ICSJ Refugee Ministry
At Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph Parish (ICSJ), the Refugee Ministry has become one of the parish’s most cherished outreach efforts. Established in 2016, the ministry began with a simple yet powerful idea from a parishioner and has flourished into a thriving program, partnering with Exodus World Service and Catholic Charities to support refugee families resettling in the United States.
"The Refugee Ministry is about welcoming the stranger and living out our faith very practically," says ICSJ’s Ministries Coordinator Elly Rodriguez. "Our mission aligns closely with Exodus World Service’s goals to educate, connect, and empower communities to stand alongside refugees. Our parish vision talks about being the face of Jesus to the world today, and that can seem like a daunting task. Still, all these little ways our ministry reaches out in the community are tangible ways to be the face of Jesus, reach out to our neighbors, align our faith with how we go out of these church walls, and be the face of Jesus every day."
Since welcoming their first family in 2017, ICSJ has helped ten families from countries like Afghanistan and Yemen, providing essential resources and companionship during their initial months in the U.S. Volunteers serve as "New Neighbors," building personal relationships with families, helping them navigate their new environment, and offering support during key milestones like learning English and obtaining citizenship. These bonds often extend well beyond the initial resettlement period.
Rodriguez recalls the transformative impact of these relationships. "Our volunteers often describe this ministry as the most meaningful volunteer work they have done. We have seen friendships form, and some of our earliest volunteers have become like adoptive grandparents to the children they once helped and have been there to see graduations and the celebration of becoming a U.S. citizen." Rodriguez explains that some volunteers go the extra mile in support, "There has been great support in huge milestones, mutual learning, and people’s ability to use gifts. One volunteer is a former teacher, she went to teach a mother and kids English a few times a month and challenged herself to find new ways and games to make learning English more accessible." In another instance, a mother of four, including a son with cerebral palsy, is supported in getting the family out on walks at the lakefront with volunteers pushing a stroller or wheelchair. At a baby shower event for a refugee this past spring, a parishioner applied her baking talent to share a beautiful and intricate pink cake to celebrate the baby girl.
The ministry’s reach extends beyond one-on-one connections. ICSJ engages the entire parish community by organizing appeals that the larger parish can participate in, such as baby shower drives and assembling "Welcome to America" packs filled with essential household items. Fundraising efforts have been overwhelmingly successful, with parishioners contributing generously to cover the costs of resettling families. In one instance, a simple ask for a $25 gift from each ICSJ family raised over $20,000 due to enthusiastic parishioner support.
ICSJ hosts events like lunch-and-learns to educate further the community, where parishioners learn about the challenges refugees face and how they can help. "We want our community to understand more deeply the refugee experience," explains Rodriguez. "People gain a deeper awareness for just how many obstacles and barriers there are to resettling in the U.S., having patience and determination to help walk with people through this process and relationships become closer as they are frustrated, patient, and determined together, Rodriguez says.
Rodriguez acknowledges the challenges of keeping the ministry’s momentum going, especially as refugee issues fade from the headlines. “It’s essential that we continue to remind our community of the ongoing need for support. The work might seem daunting, but it's surprising how achievable it can be—and it makes such a difference.”
With an unwavering commitment to welcoming refugees, ICSJ’s ministry embodies the spirit of compassion and unity, ensuring that each new family arriving in Chicago finds a place they can call home.
