Chair: Estela Reyes-Bugg

“We cannot insist too much on the duty of giving foreigners a hospitable reception. It is a duty imposed by human solidarity and by Christian charity… They should be welcomed in the spirit of brotherly love, so that the concrete example of wholesome living may give them a high opinion of authentic Christian charity and of spiritual values.”

Populorum Progressio
Pope Paul VI, 1967

Prompted by the profound significance of these words of Pope Paul VI, the OVHC works to build up the Body of Christ in recognition of a spirit of solidarity with the people of our Hispanic Community. We recognize that this call to love, intended by Christ, is meant to be put at the service of the larger Church community and society as a whole.

Through our faith, and in unison with our bishops, we are moved to search for ways that favor a spirit of solidarity and overcome all forms of discrimination. Our advocacy and ministerial efforts include:

• Support for a growing network of Catholic institutions which seek comprehensive immigration reform.
• Reaffirmation of quality and dignity of life, in all its stages, from conception to death.
• Preserving the union of the family.
• Support for public policies that reduce poverty and increase education equity.
• Supporting programs that teach ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
• Deepening the understanding of the richness and importance for daily living found in the traditions of the Catholic Social Doctrine of our Church.

People we are in partnership with and/or support

• Justice for Immigrants Campaign
  Provides tools and information for diocesan and community-based organizing, education and advocacy efforts for immigration reform.

• A Day Without an Immigrant
  A grassroots effort advocating for immigration reform and local action for a comprehensive immigration plan.

• Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty
  Campaign run by The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS) inviting Catholics throughout the U.S. to join in advocating for U.S. policies that foster economic and social development for people living in poverty throughout the world.

• Making the Case for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
  A resource guide.
• Catholic Relief Services
  The official International Humanitarian Agency of US Catholics
• Respect Life
  The Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, under the guidance and direction of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, works to protect and teach respect for all human life from conception to natural death.

Please email hispcath@adphila.org with more resource suggestions.