Celebrating 25 Years of Immigration Services
Grounded in Faith, Growing in Ministry
At Catholic Charities, our daily work is driven by a sacred mission. Grounded in the rich traditions of Catholic social teaching, justice, mercy, and service to the most vulnerable. We strive to blend professional expertise with a deeply compassionate, human-centered approach. For over 25 years, our Immigration Services department has walked alongside individuals and families, recognizing the inherent dignity of every person who seeks our assistance.
When we look at the global landscape of leadership, we see a powerful reflection of what Pope Francis so beautifully describes as the 'poetry of the Church'—the fierce, compassionate work of women in leadership. Here in our own organization, this vision is made real every day. Our CEO, Dan Florin, has cultivated a culture where compassion, respect, and deep trust in our leadership have been fundamental to our shared success, echoing the very values of dignity and empowerment the Pope champions globally.
A Legacy Formed by Women of Faith
As Pope Francis beautifully reminded the global community, “What would the Church be without religious sisters and consecrated laywomen? The Church is unintelligible without them.” This profound truth is woven directly into the DNA of Catholic Charities. Twenty-five years ago, our immigration program was founded through the vision of our former CEO, Debbie Schmidt. Believing deeply in the critical need for this program, she entrusted another talented and professional woman to step forward and lead it. Their foundational leadership set a standard of professional excellence and deep empathy that remains as our guiding light.
This legacy of leadership connects our modern department to the historical roots of Catholic service in northeastern Indiana. On August 28, 1868, eight Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ arrived in Hessen Cassel at the invitation of Bishop John Henry Luers. Saint Katharina Kasper sent these sisters to serve the influx of German immigrant families settling in the area. Within weeks, they were running a parish school and caring for the sick, ultimately opening St. Joseph Hospital in 1869—the city's first hospital.
When the hospital was sold in 1998, its proceeds created the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation to ensure that the sisters' original mission of care would endure. Today, that historical thread remains unbroken. In a time when the federal landscape has turned exceptionally harsh toward the immigrant community and massive funding cuts have stifled agencies across the country, Catholic Charities has refused to dim its light.
Instead, thanks to the visionary support of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and a deeply impactful endowment from the Sisters of Our Lady of Victory Missionary (Victory Noll), our department has expanded rapidly. Over the years, we have welcomed six additional women to our department. This growth has transformed our team into a stronger, brighter beacon of hope, ramping up services at a moment when our regional immigrant community is most desperate and fearful for the future.
Sustaining the Spiritual Life of Our Local Church
Within this broader mission of serving our newest neighbors, our expanded team has also been blessed with the unique privilege of sustaining the spiritual life of our own local Church. This vital work has thrived for a quarter-century because of the unwavering pastoral care of our local shepherds. The program was launched and fiercely championed under the compassionate leadership of the late Bishop John M. D’Arcy, and that legacy of profound support continues today under Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades. Their combined vision has ensured that welcoming the stranger remains at the very heart of our diocesan mission.
For the past 16 years, our dedicated immigration team has managed the religious visas for international priests called to serve within our Diocese. Two years ago, this vital ministry expanded even further. Recognizing the indispensable role of women in the Church, we began assisting international religious sisters, ensuring they could legally and smoothly enter the United States to share their unique charisms with our community.
Today, we look upon the fruits of this labor with profound joy and holy pride. Through the processing of these religious visas, our Diocese has been enriched by the arrival of three remarkable religious communities:
The Misioneras Eucarísticas de Nazaret, who have journeyed to us from Spain.
The Instituto Religioso de las Misioneras Siervas del Divino Espíritu, who have come from Colombia.
The Catechist Sisters of St. Ann (CSA), who have traveled from India.
These sisters have left their homelands to become instruments of God’s grace right here in our neighborhoods. By joining our Diocese, they are actively spreading the Gospel, breathing vibrant life into our ministries, and serving faithfully as pastoral associates in our churches. Furthermore, their presence in our Catholic schools brings an invaluable blessing. By teaching and mentoring our youth, these sisters are vital to spreading Catholic teachings, forming young hearts in faith, and cultivating the next generation of believers.
We thank God for the privilege of serving those who serve. As we reflect on 25 years of immigration ministry, we pray for the continued protection and fruitfulness of our international priests and sisters. May our collaborative efforts, fueled by the pastoral leadership of Bishop D’Arcy and Bishop Rhoades, the generosity of our community partners, and the dedication of the women leading our department, continue to build a welcoming Church that reflects the universal beauty of the Body of Christ.