The Assumptionists of the North American Province established a community at St. Francis Xavier Parish in El Paso, Texas, in September 2020. The community was founded to address the spiritual and material needs of migrants and marginalized people along the U.S.-Mexico border. The ministry includes providing support, shelter, and accompaniment to migrants and refugees, with assistance offered to families at the federal court in Chaparral, New Mexico, through a collaboration with the Sisters of the Assumption.
Even though the situation of migrants in the United States, becomes increasingly precarious, the ministry in El Paso to our brothers and sisters who are most in need still continues. We are discerning new ways to be more present to people whose immigration status is a source of anxiety for them. Some initiatives include beginning a simple English class for members of our parish family and being present at the courts in El Paso where deportation hearings are taking place in order to provide pastoral support. We also remain vigilant about families that are struggling and remain open and ready to provide assistance through donations and pastoral support. Since there are new and developing detention centers in El Paso, we are also exploring opportunities to provide pastoral support to migrants detained in these centers.
The situation across the border has gone through many changes in the past month, and the migrant population at la Casa del Migrante (where Father Peter and our brothers have served since February 2025) is single digits, but we will see if the Casa will be able to house people who are being deported to Mexico under Trump’s immigration policies. Fr. Peter continues regular visits to the Casa helping to improve the infrastructure so that the population can be better served. Recent improvements include new lighting in the dining hall, new office spaces including a designated space for the psychologist on staff and the restoration of a chapel and sacristy on the property. Though the reality of migrants keeps changing and the challenges mount, our visits to la Casa are our pledge of solidarity with them, both those present and those who are struggling for their livelihoods in the streets around us.
Br. Daniele’s involvement with the sisters of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Poor on Pera Avenue also continues. Aside from helping to feed the homeless and needy in the neighborhood, he has also begun sharing the daily Gospel with them, so that they can be both physically and spiritually fed. The situation of migrants changes constantly here at the border, but we remain open to the Spirit’s guidance. We are trying to be present to them in new and creative ways given restrictions. We also realize that our preaching about and witnessing to the reality of the situation not only helps people be more aware but may lead to conversion of our own hearts and others’ hearts, too.
