An update on the Cuban refugees: 5-16-16

Due to the influx of Cuban refugees, there are now two new hospitality sites:
-Roger Bacon Seminary 2400 Marr St.
-St. Frances Xavier aka San Javier 519 S. Latta Street

Roger Bacon will primary shelter single male travelers while San Javier will shelter families.
San Javier is directly across the Bridge of the Americas off Paisano. The parishioners there were asked on Sunday how they felt about helping out and their enthusiasm and generosity has been in high gear.  However, it’s important to note that this is an older community with an elderly population. There is a strong need for volunteers at this site.  We are asking the media to get the word out so that San Javier can best serve the refugees. A third hospitality site will be coming on line in the coming days and I will send you that info once the volunteers are in place. As the public continues to donate goods and services, please direct those drop-offs to either San Javier or Roger Bacon. There is still a great need for food and personal hygiene items. However we request that no clothes be donated.  There is not space for the clothes or enough volunteers to sift through it.  The GoFundMe account remains active. It is https://www.gofundme.com/2463ardg

We would like to thank Sun Metro for its generosity.  It is now running a bus from 7pm to 7am from the ports where the refugees enter to the hospitality sites.
This is critically important as many of the refugees get processed after normal business hours and would otherwise be left to wander downtown El Paso in the dark looking for assistance.

It has come to our attention that there are reports of private transportation operatives who are working to engage refugees into taking a ride to their destinations with them.
We’re hearing reports that they are waiting for the refugees at the bridges to entice them to take a transport to the city of their choice.
The Diocese has no idea if these companies are vetted, insured and/or are otherwise legitimate.
We are working to ensure the refugees get to their destinations by using the Tornado Bus Line or Greyhound.
We strongly encourage the refugees not to use one of these independent operators.

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ADRIAN, MICHIGAN—May 17, 2016—Sister Sharon McGuire, formerly known as Sister Mary Dolores McGuire, died on May 17, 2016, at the Dominican Life Center in Adrian, Michigan. She was 72 years of age and in the 53rd year of her religious profession in the Adrian Dominican Congregation.

Sister Sharon was born in Detroit, Michigan to Robert and Jean (Melvin) McGuire. She graduated from Our Lady of Sorrows High School in Farmington, Michigan; received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Siena Heights College (University) in Adrian, Michigan; a Master of Physical Education degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan; a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Barry University in Miami, Florida; a Master of Science degree in Nursing from University of Miami in Miami, Florida; and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nursing from University of San Diego in San Diego, California.

Sister ministered in elementary education for 8 years in Joliet, Illinois and Fort Wayne, Indiana; in higher education for 8½ years at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and University of San Diego in San Diego, California; and as a justice advocate teacher for 3 years at Hope School in Indiantown, Florida. She served as office staff member and teacher for 3 years for the United Farm Workers in Keene, and Los Angeles, California. Sister Sharon also ministered for 33 years in various aspects of nursing service in Sebewaing and Lansing, Michigan; Miami, Florida; El Paso, Texas; and at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan where she served as nursing instructor for 3 years. Most recently, she was online nursing professor for Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sister became a resident of Weber Center in Adrian, Michigan in 2015.

Sister Sharon is survived by three brothers: Michael McGuire of Greenville, South Carolina, Dr. Joseph McGuire and Timothy McGuire, both of Gaylord, Michigan.

Rite of Committal (burial) will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 1:00 pm in the Congregation Cemetery.  The Ritual of Remembering will be held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 7:00 pm in St. Catherine Chapel of the Dominican Life Center. Memorial Mass will be on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 10:30 am in St. Catherine’s Chapel.  Memorial gifts may be made to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Michigan, 49221

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.

Sister Sharon ministered in the following places in Texas:
    San Vicente Family Health Center, El Paso        1989 – 1994         Family nurse practitioner
    UTEP College of Nursing, El Paso                      1994 – 1998        University teacher
    

The need for volunteers and personal products is starting to be felt at local shelters where Cuban refugees, new to El Paso, are seeking assistance.

Ruben Garcia, executive director of Annunciation House, is the head organizer for the Cubans. He confirmed that our community is looking at two planes a day every day (300 people) until we hit 4,000 people. That’s approximately 13 more days beyond today.

The shelters are now starting to max out but the turnover comes quickly. Most are staying in El Paso about 2 days before they leave for another destination The shelters are in need of RELIABLE volunteers this weekend and beyond.  The volunteers could be called on to do everything from making sandwiches to changing beds for the next group of people coming through.

