Greetings!
Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS
Thank you for visiting our web page. We are pleased to have the opportunity to share with you and learn from each other about the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers (PCMRT). Our web page is one of the ways to reach out and let our networks and friends know what is going on and to share other things of interest. We hope you find the resources you need and the information valuable.
As one of the five areas of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, PCMRT has a critical role in supporting the PCMRT Subcommittee in its responsibility to “assist and support dioceses, national organizations, and movements in the pastoral care of migrants, refugees and travelers”. The US Catholic Church has a long tradition of welcome and pastoral concern for newcomers, migrants, refugees and those whose lifestyle and work necessitate frequent travel. These “strangers among us” come from diverse ethnic, cultural, educational and social backgrounds.
Pope Benedict XVI, in recognizing and affirming the contributions of many Catholics in their pastoral responses to the needs of newcomers, migrants, and refugees, makes mention of the “generous response of many men and women, associations and organizations which, seeing the sufferings of countless persons caused by emigration, are struggling for the rights of migrants, forced or voluntary, and for their defense. The commitment of these people can be attributed above all to that compassion of Jesus, the Good Samaritan, that the Spirit stirs up everywhere in the hearts of men and women of good will and in the Church too, which “relives once more the mystery of its Divine Founder, the mystery of life and death” (Erga migrantes caritas Cristi).
As members of the ‘receiving Church’ we are challenged to welcome and receive newcomers in respectful and genuine ways so that they are empowered and become active members, integrated into the local church and community.
Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS
Assistant Director
Sr. Myrna Tordillo, MSCS, is a member of the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, also known as Scalabrinians. Prior to joining the USCCB in January 2007, she was missioned in Mexico City for over a year, assisting in the Comisión Episcopal para la Pastoral de la Movilidad Humana de la Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano; a volunteer in the Migration Office of the Arquidiócesis de Mexico in its pastoral outreach to detained undocumented migrants, as well as doing research on undocumented migration.
In 1998, Sister founded and was director of the Catholic Organization for Migrant Equity, a grassroots volunteer group in Maryland and Illinois. She has served her community as Provincial Councilor and Secretary from 1999-2005 in Melrose Park, Illinois. Her pastoral experiences include being a resource speaker in the Value formation seminars for seafarers and their families of the Apostleship of the Sea; in migration awareness campaign in schools in the Philippines, and in a mission outreach project to Filipino land based workers in peninsular Malaysia.
Sr. Myrna obtained a Masters degree in Theological Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, School of Theology, Philippines.
Sr. Joanna Okereke, HHCJ
Bob Roller - Photographer
Welcome to our web-page. The pastoral care needs of newcomers is a reality today and PCMRT is committed to share your concerns to focus on areas where pastoral care and support are mostly needed as well as enhance the pastoral outreach to new-comers in different dioceses and parishes. Please let us know what we can do for you as we support and encourage you to be committed, active, dynamic and ready to offer your time and talents in visible ways within your different parishes and communities. It is through your dedicated service that we can share the light of Christ with others. We hope you will valuable resources on our webpage. Thank you, (Merci, Imela, Aske, Ashi, Keyi tapon, Abum, Meda W’ase, Dalu, Medagse, Baie dankie, Gadd ga, Melesi, Murakoze, Asante, Wuanka, Osyo, Niwaro, Otyo, Wurnka, Oshe, Abuimgang, Mudo, Mudu,Bisse, Eswau, Abui ngan, Grazie, Obrigado, Obrigada, Dziynki, Hvala, Dziekuje, Dik’, Dyakooyu, Spasibi and many others).
SR. JOANNA OKEREKE, HHCJ is currently the Program Coordinator, for the Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington DC. Sr. Joanna is a member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus for 22 years, during which she has worked in many Missions and in different capacities.
She was the Financial Administrator of three Catholic Schools in Nigeria, and later became the Principal of one of the Schools. In 1996 she was missioned to the United States of America, to join in the Mission of her Congregation. Here in the United States, she served as a Pastoral assistant and the director of Kuumba Center, a creative center at St. James and St. Juliana Catholic Church in Alexandria Louisiana. Later she became an Administrative Assistant at the Pastoral Center of the Catholic Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, and also the Financial Administrator of her Religious Order, after which she was elected the Mission Superior of her Religious Order here in the United States. Her professional and work experiences have always been the major source of inspiration, spiritual growth and social involvement in her life and community.
r. Joanna obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Education – Instructional Technology at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin.