Scalabrinians in the world

Here’s where our love comes from

1895

Foundation year

120

Communities in the world

12.000

Migrants helped each day

EuropeAfricaAsiaNorth and Central AmericaSouth America

Albania

Albania has been one of the European countries most involved in migration since the 1990s. With the end of the Enverist regime the backwardness of the country’s economic conditions, the recurrent political and social crises and the proximity of EU member countries have fueled an impressive migratory flow: according to the Albanian Department of Emigration about half a million Albanians , equivalent to 15% of the population, emigrated in the period between 1990 and 1997.

In the following years, the flow rate was not significantly reduced. The main destinations of the Albanian emigration were Greece and Italy, where the Albanians are respectively the first and second immigrant communities, while in the second half of the nineties the emigration to Canada and the United States became important. The migratory phenomenon has repercussions on all aspects of Albanian economic and social life: the socio-demographic composition of the flows describes a young and highly educated emigrant (40% of the professors and researchers of universities and other scientific institutions) and therefore with the loss of human resources essential for the development of the country.

But Albania has also become a land of transit for migrants who want to reach Macedonia from Greece; for those that from the Albanian or Greek coasts by sea arrive in the Italian coasts; and for those leaving from Turkey they want to arrive in Germany. Border lands that in recent years cannot be abandoned, especially in the face of precarious situations for mass escapes from countries in major conflicts from which they flee for war and economic instability.

France

France was the European country that received the highest number of immigrants first. There are many, the most numerous origins: Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco, from the former colonies of Black Africa and Southeast Asia. With regard to their integration and living conditions many problems remain, including: prejudices and indifference. In 1972, to cope with this, a law was passed that would prevent demonstrations of racism.

Officially foreign immigrants living in the French regions are 4.5 million. Asylum applications in France have also increased in recent years. France is a state that provides for the so-called ius soli (ie citizenship to those born on the soil of their national territory) and therefore tends to have smaller numbers, compared to those who have more severe laws on citizenship.

Although France has a relatively low incidence of the foreign population (6.6%), given that many children of immigrants have French citizenship, it remains a country of high interest for our Scalabrinian presence. We are present and active in a territory marked by poverty and very strong migratory presence, in support of women and children in particular for promotion and development. Attentive to intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

Germany

Germany, in the system of welcoming migrants, can be considered a model. It is the second worldwide destination for migration, immediately after the United States, which has been able to show sensitivity to refugees and refugees, asylum seekers or temporary protection; despite the presence of xenophobic movements, Germany is an open and inclusive country.

Residents of foreign origin living in Germany today are 18.6 million, equal to over a fifth of the total population, with a record increase of 8.5% in 2016 compared to the previous year. Foreign nationals residing in Germany in order by nationality are: the Turks, followed by the Polish. third, the Syrians, fourth, the Italians and then followed Romanians, Greeks, Croats, Bulgarians, Afghans, Russians and Iraqis.

Immigration in Germany does not only affect citizens from countries outside the European Union; in fact, from 2016 to date the number of migrants from European Union countries who have chosen to live in Germany has more than tripled. In Germany, there is a significant presence of illegal entries, at the height of the so-called refugee crisis, among them, first by country of origin were the Syrians, followed by Afghans, Iraqis and Eritreans. The German dioceses remain positively open to the reception of migrants and to the Missio for pastoral action with the communities of another mother language.

Italy

Italy is a country that, due to its geographical position, has received large migratory flows in recent years. Emigration in Italy is just over 5 million, to which are added the 1.2 million Romanian citizens and other immigrants from within the EU. Emigration today is feminine and often comes from countries of Christian cultural tradition.

However, the data on the foreign resident population gives us a credible and relatively stable image. In Italy there are important signs of stabilization of the migratory phenomenon: acquisitions of citizenship, entry for family reasons and long-term residence permits are growing. At the same time, there is still a mobile component given to al and not only to the asylum seekers.

An interesting fact highlighted by Istat says that for many, Italy remains a transit country. Of the migrants who arrived in Italy in 2012, only 53% is still present on the territory. The incidence of the foreign population on the total Italian population is a constantly growing figure, considering that in 1990 foreigners were 0.8% of the population and today 8.3%. Women make up 52.4% of foreigners residing in Italy.

