History

In the summer of 1990, four Sisters of Notre Dame, Sr. Mary Roseria Helmkamp, Sr. Mary Cyrilla Hellman, Sr. Elaine Marie Clement and Sr. Mary Jo Toll began to organize religious and social outreach in the migrant camps of Sandusky County.

In subsequent years the ministry was extended to the camps of Ottawa, Seneca, Putnam, Wood and Huron counties.

In the spring of 1998, as a result of a grant obtained from the Koch Foundation by Sr. Mary Jo Toll, Catholic Charities and the Sisters of Notre Dame began a collaborative effort to fund a full time position for migrant outreach in the 19 county diocese.

Using the volunteer base begun by the Sisters,as well as that gathered by Fr. Notter and AlvinaCostilla, En Camino ("on the journey") today is supported by parishioners from many of the parishes in the Toledo diocese.

En Camino is an agency which relies on collaboration with many other agencies here in Northwest Ohio as well as in the vegetable and fruit producing areas of Texas, Florida and Mexico.

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES:

En Camino  "On the journey"
     350+ Volunteers

14,000 migrant and seasonal farmworkers  
     130 active camps plus apartments and trailer courts
     19 county area

Thank you Pastors, Social Action Committees, and Volunteers in this 2006 season for assisting us with immigrant outreach !

WELCOMING THE STRANGER

In the spring of 2003, the national media featured an article about the deaths of fourteen immigrants in the Arizona desert. People seeking work often pay dearly for the effort to provide for family in their country of origin.

For several years members of En Camino have been part of a group representing all of the dioceses of Ohio seeking to respond to the increased numbers of immigrants who have become part of our parish boundaries. As a result of the work of this group, the Catholic bishops of Ohio published a plea asking Catholics of this state welcome the immigrants who have come to work in Ohio. Workers can be found working in labor intensive crop harvesting, in factories, and nurseries and even in construction. A call was issued for increased pastoral outreach and public solidarity for immigrant workers in Ohio. Powerful questions that were asked included: Are we as a society, as church, as employers, as consumers treating immigrants with dignity and justice? How am I involved in reaching out to new immigrants in support of their pastoral and material needs? 

 TOGETHER ON THE JOURNEY OF HOPE

This pastoral letter concerning migration written by from the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States was issued on January 22, 2003. The document opens with thanking God for the many blessings and for guidance from the Holy Spirit in discerning the signs of the times. The bishops are aware of the increased migration in America. The migrants who come experience the hardships of death, abuse, racist attitudes, and divided families; this is far from an experience of the Kingdom of God!

The bishops are concerned about the vulnerability of the people of God. Migrants lose loved ones because their families must work in the north to feed their families in Mexico, their dignity is violated. They suffer injustices and violence because our churches and communities are not ready to accommodate them. There are signs of hope through a growing consciousness of hospitality, social services, migrant shelters, and a growing number of advocates for these gifted peoples. The bishops commit themselves to stand in solidarity with the migrants and commit to work for changes in the systems which hold migrants back form experiencing the dignity of living as the children of God.

We are challenged toward conversion of mind and heart. This process is a willingness to look at our attitude of cultural superiority, indifference, and racism, accepting migrants not as foreboding aliens, terrorists, or economic threats, but rather as persons with dignity and rights, revealing the presence of Christ. We recognize migrants as bearers of deep cultural values and rich faith traditions. How can we express this conversion? A change of mind and heart leads to communion which is expressed through hospitality to immigrants. As Catholics, we have a responsibility to build hospitality and communion with our brothers and sisters. We need to provide the presence of the church to newcomers especially for the sacraments.

Parishes should be aware and make provisions for sacramental preparation for migrants who are on the move. Eucharistic celebrations and the Sacrament of Reconciliation should be available during times when they can participate. The Church is called to besign and instrument both of a very closely knit union with God and of the unity of the whole human race (Lumen Gentium, no.1).