• Lenten Resources

    Learn more

  • Empowering Immigrants to be leaders in service, justice, and accompaniment in their parish communities.

    Learn More

  • Delivering systematic change and strengthening immigrant communities.

    Learn More

  • "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Mt 25:35)

    Learn More

  • Community resources on immigrant rights and various issues as well as Church teachings related to immigration

    Learn More

Pastoral Migratoria is an immigrant leadership ministry of formation, service, accompaniment, and justice. The ministry began in Chicago in 2008 and is now present in urban and rural parish communities across the United States.

Our vision is to create a culture and infrastructure in U.S. dioceses that empower immigrants to claim leadership as agents of their own development and change in their parish communities in the vision of Pope Francis.

Our Offerings

National Pastoral Migratoria provides a range of services and opportunities aimed at assisting dioceses and parish leaders in initiating and enhancing their own Pastoral Migratoria ministry.

For Parish Leaders

Explore resources that support the implementation and delivery of Pastoral Migratoria in your parish community, including formation training and service, accompaniment, and justice actions.

For Dioceses

Explore how to bring Pastoral Migratoria to your diocese and parish communities.

  • “Living in South Bronx, I would see people wanting to learn more about their faith to respond to the community’s many social problems and challenging situations. They had no one that could guide or accompany them. When I was invited to be part of PM in 2019, I knew it was God's way of telling me to take the first step and form myself to help others. My formation was in 2019…Since last year [2021], our community has received many newly arrived immigrants looking for asylum. Many of them stop by the H.A.N.D.S. community center where I volunteer and my parish PM ministry is housed. A recent group of young people touched my heart. They had been walking all day and had not found a place to help them. They were thirsty, had not eaten and were very sad... As a ministry, we gave them information, clothes, fed them, and accompanied them to a shelter. [The youngest was] the age of one of my children. It hurt me to see them like this. I started thinking about my son. And I told them they should never lose their faith; God was with them… Our PM ministry continues to serve and accompany others as Jesus did.”— Erica M., Pastoral Migratoria of St. Jerome Parish, Bronx, NY

    — Erica M., Pastoral Migratoria of St. Jerome Parish, Bronx, NY

  • “I was born [in Chicago] from a beautiful immigrant mother from a little town called Tequesquitlan , Jalisco in Mexico. My husband of 35 years, Cruz, frequently shared his stories and struggles of how he migrated here to the United States.  I was invited to join this ministry of Pastoral Migratoria by a dear sister in Christ, Amelia. I saw the passion, and knowledge of resources, these members have for their community and the immigrant people. I then continued to follow Amelia in attending meetings and marches. I completed my formation in June of 2021. I am so grateful to God for putting me in this path.  We recently provided accompaniment to a group of young people from Nicaragua. They arrived in the buses coming from Texas, and someone along the way provided them with our number. They needed legal advice and counseling and were searching for accompaniment. We connected them with resources and continued walking with them in their joys and sorrows. Their journey touched our lives as not too long ago their journey was our journey, but we continue with them as we know that Jesus would do as well.”

    — Nancy R., Pastoral Migratoria of Our Lady of the Heights, Chicago Heights

  • “Our community was impacted by COVID-19 with the loss of loved ones, closure of churches, businesses and schools. [The pandemic] changed our way of life. The personal impact it has had on me was very strong. At first, I went into depression. I couldn't sleep. I was terrified to go out, I thought I could get infected and infect my elderly parents. When I began to connect to Pastoral Migratoria’s weekly meetings, where we prayed together, and shared and developed ideas to personally help us and help our community, it helped me stay busy and calm my stress. I was part of the first virtual mental health forum that the ministry held which helped me calm down whenever I had those thoughts that disturbed my mind. I am now working with the ministry to organize first aid and mental health training in the hope that we can accompany other brothers and sisters who are going through this situation without knowing what to do. With the support of the ministry and prayers, we hope that very soon the response that we are developing can reach other communities and serve even more people in need.”

    — Rosario Y., Pastoral Migratoria of Saint Stanislaus of the Diocese of Stockton, California