This opens up infinite spaces of commitment and attention to the most vulnerable migrant and this is done in a chaplaincy, through the network of Migrants Centers, as well as pastoral animation in the Dioceses, in the presence at the ports where asylum seekers land.

Portugal

Portugal for years, the emigration land is also a country with a high immigration rate. The most representative nationalities in the first three places are: Brazilian, Ukrainian and Cape Verdean. Portugal also received a significant number of refugees as defined by the European Commission relocation plan.

The pastoral and missionary action of the MSCS Sisters in Portugal, from the beginning of the 80s, is next to the most vulnerable migrants, coming from the former Portuguese colonies and pilgrims to Fatima. For 10 years this “mission” has been giving special attention to the sick and needy migrant through the “Hope Project” in the Amora community, supported economically by the Embassies of the countries of origin of the migrants.

Spain

We, Missionary Sisters of San Carlo Borromeo-Scalabrinian, began our mission in Spain on 23 September 2003. The responsibility for the foundation of this mission was, at the time, entrusted to the Cristo Re Province, based in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, and the Province of St. Joseph, Italy, was supported by this Province as support.

Our Scalabrinian apostolic missionary presence in Spain is located in the diocese of Siguenza – Guadalajara, 50 km away from the capital of the country. Today, Guadalajara has 80,000 inhabitants and of these 7,266 are regularized immigrants, i.e. immigrants with a residence and work permit. They are Latin American, African, especially of Morocco, and Eastern Europe. In addition to immigrants in a regular situation, Guadalajara also welcomes many registered immigrants, but not yet regularized and others not registered, a total of 11 thousand – 14 thousand migrants. Projections indicate that Guadalajara, until 2010, will duplicate the population as a result of immigration

The first missionary appointed to this mission, was nominated by the Bishop of the diocese of Sequenza, Monsignor José Sánchez, director of the Diocesan Migration Delegation with the task of dealing with migratory pastoral care, putting spiritual aspects first, religious-ecclesial of migrants. The planned work will have a network action that will involve the Church and the migrant population, with the following priorities: awareness, formation of pastoral workers and pastoral and missionary capillary action of re-evangelization through the parishes, the indigenous population and the immigrants. .

Faced with such a great missionary challenge, I listen, I look and I ask myself: “What to do? Where do the Church begin to get closer to the migrants so that they can find the way to live their faith and their values in the Church of the foreign land? “(Sr. Norma Kleinubing).

South Africa

South Africa continues to be a country that in the context of sub-Saharan Africa attracts a significant number of immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and others. The situation of economic recession that the country faces places 35% of the population in a situation of vulnerability due to unemployment. For immigrants finding work or livelihoods has become an almost impossible goal, as well as being victims of extreme acts of xenophobia (physical violence and death), accused of being the cause of the difficult socio-economic situation in the country.

The MSCS sisters challenged by the context described in Johannesburg work in specific pastoral care services for immigrants and refugees in the Archdiocese and in the reception center of the Congregation, called Bienvenu, which welcomes refugee women and children and offers them accommodation, psychosocial support, English language, professional training courses, health care, educational assistance for children, legal support for the regularization of their migratory situation, seeking their integration into the local society.

Angola

Angola has a large number of immigrant workers from different continents, a phenomenon that has lasted since the armed conflict, but has intensified with the arrival of peace in 2002. In addition to these, a large number of immigrants cross borders of neighboring countries clandestinely. The repatriated Angolans, after long years of exile, remain impoverished in the rural and suburban areas of the big cities.

With the worsening of the political situation and conflicts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in 2017 Angola received a large number of Congolese refugees, who have settled in the most developed provinces of Angola and require social, legal and economic assistance. .

The MSCS Sisters present in Angola work in Luanda, coordinate migration pastoral care at the Episcopal Conference and carry out promotional activities for women displaced by the war. Instead in Uíge, located in the north of the country, they work at the Diocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and at the Diocesan Caritas.

Mozambique

Mozambique is characterized by political instability that results in economic and social instability, leaving some particularly vulnerable populations. It is a country of extreme human mobility, mainly due to climate change, migrations from the countryside to the cities and cross-border mobility, particularly for South Africa.

