newark catholic high school

Vigils Call for Humane Policies that Keep Families Together

“The families of migrants . . . should be able to find a homeland everywhere in the Church.” Pope John Paul II annual address on World Migration Day 1993

Contact: Kathy O’Leary, Pax Christi NJ, 973-610-1684

SUMMIT, NJ (September 17, 2009) - From Burlington to Bergen County, clergy, women religious, lay leaders and ordinary parishioners participated in one of eleven events in eight counties across New Jersey this past Tuesday as a part of the “We Are One Human Family” campaign designed to draw attention to the plight of immigrant and mixed immigration status families. The so called “children’s vigils” were held in support of children at risk of family separation because of immigration detentions or deportations. Vigils were held in Bridgeton, Dumont, Freehold, Hightstown, Jersey City, Highland Park, Keyport, Montclair, Morristown, and Newark The vigils were organized by NJ Advocates for Immigrant Detainees and co-sponsored by several Catholic groups including: Pax Christi NJ, Hudson Catholic Regional High School, Justice Ministry Office Mid-Atlantic Sisters of Mercy, Pax Christi Monmouth County, Sacred Heart Peace Community, Saint Anthony of Padua Social Justice Group, and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chestnut Hill.

At many of the vigils, children spoke of the trauma of raids on their homes by armed immigration agents and the pain of separation from their parents. Pastor Ronald Cioffi of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Keyport, which was host to one of the vigils, spoke of the importance of making these stories known. "We shall make our voices heard for the unwanted among us. . . . We are bringing to the attention of our brothers and sisters — and our nation — the plight of the immigrant people.”

The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that 4 million children nationwide have at least one parent who is an illegal immigrant. There are others who live in families where one parent is a legal permanent resident who could run afoul of a complicated immigration system and be subject to detention or deportation under current laws and policies. According to a report from the Department of Homeland Security between 1998 and 2007, the United States conducted 2,199,138 alien removals, and 108,434 of those aliens were parents of U.S. citizen children

“What we want people to understand,” said Kathy O’Leary coordinator of Pax Christi NJ and one of the campaign organizers, “is that immigrant families are American families and that immigrant rights are human rights.”

In response to critics and assertions that undocumented immigrants should be punished, Marlene Lao-Collins director of social concerns for the New Jersey Catholic Conference said. "Some people feel (undocumented immigrants) jumped ahead of the line" by coming to the United States illegally. For people whose families are starving and the line isn't moving fast enough, they're going to do what they have to do."
http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline. php?ID=7758

One might ask why isn't the Catholic Church sending food to Mexico ? Clearly the Church is saying it understands and realizes families are starving yet I have not read any where the about anybody starving in Mexico... With all the wealth the Catholic Church has there is no reason why they cannot start using those funds..Where is the Pope at pleading to world leaders about the crisis in Mexico and what are advocates of Mexico doing here to send food and supplies to Mexico ? It always seems about that instead of helping those countries they relocate them.

2009-09-17 15:30:29 by Maricopa County

Don Schaffer reflects on his work as a high school English teacher.

Here's the scenario: I have an option of three colleges to go to, less than four months to make a decision, I do have a student adviser in high school but she is inaccessible at the moment, and I'm basically going insane because this is so stressful.

I'm 17, I go to a private catholic school (I am on financial aid, so no I'm not rich), college is coming very fast, I live in New Jersey, I'm in a tough spot, and I'm very stressed out.

Here are the colleges, from cheapest to most expensive: Kean University, Rutgers University (Newark Campus), and Seton Hall University. As it is plainly obvious, Rutgers is perhaps my best bet as it is not too costly, basically average for me. I do not wish to take up any loans as it seems stupid to be in debt after coming out of college and having to pay bills, that is why I am pushing more toward Kean University, it is cheapest and I can still receive a decent education but only at the cost of the way it looks on a job application. If I go to Seton Hall I will be provided with one of the best educations in the state but at the cost of incurring a huge debt after said education is completed, and even with financial aid, given my financial situation I do not wish to walk that path. Rutgers can provide both a good education at a decent fee but right now my application is in limbo until the weekend. Thus far I have been accepted to Kean and Seton Hall and I am sure Rutgers will follow suit, but if not I am in a tough spot. If it matters my SAT scores were 1550, my overall average is 79.8% so I'm guessing a 2.9 GPA, I am 36 in my class out of 70, and I am able. I need a form of one on one assistance however. I am a rational thinker so I refuse to sacrifice education at the cost of monetary concerns but at the same time I refuse to sacrifice monetary stability in order to receive an education, this is where my choice in Rutgers lies. If anyone out there can understand what I am going through and offer me any kind of support please do; when the real world hits you in the face it is as if hell has risen up in the depths of your soul. I thank you for reading, and await any help provided.

dang guy you talk very professional for a 17 year old. i myself am 18 and i was in the same boat as financially as well. i did take the time to read your problem, i think somewhere in there that i saw you didnt want to take the financial aid route? why man, its free money you never see nor anyone esle. what would you rather have an education and not paying for some of it, or an education then worrying about it after like you mentioned?
i had all my plans set out and they all got interrupted and changed in one night. dont let it, be for sure where you want to go, and go where the $$$$ is! depending on your major, go where the money is for your basics (engl, math, sci) stuff like that, get it done and over with at somewhere cheap and virtually paid for, and if needed transfer to rutger, as u mentioned from there it will be a good education and pretty cost effective.
play your cards well, im a biology major at my current college, but im wanting to be a Registered Nurse (BSN) im getting all my pre reqs at a D3 college then transfering...almost all on scholarships.
so be smart you sound very determined, do wut ur heart says is right! :-)

2009-01-14 19:52:26 by Jamal W

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