Migrant ministry of Maryknoll Affiliates in Illinois assists newcomers.
Yahelis and José Flores’ hearts filled with joy when their children were selected as students of the month. Alfonso, 7, and Sarita, 5, were honored in April at their public school in Chicago.
The family had arrived two years ago after a harrowing journey from their native Venezuela that took them through the jungle of the Darién Gap and across mountains, deserts and rivers on their way to the Mexico-U.S. border.
During the journey, smugglers told the parents they had to pay for each child to cross the Guatemala-Mexico border. Yahelis, 24, and her husband had no money left and feared that the smugglers would take their children. “At that moment, I just entrusted us to God,” she says. A Good Samaritan — a fellow migrant — paid the smugglers to let the children go.
Now, seeing her children succeed, Yahelis feels those efforts were worthwhile. She also says she is grateful for support from the Migrant Ministry of the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park, Illinois. The ministry is run by a team of interfaith volunteers, including returned Maryknoll Lay Missioners Celine and Don Woznica, who are now members of the Maryknoll Affiliates.
The project started in May 2023 as a response to the humanitarian crisis created the previous year, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott began sending busloads of migrants from the border to Chicago. As the city’s shelters filled to capacity, buses dropped off migrants at the 15th District Police Station, near Oak Park, a suburb adjacent to Chicago.
A group of volunteers called Police Station Response Teams, created on the phone application WhatsApp, began collecting tents, bedding, clothing, sleeping bags and food for the new arrivals. “We were getting up to 40 people a week,” Don recalls. “We gave them a suitcase with basic toiletries and a blanket. It was called the welcome kit.”
Maryknoll Affiliate Celine Woznica, a returned Maryknoll lay missioner, welcomes guests to St. Edmund Center. Since it began the project has received approximately 19,000 migrant visits. (Octavio Durán/U.S.)
Celine says that among the migrants’ first concerns was where they could take showers. The vacant rectory of St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy was opened for that purpose.
In January of 2024, the Migrant Ministry moved to a former grade school, which became the St. Edmund Center.
At the center, decorated with flags from the various countries from which the migrants originate, volunteers welcome migrants with a hot breakfast and fresh donated clothing, while the children are shown a room where they can play. The center relies on dozens of volunteers.
“The Holy Spirit connects all these people,” says Celine, who is director of program development.
Margaret Burk was invited by a neighbor to volunteer. “I felt like this was an opportunity to serve people in need,” she says. A former teacher, Burk helps in the clothing area, where twice a week migrants can select clothes.
St. Edmund volunteers also connect migrants with medical providers, immigration support services, ESL classes, spiritual support and housing or temporary shelter.
Volunteers serve a warm breakfast at St. Edmund Center in Oak Park, Illinois. (Octavio Durán/U.S.)
“Mentors help migrants with what they need,” says Margaret Rudnik, who, as director of housing and legal services, finds apartments for the newcomers. The center has paid up to a year’s rent and utilities for 23 families and individuals, allocating up to $20,000 for each case. Housing is funded by direct donations and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Manuel Peréz, 36, is a migrant bused from Texas to Chicago. “I believe in miracles, because the center provided me an apartment to live in,” he says. After getting on his feet, Peréz volunteered at the center.
“Seeing families being torn apart breaks my heart,” Rudnik says. “We help to keep families together and give a hand so they can be on their own in a year’s time.”
The Flores family was having difficulty paying rent for their apartment. José, 27, used to wait at The Home Depot for work as a day laborer. But starting in January, he became afraid to do so, fearful that he would be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His wife, Yahelis, contacted Celine and asked for help. The ministry provided $1,300 to cover rent.
With migrants facing the threat of mass deportations, the center has increased the reach of its immigration support, education and accompaniment programs. Celine created a 24-page Family Action Plan to help migrants prepare in case they are detained or deported.
Don Woznica, shown with volunteer Maria Cardona, was a Maryknoll lay missioner before joining the Affiliates with his wife, Celine. He is now co-director of short-term services at St. Edmund Center. (Octavio Durán/U.S.)
The plan includes a letter from the pastor of Oak Park’s Catholic parishes, Father Carl Morello. “We find ourselves in difficult times, but be assured that you continue to be welcome in our community,” the letter states. “Do not give up hope, for our Loving God, who has been at your side in your long journeys from your native lands, is the same Loving God who will be at your side now.”
“They are too afraid to go out,” Celine says of the people she serves. Volunteers give out red, wallet-sized cards informing people of their rights during encounters with ICE.
“We had one case of a migrant who was stopped by ICE, and he showed them the red card we provided,” Don says. “ICE let him go.”
Don, who is co-director of short-term services, says it is important to make people feel safe at St. Edmund. No one is let through the door until their ID is checked outside. “We never thought about doing this before,” Don says, “but if the doors are open, anybody can walk in.”
The center offers a wide range of support services, thanks to generous donors and many dedicated volunteers such as Gary Jacobs, seen here helping a migrant mother and child. (Octavio Durán/U.S.)
The immigration support team continues to help with asylum applications and other documents. While the number of migrants has decreased since January, the center has assisted over 140 asylum seekers with their applications. Since the Migrant Ministry started, the center has received around 19,000 visits from migrants who have benefited from its many services.
Don, who is a family physician, and Celine, who has a doctorate in public health, joined Maryknoll Lay Missioners with their 3-month-old baby in 1981. After studying Spanish in Bolivia, they served in Nicaragua for three years. Don worked at a health center, and Celine worked as a health promoter.
They then served in Oaxaca, Mexico, for six years, working with base ecclesial communities, also known as small Christian communities, and in a project for orphaned girls. In addition, Don volunteered at a parish clinic. After nine years of overseas mission, the couple returned with four children to the States, where they had their fifth child.
Now the Woznicas find themselves again in mission — in Illinois.
Recently, Celine received a call from Yahelis, who wanted to pay back the $1,300 they were given for rent. “Isn’t that amazing?” Celine says. “Yahelis also brings Venezuelan arepas (stuffed cornmeal pancakes) to the center.”
Yahelis says, “Celine has supported us through difficult times. I thank God for putting her in my path.” In case she and José are detained, they have designated Don and Celine to take temporary custody of Alfonso and Sarita. Considered part of the Flores family, the missioners attended the students of the month ceremony.
For Don and Celine, the migrants are an inspiration. “They are my heroes, for what they went through,” Celine says. “All they want is to work and create a new life.”
The names of the migrants mentioned in this article have been changed to protect their identities.
Featured Image: Newly arrived migrants are served at St. Edmund Center in Oak Park, Illinois. The project is run by Maryknoll Affiliates Celine and Don Woznica. (Octavio Durán/U.S.)
