The start of the summer has come with a lot of action towards solidarity.
KBI hosted its 11th generation of leaders who participated in the Kino Teens Leadership Days Program. Students from six different schools across the country gathered in Nogales for a week of formation. The program was designed to bring together students from across the U.S. to develop skills that would help them mobilize their classmates and advance Kino’s mission to Defend, Accompany, and Share the ministry of welcome.
This year’s program focused on local advocacy and engagement in Nogales, Sonora. Some of the highlights included a meeting with Sheriff Hathaway, where students learned about the county’s efforts to avoid collaboration with DHS; a visit to Casa de la Misericordia, a refugee center where families fleeing violence live while they pursue access to asylum in the United States; and a binational dinner with Arcoíris, a youth group in Nogales, Sonora, where teenagers from both countries celebrated one another in unity with Christ.
As part of the students’ next steps, each school researched a local issue affecting the migrant community in their hometowns. They wrote letters to their elected representatives and collected signatures to advocate for change. One particularly meaningful project that emerged from the week was a Stations of the Cross experience in which each station represents the testimony of a person who died crossing the desert. If you are interested in organizing this activity, reach out to Iñigo Casares Pérez at KBI. If you would like to learn more about the realities people face in the desert, consult the Humane Borders Death Map.
Border Mass 250
With the strength of faith and a message of brotherhood, hundreds of parishioners and Catholic leaders transformed the border into a bridge of unity during the 250th Border Mass, a binational event held in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The celebration sought to highlight human dignity and the fundamental contributions of the immigrant community to the societies of both countries.
This historic event was attended by key Catholic leaders from across the border region, including Monsignor James Misko, Bishop of Tucson; Monsignor John Dolan, Bishop of Phoenix; Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe; Monsignor Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso; and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas. On the Mexican side, Bishop José Luis Cerra Luna of Nogales and Bishop Enrique Sánchez Martínez of Mexicali also joined the celebration.
The activities began with a public discussion on the challenges of migration, followed by Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Nogales, Arizona. During the liturgy, the Bishop of Tucson explained that bringing together the community and the bishops of the border dioceses was a way to keep alive the Catholic call to solidarity. For the clergy, the gathering also served as a unified call for comprehensive and just immigration reform that responds to the realities of our time.
After the Mass concluded, participants processed toward Mexico, crossing the international border while praying the rosary in both English and Spanish. Their shared prayer united the voices of both nations in reflection on the peace and security sought by those who are forced to leave their homes.
The procession continued to La Purísima Concepción Parish in Nogales, Sonora, where participants offered silent prayer before the altar. The day concluded at the Kino Border Initiative shelter, where the bishops shared dinner with members of the migrant community, providing an opportunity for conversation and encounter with those seeking safety and a life of dignity.
Call to Action:
Defend: Advocate for recognizing local or parish IDs, public proclamations of welcome, and scrutinize funding for local collaboration with federal enforcement
Accompany: Join the Jesuit Refugee Service Migrant Accompaniment Network, which connects volunteers with newly arrived migrants in communities across the U.S. to walk alongside migrants and asylum seekers as they navigate resettlement and the legal system in a new land.
Share: Foster a culture of encounter by bringing migration education to your parish, school, or community using KBI’s educational resources.
Extra: Read and share “Community training guide: ignatian advocacy 10” from ISN to learn about other ways you can impact your communities.
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