Catholic Charities celebrated the grand opening of a brand new immigrant service heart on San Antonio’s northwest aspect Friday morning, aimed toward serving to refugees transition to life in the USA.
The brand new 40,560-square foot heart, named the Mom Teresa Heart, presents complete companies for refugees together with a meals pantry, garments closet, youth mentoring program, workforce improvement program, ESL training lessons, case administration companies and authorized help all aimed toward fostering self-sufficiency.
Greater than 100 folks crowded into the middle’s parking zone Friday for a ribbon chopping, which included a blessing by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller and remarks by State Sen. José Menéndez (D-26) and Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia (D4).
The brand new heart involves the Alamo Metropolis simply as president-elect Donald Trump readies to take workplace once more with the promise of implementing a mass deportation effort on day one in every of his second time period. The brand new heart’s sources, particularly its authorized help, will hopefully be of nice assist to refugees coming to San Antonio searching for a greater life, Catholic Charities President and CEO J. Antonio Fernandez instructed the San Antonio Report.
Antonio Fernandez added that the middle has been two years within the making, and has been beneath building for the previous six months. Together with the Mom Teresa Heart, Catholic Charities now has 13 useful resource facilities and areas round San Antonio, Antonio Fernandez mentioned. The charity notably took over working the town’s Migrant Useful resource Heart (MRC) in Oct. 2022. Requested how necessary a middle like that is for refugee immigrants, Antonio Fernandez responded “very.”
“The authorized division — with Trump, or with out Trump — even beneath the Biden administration — it takes round 12 months for an individual who’s legally right here to truly have the ability to get a piece allow,” he mentioned. “We want them with papers. We want them to work legally, we actually want to assist them to work.”
Antonio Fernandez mentioned he hopes the Mom Teresa Heart turns into a mannequin for different teams in the way it goals to be inclusive and respective to all traditions, religions and beliefs.
Menéndez, the son of immigrant dad and mom, instructed the Report he’s very impressed with the brand new heart. He added that beneath the brand new administration the Mom Teresa Heart will probably be a beacon of hope for households trying to begin their life over within the U.S.
“These kinds of locations are at all times necessary, however most likely now greater than ever,” Menéndez mentioned. “Locations like our metropolis, our county, are going to play a much bigger function when there could also be the potential of nationwide insurance policies [at play] which are at odds with the way in which we really feel.”
Its necessary for San Antonio to maintain being San Antonio, he mentioned, including locations like this new heart are vital for serving to immigrants overcome among the many hardships they face.
Garcia-Siller, again to work after a short hospital stint as a result of extended sickness, mentioned he’s very excited concerning the new heart. A photograph of himself from 1992 posing with Mom Teresa sits on the entrance desk of the brand new heart.
“We wish to serve folks nicely and with high quality,” he mentioned hoarsely.
