5th Banquet
400 people celebrated at our 5th Annual Banquet where we celebrated in the midst of pain and suffering by the immigrant community in Michigan–and by the organized Circles of Support who see in this work that we are standing with immigrants, but also standing for ourselves and our struggle for Dignity, Equality and our own Humanity. The 40-page Program Booklet was an annual report of our year’s work (available upon request to Strangersnolonger.org) and $22,000 worth of ads from parishes, unions, businesses and community groups. “This was the best banquet yet — because now I know so many new people — and because this banquet was a celebration of our work and our community standing with each other across the state.” Committees are already planning the 2027 banquet for the Sunday after Easter.
6th Annual Youth in Action for Immigration Conference
6th Annual Youth in Action for Immigration Conference at the University of Detroit Jesuit Johnson Recreation Center on April 17. 85 students attended, and 20 adults, from 8 schools.
Pictures Sources
Students called to be witnesses of Jesus’ compassion at immigration conference – Detroit Catholic
Detroit Catholic – Detroit Catholic
Belong: Northern Michigan Immigrant Inclusion Network Conference
Community leaders, educators, faith communities, and service providers from across Northern Michigan gathered April 24 for the inaugural Belong: Northern Michigan Immigrant Inclusion Network Conference, held at Treetops Resort in Gaylord.
The event brought together 190 attendees representing the northern 21 counties of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, as well as organizations serving communities statewide. The conference focused on strengthening collaboration and support for immigrant and multilingual populations across the region.
Celebrating 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Pictures thanks to Della Lawrence
Solemn Procession to ICE (Immigration Control and Enforcement) July 14
Pictures thanks to Della Lawrence
May 24th, CIRCLE LEADERS
4th Banquet
Our 4th Annual Banquet was successfully held last Sunday, April 27th. It was a wonderful opportunity for our community of supporters, members, and friends to come together and celebrate the bonds that connect us.
March 29th, 2025
CIRCLE LEADERS
We heard testimonies of 6 of our immigrant leaders — what is happening in their communities, the pain that detentions are causing, the collaboration of some local police with ICE. We blessed Daris Bartolon for her journey to ICE on Monday, March 31, and organized our first Rapid Response Team meeting. All of our Circle Leaders are ordering enough copies for every parishioner of the Michigan Bishops’ bulletin on “Seeing Christ in the Immigrant.”
A Journey Into Exile
During the activity, participants made both group and individual decisions, listened to real refugee testimonies, and watched videos that highlighted the journeys, challenges, and resilience of refugees worldwide.
Circle Members Assembly
Sunday January 19th
Circles of Support — that is our major contribution to our immigrant friends, to our local parishes and to a better Michigan.
We are beginning 2025 hearing POPE FRANCIS encouraging us to “BEGIN AGAIN,” and to be “PILGRIMS OF HOPE.” We acknowledge the darkness — losing our campaign in the Michigan Legislature for Drivers’ Licenses for Immigrants, and hearing all the dangerous threats to our brothers and sisters immigrants. But following Pope Francis’ exhortations, as Pilgrims of Hope we are building community in our parishes and high schools and immigrant communities..
Please JOIN or START a CIRCLE (link here). Call us — we will help you get started.
Our Circles of Support build community in their parish
They create celebrations, involve the youth, bring excitement and new people to the parish, gather immigrant leaders from across Michigan, bring national heroes to Michigan (Sr. Norma Pimentel), create Assemblies to press political leaders to work for Human Dignity.