But there is also immigration mainly from East Africa to Sudan and Somalia, many of whom are refugees and consider Mozambique as a corridor for South Africa. Refugees are also welcomed in camps, such as for example Nampula, located in the north of the country.

The MSCS Sisters, present on the border of Ressano Garcia with South Africa and in the capital of Maputo, implement in the national coordination of the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees of the Episcopal Conference, in the reception of the Mozambican returnees deported from South Africa, with actions of protection and awareness raising on the risks that migrants face, such as labor exploitation, sexual exploitation and trafficking in human beings. Particular attention is paid to migrant children and women through programs of accompaniment and human promotion with activities focused on education, self-sustainability and self-esteem.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The presence of the female face of the Scalabrinian charism in African land after South Africa, Mozambique and Angola, has a concrete form also in the Congo, and exactly in the diocese of Kisantu, in the Bas-Congo – DRC.

In the diocese of Kisantu, there are 6 refugee camps with about 14 thousand Angolans, located along the southern border of the diocese, which borders the north of Angola. Our presence, in support of the mission and the socio-educational work of the Local Church, progressively develops as a particular attention to those aspects that the management of the emergency had forced on the margins both on the pastoral front and on a whole range of Angolan immigrants and refugees not included in the number of those who have obtained and still maintain the status of refugees.

Simultaneously with the presence at the border, networks have been developed to support local pastoral action and mini aid and promotion projects for situations of marginalization and vulnerability, both in the form of assistance in cases of urgency and microcredit for self-development. These are distance adoptions aimed at ensuring the literacy of women and children, experiences of support for autonomy and local self-development, cases of disability and above all the promotion of internal solidarity through the development of community microcredit.

India

In India, the MSCS community of Sisters is present in the city of Trivandrum, which experiences the phenomenon of human mobility and which strongly affects the fabric of the city’s social, economic, cultural, religious and political life. This situation causes a decrease in the influx of foreign and national tourists, a constant exodus of labor to the Gulf countries, as well as the migration of fishermen to other places on the coast, both inside and outside the region, the arrival of nomads from other States and the arrival of highly qualified professionals and migrants, contracted in Europe and Australia.

The mission in India offers the possibility of giving a new dynamism to the work of the MSCS Congregation. The pastoral action in favor of migrants is carried out in a prevalently non-Christian context, which puts the sisters in front of many entirely new challenges. In collaboration with the Archbishop and the Association of Social Services of Trivandrum, the Scalabrinian nuns succeeded in establishing the Archdiocesan Pastoral Commission for Migrants. The first efforts of the sisters have focused on identifying the different categories of mobile people present in the archdiocese and in defining the types of service adapted to the needs.

Indonesia

At Maumere the presence of the MSCS Sisters is focused on the formation of young missionaries, on vocational promotion and on mission. The sisters take an active part in the life and mission of the local Church, making pioneering work on teaching to a group of young people who aim to work abroad. The sisters have started a canteen for the poor dedicated to the destitute children of the area.

Philippines

The presence of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters in the Philippines dates back to 1987, when the country conquered democracy through the peaceful popular revolution of 1986. Since then the country has been rapidly marked by a strong emigration, due to economic and political problems. internal market adopted by the new government. Thousands of Filipinos, hoping to find a better job and a better life, went abroad, causing other serious problems in the country of origin, such as the absence of a parent or both during the growth of children, the exploitation of child and female labor and the moral decadence of the family and society.

Currently, the Philippines is a global reservoir of immigrants for whom the mission of the MSCS Sisters in the Philippines requires a lot of attention to the pastoral needs of families, they are mainly dedicated to the education and education of the children of internal migrant workers and emigrants abroad, through the Scalabrini Institute. They also work in pastoral action among migrants, especially between seafarers and refugees. There are many activities that they carry out as animators and coordinators: human and Christian formation, spiritual orientation, academic training, in-depth study and teaching of English to foreigners.

Canada

12% of the Canadian population lives in the city of Toronto, including 1/4 of the nation’s immigrant population. Immigrants contribute 92% to the population growth of the city. The citizens of Toronto come from 169 countries and speak over one hundred different languages, of which the three main foreign languages are Chinese, Portuguese and Italian.

