Migrant Ministry

Welcome to the Migrant Ministry

It’s hard to imagine being at the mercy of others to get to Mass, but that’s the case for Migrant Workers who are in our area as Guest Farmworkers. We have such a great gift right here in our Parish community to encounter Jesus in the stranger, and welcome Him as He called us to do. Please prayerfully consider the Migrant Ministry and help us ensure our Guest Farmworkers have the means to attend Mass.

Hundreds of men annually work on contract (H-2A visas) with local growers to produce tobacco and other cash crops. These guest workers arrive by bus throughout the growing season and live together in “camps” on the grower’s land, where they are typically isolated by language, lack of transportation and long hours of work. Volunteers from Saint Bernadette offer a vital link to parish life to farm workers.

With the help of volunteers, the office of Social Outreach plans, coordinates and conducts outreach and advocacy with farm workers. Whether or not you speak Spanish, there are many ways you can serve.

Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ — Matthew 25:37-40

What Can I Do to Serve?

Provide transportation to Mass on Sunday

Every Sunday during growing season(March to November), groups of volunteers from St. Bernadette follow a lead driver along one of three routes (Angier, Fuquay-Varina, Willow Spring) to pick up farm workers, bring them to the 5 PM Sunday Mass and then return them home after dinner (approximately 7 PM). We meet at the church at 3:15 PM and travel together; you do not need to be familiar with the local countryside to drive. Each week we rely on approximately 15 volunteers to serve in this ministry. Schedules are set by Thursday for the coming Sunday. You can drive as often or as infrequently as you like.

Drivers to and from Mass are our greatest ongoing need. Please prayerfully consider participating in this outreach. Sign up by emailing Gloria Azcona (outreach@stbnc.net) or by calling the Social Outreach office 919-552-8758.

Men’s clothing is collected year-round and distributed to farmworkers throughout the growing season. The men can bring only two small bags with them and throughout the season they need gently used or new clothing. Clothing is distributed after Mass on Sunday evenings.

-Men’s long sleeve dress shirts (S, M, L) which are worn to work as protection from sun exposure, pesticide exposure and green tobacco sickness.

-Pants (greatest need is for waist sizes 32-36 and length 30 and 32)

-T shirts and shorts for after work, especially sizes M and L (W: 32, 34, 36)

-Baseball caps for work, sun and pesticide protection

-Bicycle style boxer shorts (New only) made with lycra to protect against chafing while working in the fields.

Donate men’s clothing

Volunteer at the Sunday evening screening clinic

Nurses, EMTs, mid-level providers and physicians volunteer at a weekly screening clinic held from June through September at St. Bernadette after the 5 PM Mass on Sundays. Farmworkers are seen on Sundays. Our clinic is screening only. No acute care and no treatment or diagnosis. In some cases, we arrange transport to an ER via the Farmworker Project or the grower. Interpreters are also needed (1/week). Time commitment: Approximately 2 hours/week, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Donate over the counter (OTC) medications

OTCs are available in the screening clinic and on visits by staff to the camps. Many farmworkers have limited access to stores and medications, and they may not have the English language skills needed to read labels and instructions. The clinic collects OTC medications and vitamins that can be distributed by volunteers to workers and under the advisement of healthcare professionals on an “as-needed” basis. Donations can be dropped off at Social Outreach during regular office hours or on Sundays between 3 and 5 pm. For information on farmworker health issues, go to: https://nfwm.org/education-center/farm-worker-issues/health-safety/

Especially in demand: Ibuprofen, Dramamine, Benadryl, antifungals and hydrocortisone, all of which are used in the treatment of work-related conditions.

Serve on the spiritual care team

The parish community is invited to accompany the pastor to the camps on Thursdays during the month of June for house blessings, Mass and Catholic fellowship. The group meets at the church at 7 PM and travels together. Time commitment: approximately three hours.

