Immigrant & Refugee Ministry

Click here for a FAQ and guidance resource document for parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Seattle, for questions regarding the most recent immigration policies and procedures.

• USCCB Immigration Enforcement and Protected Areas Update
• Guidance for Parish Staff & Volunteers
• Immigration Warrants vs Judicial Warrants

• JustFaith - Immigration:  If you want to have a healthy and productive dialogue around immigration and are mindful about creating division or conflict, we developed Faith and Immigration Justice just for you. This small group program guides participants in building a community of trust where they can unravel myths, uncover the truth, and discern how their community may be called to respond to immigrants in your local community and beyond.
• Mission Trips to the Border: Encounter Christ on the margins, experience the Church as Missionary, and enliven your own communities and ministries upon return. See the Encounter Manual for Parishes for ideas and options.
• Respectful Dialogues: Plan and lead small group discussions for parishioners from all along the spectrum - from immigration advocates to anti-immigration. Check out Contemplative Dialogue Circles and other resources from The Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center.
• Host a Cultural Dinner: Hosting a cultural dinner for migrant communities in your parish is a wonderful way to foster connection and celebrate diversity. See the Encounter Manual for Parishes for a step-by-step guide.
• Discover Your Neighbor: A Maryknoll resource that offers unique materials and lessons to inspire young people to engage on issues like Global Solidarity so that they can live out their faith as agents of love and service.
• Download the Encounter Manual for Parishes: for more information and ideas head to -  https://archseattle.org/ministries/outreach-ministries/immigrant-refugee-ministry/
• Paths to Understanding Potluck: In response to the divisions of His day, Jesus Christ ate with His disciples, and with people of other groups and traditions. Paths to Understanding (PTU), formerly the Treacy Levine Center, and the Seattle University Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement are offering the Potluck Project Toolkit for parishes to follow Jesus’ lead in bringing people together. Download the toolkit HERE. Contact PTU at together@pathstounderstanding.org for a consultation.
• Las Posadas Navideñas: Encourage and provide support to parishioners who want to participate in this nine-day religious observance meant to honor Mary and Joseph’s quest for shelter. Every night from Dec. 16-24, neighbors gather to recreate the Holy Family’s experience. They dress up, sing, pray and celebrate the coming anniversary of the Savior’s birth. CLINIC invites you to join in the celebration. This resource provides lyrics to the song, helpful tips for planning your own Posadas and modern-day stories of migrants whose struggles are reminiscent of those of the Holy Family.

• Catholic Immigration Legal Services offers a variety of legal services to immigrants.
• Immigrants who arrived in Washington State after December of 2021 and do not have work permits can access screening and referral for services through the Washington Migrant and Asylum Support Seeker Project at:
  https://washington-mass-hub.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
  or
  (541) 703-8336.

Form a Welcome Circle to sponsor a refugee, asylum seekers, and others. Click here to learn more.

• Enforcement of Immigration Laws
• Catholic Social Teaching
• Even More Myths About Immigrants
• Tough Questions on Immigration

• Immigrant Ministry Grants for Parishes: Through the support of the St. Joseph Foundation and generous donors, funds are available to support parishes that desire to create or expand ministries serving immigrants.  Email chris.koehler@seattlearch.org for the guidelines and application form.
• USCCB Justice for Immigrants resources, which has a variety of resources on papal teaching on immigration, current policy updates, immigration reform, ways to get involved and much more.
• Encounter Manual for Parishes
• Immigrant Messages for Parish School Community - English
• Immigrant Messages for Parish School Community - Spanish
• Preparing for ICE Raids in Your Local Community
• Know Your Rights workshops available from Catholic Community Services. Email Erin Maguire at
  ErinMa@ccsww.org
• When Migrants Are at Your Doorstep - English
• When Migrants Are at Your Doorstep - Spanish
• Affidavit of Continuous Presence - Word doc:
  It can be helpful for immigrants to have documentation that they have been present in the US for more than two years. You can use this letter to affirm this. This document is best if notarized but not required to be notarized.
• Catholic Community Services has a variety of programs that serve immigrants. Contact your CCS Network Builder. Not sure who to contact? Reach out to either Erin Maguire, Deputy Director of CCS King County, 206-327-2474 ErinMa@ccsww.org  or Aleah Patulot, Director of Mission Engagement, 206-566-3025 ALeahP@ccsww.org