Migration with Dignity Pilgrimage: Presente
Immigration + Refugee Ministries participated in the Episcopal Migration Caucus’s first-ever Migration with Dignity Pilgrimage held Sunday, June 1 to Thursday, June 5. Beginning in Albuquerque, NM, and ending in San Antonio, TX, the driving pilgrimage aimed to uplift the humanity and dignity of all migrants and immigration enforcement staff. Each day, the pilgrims held prayer vigils at immigrant detention centers, participated in group prayer and reflection, and engaged in conversations with local ministries, immigration enforcement, and residents.
Reflection from Flor Saldivar, Director of Immigration and Refugee Ministries
Being present, praying, and standing with our fellow pilgrims in solidarity helped inspire hope for change and reminded us that we are not alone.
As I looked across the Rio Grande, a heavy weight crushed me as I processed the view. On the Mexican side, colorful murals covered the cement, bearing phrases like ‘Somos Hijos de la Tierra, ’We are children of the Earth.’ On the U.S. side, the cement was bare, protected by a chain-linked fence and barbed wire. I recalled childhood memories of crossing into Mexico and thought, ‘What happened? It was never like this.’ And as we continued into Juarez, the weight grew heavier as I mourned what used to be and worried about the growing division among our people.
Later, we gathered at a processing center for a vigil. While we prayed, officers with weapons carried out their duties behind us. I thought of those held there who are just like us. Fellow children of God, deserving of dignity and respect. It was distressing. But as we prayed and sang together, the distress was replaced by hope. I thought of Psalm 9:9: “The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.” I remembered the thousands of people I met at Plaza who never wavered in their faith. Who arrived thanking God for protecting and guiding them on their journey. And who trusted in Him even in the darkest times.
I will never forget this experience. It troubled me deeply but renewed my faith and empowered me to continue sharing and teaching God’s love for His creation, striving for justice and peace among all people.
Reflection from Melanie Jakubisin, Immigration and Refugee Ministries Coordinator
A recurrently powerful moment for me came during each vigil where I felt the deep sense of responsibility that came with being a voice for those who no longer have one.
It's been a month since the Migration with Dignity pilgrimage, and I still find a knot in my throat appears every time I’ve tried to write this reflection.
That knot appeared throughout the pilgrimage no matter how hard I tried to shove it down, squash it, hide it, ignore it, pray it away or divert my focus. Nothing worked. I was ashamed of what I thought others might see as a weakness, unprofessional, or uncontrolled.
For days, I hid the flow of tears with a quick turn of my head, sunglasses, objects, or a smile. And then, in the sanctuary of St. Paul’s during the vigil I saw the faces of those that have so fiercely supported this call to welcome the stranger, and the knot finally won.
Around me were fellow pilgrims who are advocates for human dignity from across the country, my friends from the diocesan staff who have helped immigration ministries behind the scenes, former Plaza de Paz volunteers who always answered the “bat-signal” call to serve in any capacity, our clergy friends that have prayed and cried with us, and friends from other churches who boldly carry this work into their own congregations and communities. That moment provided much needed clarity but was also my tipping point.
Seeing all of them in one room, I saw that I was not alone in the pain I felt but instead had it mirrored back to me in their tear soaked faces as they heard the testimonies of pilgrims, read about the deaths of the children whose photos we held, sang We Shall Overcome, listened to the names of those children read aloud, and prayed for peace and justice.
That night reminded me that in a broken world of desensitization, compassion and empathy are not something to be squashed or hidden. So now comes the time to stop resisting the knot and instead embrace it as a powerful reminder to always walk in love.
