La Diócesis de Charleston se complace anunciar un nuevo ministerio que servirá a los trabajadores agrícolas migrantes en el área de Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington y Saluda. Cientos de migrantes vienen a Carolina del Sur anualmente para mantener los campos, cultivar y cosechar diferentes productos. Los trabajadores agrícolas pueden trabajar en Estados Unidos con el visado H2-A de trabajo agrícola estacional o temporal. También existen granjas y procesadoras de pollos donde migrantes trabajan.
La diócesis servirá a esta comunidad porque durante el tiempo que los trabajadores agrícolas viven en los campos, la falta de transporte personal y los días ocupados, especialmente durante la cosecha, las personas tienen oportunidades muy limitadas para asistir a los servicios religiosos en la Iglesia Católica local.
El grupo misionero está compuesto por el padre Vincent H. Finnerty, CM; y las Hijas de la Caridad, las hermanas Migdalia “Meggie” Flores, y Paula Galant.
The Diocese of Charleston’s Farmworkers Ministry serves migrant farmworkers in the Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington and Saluda areas. Thousands of migrant workers legally come to South Carolina each year for general farm work; they maintain fields, and plant and harvest different produce. They are able to work in the United States under the H2-A Seasonal or Temporary Agricultural Work visas.
The diocese serves this majority Catholic community. During their stay in South Carolina, the farmworkers live in camps that do not meet all of their needs for personal transportation, hygiene items and sometimes clothing. The busy days, especially during the harvest, mean people have very limited opportunities to attend religious services at a local Catholic Church.
The diocesan team is composed of Father Vincent Finnerty, CM, and Daughters of Charity Sisters Migdalia “Meggie” Flores and Paula Galant; Catholic Charities of South Carolina lends support to the ministry as needed.
Migrant or immigrant?
These words are not interchangeable. A migrant is someone who is traveling to a place, usually for work; the goal is not to stay or live there. An immigrant is someone who is moving to a place with the goal of staying and living there.
The Diocese of Charleston Farmworkers Ministry is specifically to support migrant workers who return to their home countries after the agricultural seasons are over.
Misión | Mission
El Ministerio diócesano para Trabajadores Agrícolas, está comprometido a fortalecer la presencia Católica en Carolina del Sur apoyando a trabajadores hispanos que trabajan en los campos agrícolas en los condados de Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, y Saluda en su camino de la fe; promoviendo los valores evangélicos, especialmente el respeto y la defensa a la dignidad humana, el mejoramiento a la calidad de vida, y la verdadera práctica de la caridad y la justicia.
The Diocesan Farmworkers Ministry commits to strengthen the Catholic presence in the South Carolina by focusing on Hispanic migrant farmworkers in Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, and Saluda counties in their journey of faith, as we promote evangelical values, especially the respect and defense of human dignity, improvement of quality of life, and true practice of charity and justice.
Visión | Vision
Siguiendo la invitación del Papa Francisco a responder al desafío pastoral de integrar a los migrantes e inmigrantes, la Diocese de Charleston “los acogerá, protegerá, promoverá e integrará en su camino de fe”.
Following the invitation of Pope Francis to respond to the pastoral challenge of integrating migrants and immigrants, the Diocese of Charleston will “welcome, protect, promote and integrate them in their journey of faith.”
