigrants’ rights and legal services to bring books to minors.
Read the full story in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle: Brooklyn Public Library brings books and art materials to migrant children separated from their parents