The demand continues for personal hygiene products – toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, diapers, feminine products. El Pasoans doing their weekly grocery shopping are encouraged to pick up these items.  They can be dropped off at the Houchen Center at 609  Tays or Annunication House at 1003 E. San Antonio .

The diocese is also getting calls from people who want to purchase bus tickets for the refugees.  The Houchen Community Center is working with Tornado Bus Line to purchase discounted tickets for the refugees.  Those who want to make bus ticket purchases can do so by making a check to the Diocese of El Paso. Please designate the check as being for Cuban refugee relief. The diocese is then turning that money over immediately to Houchen personnel who know the names of the refugees and can purchase the tickets on their behalf.  

For more info on volunteering, product drop-off and bus tickets, we ask that you call Annunication House at 915-545-4509.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
 More info:
Elizabeth O’Hara, Communications Dir.
915-872-8444
eohara@elpasodiocese.org
 
 
 Late Wednesday, the Diocese of El Paso learned of the arrest of Luis Carrasco. 
 
Carrasco served as a deacon at Corpus Christi Parish for less than two years. His arrest comes as a shock to the diocese and to those who know him. 
 
The diocese cannot comment on the case involving Carrasco as it has no knowledge of the allegations outside of what has been reported.
 
During the course of the investigation, Deacon Carrasco will be placed on administrative leave from his ministry.  His faculties will be suspended.  We hope that people will give him the presumption of innocence, which is due to everyone according to our system of law, and allow the legal process to take its course.

-Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times 

Federal agents Wednesday arrested a Lower Valley church deacon accused in a scheme that allegedly involved smuggling tons of marijuana from El Paso and Arizona.

Luis Ulises Carrasco, 54, has been a deacon for about three years and was assigned to Corpus Christi Catholic Community, 9205 N. Loop, said Elizabeth O'Hara, a spokeswoman for the El Paso Catholic Diocese. She said a statement on the arrest is expected to be issued Thursday.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents booked Carrasco into the El Paso County Jail on Wednesday on a charge of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, according to a jail log.
Late Wednesday, the Diocese of El Paso learned of the arrest of Luis Carrasco. 
 
To read more, click: http://bit.ly/24ODomC

Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services or DMRS has been informed that Mexico and some Central American countries have come to an agreement to fly 3,000 to 3,500 Cubans from Central America to Northern Mexico border cities including Ciudad Juarez.  DMRS expects the majority of the Cubans have intended destinations outside of El Paso; however, 10-15% of them will not be able to continue their journey without first having a substantial stay in our area.
 
Cubans arrive in the United States with special status that makes them eligible for cash assistance for a limited number of months as well as eligibility to apply for work authorization.  As the only agency in El Paso that can process these applications, DMRS is working diligently to plan for processing of these migrants.  Limited staffing due to lack of funding has severely inhibited how many Cubans can be enrolled daily by DMRS.  Additional state and federal funding has not been made available at this time.  In other words, there is currently no way to assist the migrants as quickly as they are expected to arrive and they will likely overwhelm area shelters and services.
 
If you would like to help volunteer or provide assistance, please contact the Houchen Community Center at 915-532-1231 or 915-704-0362.

CUBAN REFUGEE UPDATE:
First, thank you all so much for your offers of assistance! Houchen Community Center, which is the central command for the refugees, reached out to the Diocese of El Paso this morning.

They need help in the following areas:

Volunteers! They are in need of people taking a couple of shifts to help in various ways. This can be in general picking up of the center to make it more hospitable for the refugees. They need help turning over beds when one group leaves and another arrives.

They are running low on sugar, mayonnaise (they are making a lot of sandwiches), eggs and milk.

They also need help with laundry. If you can take some loads of laundry and then return them, that would also be a great help.

If you need more info, please call 915-532-1231 or 915-704-0362

UTEP’s Catholic Campus Ministry would like to invite all Spring college graduates to their Graduation Mass. The mass will take place at Our Lady of Assumption located at 4800 Bryon on May 7th at 5pm. There will be a light reception after the mass. If you would like to attend with your family, please RSVP at 915-838-0300 or at our website utepccm.weebly.com.

The Diocese of El Paso has received results from the preliminary investigation into the accident that took place on April 29 at St. Thomas Aquinas parish. Those results show the ride, The Sizzler, had no observable mechanical defects. 

The operator of the ride has been cooperating with the investigation which is still ongoing.

The Diocese continues to grieve the loss of 16-year-old Samantha Aguilar.  We pray for her, her family and the other two girls who were with Samantha that night.

In light of the events that have taken place, and until the accident investigation is completed, Bishop Mark Seitz has ordered a temporary moratorium on the use of all mechanical rides at any church function. The moratorium will remain in effect until further notice.