Catholic Diocese Tucson

CATHOLIC OUTLOOK 3 MAY 2019 23 miles southeast of Flagstaff at Mormon Lake Register Campers and Counselor Candidates TODAY! Hurry! Space is limited! Ages 8-15 $650 6 Days-6 Nights, Lodging, Food, Camp T-shirt, Horseback Riding, Hiking, Kayaking, Archery, Shelter Building, Campfire and Telescope Nights, DVD of the fun-filled activities, and much more! TEENS: ages 13-15 June 23 - 29 Campers: ages 8-12 June 30 - July 6 Campers: ages 8-12 July 7 – 13 Campers: ages 8-12 July 14 – 20 Counselor Candidate Training $225: ages 16-17 June 16-22 Includes all training material, CPR/AED, food, lodging, camp t-shirts, DVD, and much more! REGISTER TODAY! www.SJYCAZ.com • admin@SJYCAZ.com • 480-449-0848 St. Joseph’s Youth Camp Rooted in Tradition and Values CCS’ Tucson facility takes in more refugees, some from El Paso By MICHAEL BROWN Managing Editor The growing humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexican border is stretching the resources provided by Catholic Community Services’ temporary housing facility, Casa Alitas, currently at the former Benedictine Monastery in Tucson. CCS’ Director of Operations Teresa Cavendish said that they “received few of the families who were kept fenced in under the overpass in El Paso, and that those family members were in pretty rough shape,” according to an April 3 email. Detention of refugees entering the country in El Paso captured national attention in March when stories emerged of overcrowding at a makeshift camp under the Paso del Norte International Bridge. The facility, lined by fencing and razor wire, became a target for immigration and human rights advocates as health conditions rapidly deteriorated at the site. At the end of March, officials from the federal office of Customs and Border Protection said that the refugees there had been moved to other facilities. March arrests of those immigrants entering the US illegally from Mexico were estimated at about 100,000 people up from 76,000 people in February. Cavendish noted a significant increase in the numbers of refugees served by Casa Alitas since October of 2018. “Since the summer of 2014 through September 2018, the Casa Alitas program provided humanitarian aid services to roughly 5,000 people. Since October 2018, Casa Alitas has helped another 5,000 people.” She said the program receives about 120 people at the monastery each day. It also works with another 15 people at the Merilac Lodge facility and coordinates daily services for 30 others through other faith communities. “We can go higher if necessary, such as to prevent street releases of families by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Border Patrol, but this is what we have been seeing for about the last week,” she said, referring to a week near the end of April. “The only pattern we’ve seen since October is large releases, steady increases and people being brought to us from more remote locations such as El Paso,” Cavendish said. “Do not continue to live in shame, fear, or numbness.” You are not alone! Please call - 520-743-6777 or visit our website rachelsvineyardtucson.org Rachel’s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion through our supportive, confidential and non-judgmental weekend retreats. Interdenominational retreat: June 14-16, 2019 Catholic retreat: September 20-22, 2019 CNS photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters A group of Central American migrants is questioned about their children’s health after surrendering to US Border Patrol agents south of the US-Mexico border fence in El Paso, Texas, March 6, 2019. An estimated 100,000 apprehensions of immigrants by US Customs and Border Patrol agents at the US-Mexico border during March is the highest figure in a decade. The above camp is not affiliated with the Diocese of Tucson. The Diocese of Tucson, its parishes or ministries do not support or advocate on behalf of this organization. Consumers are encouraged to practice due diligence before purchasing services.