Toronto’s religious and cultural diversity is difficult to manage. Signs of this are found in different realities: Mass is celebrated in 35 languages, 200 thousand Muslims observe Ramadam and half of the Canadian Jewish population lives in Toronto. The city hosts a substantial reality of ethnic minorities.

The Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters are in a religious community in Mississauga, Ontario. Pastoral work takes place in various forms with particular attention to the social and pastoral needs of migrants and refugees. The service of the Scalabrinian Sisters takes place in a particularly significant local situation at the migratory level.

Costa Rica

La Costa Rica è uno dei paesi dell’America Centrale che continua ad essere lo scenario di movimenti migratori costanti e vari da differenti paesi. Questo paese ha un flusso costante di popolazione migrante proveniente dal Nicaragua, dall’Honduras, dal Salvador e Guatemala fuggendo dai gruppi armati e dal crimine organizzato. A partire dal 2017 si è notato l’arrivo di immigrati haitiani provenienti dal Brasile e anche l’arrivo di venezuelani che fuggono dalla situazione socio-economica e politica del loro paese. La Costa Rica riceve anche immigrati dall’Asia, dall’Europa e dall’Africa.

Le Suore MSCS realizzano la missione tra i migranti organizzando servizi di attenzione psico-sociale, accompagnamento perché ottengano i visti o lo status di rifugiato, corsi di professionalizzazione, formazione per preparare leader; organizzano la pastorale per i migranti nella chiesa locale cercando di valorizzare i valori culturali e preservare la fede dei migranti. Tutta l’azione missionaria è svolta in rete con altre istituzioni civili incidendo in politiche pubbliche così da garantire i diritti dei migranti e dei rifugiati.

Honduras

Poverty and violence are the main causes of Honduran emigration, mainly to the United States of America.

The presence of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters in this country is due to the need to accompany the families whose relatives emigrated to the United States of America; there is also an immediate attention and assistance service to the thousands of deportation repatriates who arrive at the airports.

Honduras is on the migratory route, as a transit country for immigrants from Central and South America, who suffer any kind of violation of rights along the way.

Mexico

The migrations in Mexico constitute a complex and relevant situation of the local reality. Mexico, as well as a land of movement for its citizens, is also a land of continuous and incessant “pilgrimage” for many people who, from many countries in Central and South America, try to cross the border to the North. Among these people on the move, a particular category consists of those who are forcibly repatriated. For them, often the last of society, without voice or power, the Scalabrinian Sisters become sisters, mothers, companions on the way.

The Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters in Mexico live in four small communities in Guadalajara, Tijuana, Tonala and Mexico City. The work among migrants and refugees is varied, they deal with answering the two greatest pastoral questions that constitute the main challenge that human mobility in Mexico poses to the Church and society: in Tijuana through the Centro Madre Assunta they dedicate themselves to unconditional welcome, to the defense of life and rights, to the promotion of hope and often also to the rescue of the immediate needs of migrants who are on their way.

On the other hand, they are engaged in the animation and coordination of the Pastoral Care of Human Mobility at the national, diocesan and local levels. In Mexico City they coordinate the pastoral care and also the work of the Archdiocesan Caritas for migrants. In addition, the Sisters are dedicated to the promotion of fraternal and fraternal care for migrants, the training of operators in the sector and awareness raising so that the whole Church can respond to the call that migrations constantly turn to it.

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is characterized by a very restrictive migration policy, there are strong xenophobia especially against Haitian immigrants and the cases of statelessness of the children of Haitian immigrants, not recognized by the Dominican State.

Most Haitian immigrants work as sugar cane cutters, in miserable conditions, they are exploited or mistreated. They are also rejected for skin color. The country currently receives an increasing number of Venezuelan immigrants.

The MSCS Sisters make their service with cane cutters and accompanying statelessness cases, attempting to obtain the nationality of these people.

United States

The United States is still one of the countries in the world that receives the most immigrants and refugees, even if the law becomes increasingly restrictive, to the point of even violating human rights and endangering the lives of migrants themselves. The problem of deportation of migrants is known, above all towards the countries of Latin America.

The presence of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters in the United States and precisely in Chicago, Melrose Park, Northlake, Maryland, New York is characterized by a mission in the various sectors of pastoral care: Christian education, catechesis, pastoral care of health, training of workers, pastoral care of human mobility, social pastoral care, parishes.

