Father Robert Christy SVD is a Divine Word Missionary priest currently serving in southern Ecuador. Below, he shares his firsthand account of living out Christ’s command in Matthew 25 to care for the least among us.
The Maria Madre de la Iglesia parish community in southern Ecuador cares deeply for its migrant neighbors. Forced to leave the security of their home countries because of political and economic strife, these migrants face a long and dangerous journey, struggling to survive as they search for a better life. Our parish, run by Divine Word Missionaries, takes care of its migrant neighbors by practicing a core corporal work of mercy: feeding the hungry.
What is the Migrant Feeding Program?
The migrant feeding program takes place at the Maria Madre de la Iglesia parish in Hauquillas, a small city with a population of 56,000 located in southern Ecuador on the border with Peru. Most people here, even those from Ecuador, are very poor as they come from other regions in search of employment.
The feeding ministry’s primary focus is on migrants. People crossing the border from Peru (even though most started their journeys in other countries) are on their way north, where they hope to find a better life.
As Divine Word Missionaries, we exist to bring healing and hope to those in need. We recognize that God never abandons his people, and neither should we. We join with the poor in their struggle for justice, equality and freedom. In their pain and sorrow, we see the face of Christ.
Maria Madre de la Iglesia’s primary ministry is the weekly feeding program, which assists the many migrants in need. We also provide basic medical assistance and a small amount of money to help them continue their journey.
Our feeding program has been in existence for almost five years now. In the early days, almost all the migrants we served came from Venezuela. While the majority of them still come from Venezuela, we now see migrants from other countries, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Most of them travel with children and are in need of economic help. They wish to settle in America or Europe, places they hope to find jobs and make a better life for themselves and their families.
How Does This Feeding Ministry Work?
Every Saturday, 12 to 15 volunteers prepare and serve over 150 meals to those in need. In this hands-on service, we witness firsthand the painful realities faced by families participating in this vital program. Upon arrival, migrants are strangers. They face suspicions and prejudices and are not accepted by many people around Hauquillas. Maria Madre de la Iglesia parish is a place where people can find refuge and feel welcome.
The migrants, ranging from young children to the elderly, all express immense gratitude. Tired and hungry, some ask for seconds, which we provide if there is enough food.
To further alleviate their already heavy burdens, the parish provides medical assistance and hygiene supplies. These basic necessities, like food, medicine, soap and water, allow them to recuperate until they are ready to continue their journey. As for my own experience with the feeding program, I have become more open to responding creatively to the needs of the poor.
How is Caring for Migrants Biblical?
As a Divine Word Missionary, I assume that the Church’s preferential option for the poor comes from Christ the Incarnate Word. It is in caring for the poor and neglected that I am actually ministering to the Lord himself. This is very clear in chapter 25 of the Gospel of St. Matthew: Whatever we do for the least of our brothers and sisters (the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, etc.), we do for the Lord. My spiritual foundation in the Word impels me to put the last first. I personally find the presence of the Word in the realities of immigrants. This mission is non-negotiable.
Here at Maria Madre de la Iglesia parish, we are grateful to YOU and all who help this mission. We appreciate your generosity and willingness to feed these hungry migrants in Ecuador. We appreciate your sensitivity to our neediest brother and sister immigrants.
You too can serve Christ by serving the least of our brothers and sisters through the migrant feeding program. From wherever you are in the world, we invite you to extend your hand and serve a hot meal to a migrant in need.
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