Photo: The Casa Maria Food Ministry is delivering food to immigrants afraid to leave their homes in the Minneapolis area.
As situations throughout the United States, especially those in Minnesota, grow more fraught, The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Missouri are working to find new ways to support and care for God’s people in our immigrant communities.
Regional Faith Leaders Gather at St. Stephen’s
On Friday, Jan. 30 at 2 p.m., faith-based community organizations from around the St. Louis area will come together at St. Stephen’s to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Minnesota and everyone who has resisted threats to our freedoms, our liberty, and our democracy.
The Rev. Dr. Teresa Danieley, Transitional Priest-in-Charge at St. Stephen’s and the Diocesan Missioner for Public Advocacy, will represent Bishop Deon Johnson at this gathering and give his statement to the group. Other faith leaders will also be offering statements.
This ecumenical meeting will take place in St. Stephen’s sanctuary and will be livestreamed on our Facebook and YouTube Channels.
See details of this event in the flyer below this post.
Episcopal Migration Ministry
Episcopal Migration Ministries supports dioceses and ministry networks around the church by serving communities, addressing global migration, and protecting the rights of migrants. EMM educates and equips church partners around The Episcopal Church and work alongside Anglican Communion provinces on many aspects of migration, seeking to welcome and protect the vulnerable.
Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe is encouraging concerned Episcopalians to find ways to support the immigrant community. “Please join me in making a generous donation that will allow us to provide emergency funding for ministry with migrants,” Presiding Bishop Rowe said. “Your gift will allow us to rush financial support to dioceses that are loving and caring for immigrants in these difficult times.”
Casa Maria
Casa Maria is a ministry of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in Richfield, MN. Casa Maria is a safe place for neighbors to gather, receive groceries and clothing, and network with others about health care options, employment, and housing. Everyone is welcome! Many of their visitors are Spanish-speaking immigrants from Richfield, Bloomington, Minneapolis, and the adjacent communities in the Twin Cities.
This ministry was used to providing food boxes to about 100 mostly immigrant families every Saturday. But by mid-January, as more people in the communities it serves stayed home, fearful of being swept up in aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, requests for food help skyrocketed.
During the week of Jan. 24, requests came from 500 families. And with the help of volunteers and an increase in donations, Casa Maria was able to fulfill all of them. In just two days this week, the ministry has delivered 350 meals. Volunteers and donations from around the country are helping to meet this critical need for the community.
Read an article from Episcopal News Service about this ministry.
A Toolkit for Public Witness
As Episcopalians, our faith calls us to stand in solidarity with vulnerable people, to proclaim justice and peace, and to love our neighbors. This toolkit offers spiritual grounding and practical resources for faithful presence at protests and public demonstrations.
These materials integrate spiritual care, nonviolence training, and the logistics of safe, peaceful, Christian witness. Most of these resources come from organizations outside The Episcopal Church.
What is a Protest Chaplain?
A protest chaplain is someone who can offer spiritual grounding and care before, during, and after a demonstration. Chaplains can be a reminder of the sacred amid struggle by leading services and prayers, as well as by listening and providing a calming presence. Their pastoral authority and presence can help de-escalate tensions.