Donate blankets, sheets and bedding

St. Bernadette has a ministry, “Our Brother’s Keeper” that makes and donates quilts to those in need, including farmworkers. For more information on this ministry, contact Susan Koontz at 984-999-1013.

Donate financially

You can donate online by clicking the Donate button below. Include Migrant Ministry in the section on the form “Are you donating to any specific fund?”

Every dollar goes to helping provide food, clothing, and emergency needs. We are truly grateful for your generosity.

Gloria’s Notes from the Fields

Good Friday, 4/19/19

I know in my heart God is great, but I am still amazed how he shows himself in different ways, especially this year during Holy Week.

On the evening of Good Friday, I received a phone call from Hugo, one of the farm workers from a camp in Angier letting me know they had arrived for this year’s growing season. After a few pleasantries, I asked how many farm workers were at his camp and he said none. The rancher had loaned everyone out to different camps (which is unusual) and he and Luis were in Creedmoor, an hour away. When the farm workers arrive for the season, we welcome them with clothing, shoes, blankets, toiletries, rosaries and a few other items. I said I would go to Creedmoor possibly the next day, if not, on Monday. When they had left their camp in Angier, they weren’t aware they were going to stay there for two weeks, so they didn’t pack clothing or toiletries. It had rained the day before and they were picking strawberries in the rain.

After I heard they were working in wet clothes from the day before, I changed my worried thoughts of how much I had to do to prepare for my family’s Easter dinner celebration, to who can I ask to go with me on this one hour trip and how early do I have to leave the next day in order to get dry clothes for Hugo, Luis and the 3 other men living with them.

Nancy Watson readily agreed to go with me on the following day, Holy Saturday. We are both early birds, so we left at 7:00 am after packing my car at the church. God was with us because we didn’t have too much traffic and we found the camp without any problem. We turned into a U-Pick strawberry patch with a small shack to the left where they were selling strawberries and vegetables. To the right were two trailers and some farm workers busy picking strawberries out among wet soil and rows of strawberries. Luis greeted us in wet clothes but with a huge smile and a warm hug for us even though his hands were cold. I love this ministry!

The trailer was small and stark but clean with an inside washer and dryer that actually worked. We placed the donated items from generous St. Bernadette parishioners in the bedrooms and arrived in Fuquay with happy hearts. What a blessed Holy Week it was seeing and hearing HIM in Luis and Hugo.

I can’t wait to see what HE has in store for the Migrant Ministry this growing season. What a great start!

Blessings.

SUNDAY DINNER

Saint Andrew the Apostle – June 9, 2019

Thank you to the Parishioners of St Andrew the Apostle, who returned once again and brought some of the farmworker’s favorite dishes, as well as bags of rice, beans and water for the farmworker’s to take home.

Saint Michael the Archangel – June 2, 2019

We are very grateful for the Parishioners of St. Michael’s, who have come year after year with generous hearts to help us serve our guest farmworkers.

CAMP MASSES

Open Gate – June 13, 2019

Airport – June 6, 2019

Be sure to checkout more of Gloria’s Notes From the Fields here

Testimonials

St. Bernadette parishioner who has driven migrant workers to Mass for 13 years

I feel blessed and proud to say that this will be my 13^th year driving the migrant farm workers. It is to me a privilege to drive these hardworking people to Mass. They are away from their families never complain and are thankful to be a part of the St. Bernadette community. We help with healthy meals, clothing and medical needs. I have gained their friendship and made great friends with other parishioners who help out. You will gain much in helping out, even just once. This is a worthy cause. To me giving outweighs receiving.

Migrant Worker who has been coming for over 20 years

Yo, Felix, estoy muy agradecido con la iglesia santa Bernardita y con todas las personas que allí trabajan por que en los 20 años que tengo trabajando aquí siempre me han ayudado. Dios se lo page a todos. Gracias.

I, Felix, am very appreciative with St. Bernadette church and all the people who work there because in the 20 years working here they always help me. May God repay all of you. Thank you.