The pastoral care for migrants, in particular, is constantly changing because the face of the migratory phenomenon itself is changing more and more and the Church and the Congregation are always trying to give new answers to these changes.

Argentina

Traditionally, Argentina has been a country of migratory flows, which continue to be constant. In addition to the traditional nationalities, which are in constant movement and continue the exchange of Bolivians, Paraguans, Peruvians and Chileans, in the last decades the African, Dominican and Haitian presence is growing significantly, and from 2017, the Venezuelan presence is an intense flow and constant given the political, economic and social situation of that country.

The MSCS Sisters who are in Argentina, trying to respond to the current migratory challenges, being a solidarity and hopeful presence in the life of migrants through a socio-pastoral action, welcoming and accompanying in the process of integration into the local reality.

Bolivia

The presence of the MSCS Sisters in Santa Cruz de la Sierra began with the reception service and pastoral action with Brazilian immigrant families, with young university students and with attention to internal migrants, such as farmers from different parts of Bolivia.

At present the mission of the MSCS Sisters takes place in the broad field of the pastoral care of human mobility, together with the different categories of migrants coming from different Latin American countries: the repatriated, the refugees and lately with the Venezuelans. Another service that is made is the attention to international migrants suffering from cancer from different regions of the country, which together with the relatives who accompany them for treatment, are housed in the Cardinal Terrazas welcome house.

Brazil

In Brazil, the new immigration law (2017) has been approved, representing a surplus compared to previous legislation. The country, in addition to constant emigration and the rise of returning Brazilians, is witnessing an increasing arrival of asylum seekers (especially Syrians and Venezuelans) and of migrants from Asian countries (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan) and Africans (especially Senegal and Ghana) ). The arrival of Haitians continues significantly, albeit in a smaller number.

The MSCS presence manifests itself at various levels. In the ecclesial context, the Sisters are engaged on a pastoral level in the various areas of human mobility, at the parish, diocesan and regional level; in the area of human promotion, various services, hospitality projects and the promotion of the integration of immigrants are carried out; in the political sphere, activities are carried out in connection with similar entities with the aim of influencing the formulation of public policies for the defense and promotion of the rights of migrants; in the social sphere, in general, training and information actions are carried out – especially in Christian communities, colleges, universities and other public spaces aimed at combating xenophobia and promoting the “culture of encounter”.

Colombia

Historically, the presence in Colombia is due to the millions of landless that the internal war has produced in the country.

The mission of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters is humanitarian attention, offering instruments of technical capacity and psychological support, so that this population can start life in other places.

Currently, the fact that Colombia is receiving thousands of Venezuelans in search of better living conditions, means that attention is also paid to this group of immigrants

Ecuador

For some decades, Ecuador has been a country of emigration, but it is also a destination for Colombian immigration, due to the conflict in the neighboring country.

The presence of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters is necessary because Colombian immigration continues to be a constant reality, despite efforts to achieve peace between the government and the different groups of guerrillas. The mission of the MSCS is to accompany the migrants on their arrival and to help them in the process of integration.

It must also be said that Ecuador, due to the fact that it has a fairly flexible human mobility law, is the second transit country for many immigrants who wish to go to other countries that offer better living conditions. These immigrants suffer violations and do not respect their rights.

Paraguay

Paraguay is a country with a long tradition of migration. Population movements within the territory and emigration to other countries have occurred since the colonial era. After the end of the triple alliance war, migration has intensified and continues to this day due to the various political crises and the economic and social situation, experienced both by immigrants in their countries of origin and by Paraguayans who emigrate to other countries or in internal movements, in the national territory.

The dynamism and missionary activity of the MSCS Sisters is expressed in the presence in reception centers, in parishes and in the field of migratory pastoral care, in the Episcopal Conference, coordinating programs of attention to all people who, due to temporary or stable mobility , they need human, pastoral, spiritual and social support; the action is aimed at immigrants, Paraguayan emigrants, returnees, internal migrants (especially young women), trafficked persons, tourists, stateless persons, refugees and exiles. It is worth pointing out that in 2017 the Network of Protected Migrants in Paraguay was created, which they implement together with the sector of the pastoral care of human mobility of the Episcopal Conference.

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