Juan Pablo* is a young man who was deported back to Mexico after several years of living in the United States without documents. Juan Pablo prayerfully participated in our Mass at the CAPRE Center in Matamoros where newly deported Mexicans are registered and processed by the Mexican government. After Mass, he drew near to Fr. Flavio Bravo, SJ, as we were packing up and preparing to leave. “I would have really loved to receive communion,” he told Fr. Flavio. “But I don’t feel right doing that without confessing first.” Fr. Flavio looked at him lovingly and told him that it would be easy to take care of that. He stepped aside with Juan Pablo, heard his confession, and then brought over the pyx that contained consecrated hosts. Fr. Flavio took out a host, held it up to Juan Pablo, and said, “The Body of Christ.” Juan Pablo professed his “Amen” and received exactly what he needed: the Eucharist.
Mateo* is a young Mexican man who was being held in a local ICE detention center after being separated from his wife and children, who are U.S. citizens. He met Joseph Nolla, SJ, during a communion service at the center and came up to speak with him afterwards. Mateo expressed deep concern for his ten-year-old son, who suffers from a severe heart condition and needs surgery. Mateo was in tears as he spoke, because he knew he would not be there with his son for the surgery, to be able to hold his hand and offer words of encouragement. He expressed his fear and powerlessness but remained resolved not to let it paralyze him. Mateo recognizes that one thing he can do for his son, even from detention, is pray for him. He leans on prayer and puts his trust in God. Joseph invited Mateo to join him in prayer as they invoked the saints and prayed for his son’s surgery and good health.
Selina* is a single mother from Honduras who was living at a shelter in Reynosa with her seven-year-old son, Samuel. With the border closed to vulnerable migrants, she decided to pay a coyote (human smuggler) to take Samuel across the border so he would be turned over to U.S. Border Patrol and processed as an unaccompanied minor. Selina has a cousin who is a U.S. citizen living in California, so she was hoping that Samuel would be processed and released to her cousin. When Fr. Brian Strassburger, SJ, heard this news, he approached Selina to talk to her about it. He expressed his concern for Samuel and uncertainty over how long he might be held and whether he would be released. After letting his own frustrations subside, Fr. Brian realized the stress and panic on Selina’s face. “I’m so sorry,” he said to her, “it’s all going to be okay.” She fell into his arms and began to weep as she expressed how afraid she had been and how nervous she was about what would happen to her son. Fr. Brian assured her that God is with her and her son, and so we can entrust Samuel to God’s care. He prayed for her as she cried in his arms.
Gloria* is a woman from Honduras who spent months in a shelter in Reynosa as the leader of the kitchen. She used to prepare traditional Honduran baleadas (a stuffed flour tortilla) for our visits. Gloria waited for legal entry into the U.S. and then settled with her adult daughter in Houston. In late January, she was scheduled to have a merits hearing to present her asylum case to the immigration judge. She found legal representation through an organization we recommended. When a migrant is not able to communicate in English, they are required to provide their own translator for their merits hearing. Gloria was struggling to find someone to translate, so we reached out to Fr. Juan Ruiz, SJ, a Jesuit living in Houston. A winter storm struck Houston the weekend before her hearing, so it was postponed until late February. Fr. Ruiz was unavailable to accompany her on the rescheduled date, but was able to find a friend in Houston, Fatima, who is bilingual and was willing to help. Fatima joined Gloria in immigration court and translated for her merits hearing. Gloria is now awaiting the judge’s decision in her case, as she continues to work at a local taco restaurant through her work permit.
Camila* and Valentina* are two women from Venezuela who met in Reynosa when they were both held by the same smuggler. The smuggler was supposed to help them cross undocumented into the United States. He continued to delay and claimed to be waiting for the arrival of more clients to cross, but he also demanded more money. After weeks in his custody, it became clear that he had no intention of helping them cross and had effectively kidnapped them. They eventually agreed on a price and got their families to wire thousands of dollars to pay for their release. Camila and Valentina did not know each other previously, but became “compañeras del secuestro” (kidnapping companions). After paying for their freedom, they found their way to a shelter in Reynosa, where they met the Del Camino team. Both Catholics, they faithfully attend Mass every time we visit. Camila remarked that her two favorite days of the week are Tuesday and Thursday, because those are the days “los padres” (the fathers) visit.
