Immigration, Refugees, and Catholic Service.

Immigration, Refugees, and Catholic Service: First Friday Club of Cleveland Highlights a Call to Compassion

A Timely Discussion on Immigration

We looked forward to attending the July 2 meeting of the First Friday Club of Cleveland at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe. The program, “Immigration: Our Call to Service,” featured two respected advocates for immigrants and refugees: Sister Rita Mary Harwood, SND, and Dr. Gina Pérez, Professor of Comparative American Studies at Oberlin College.

The speakers addressed one of today’s most important public issues—immigration in the United States. They discussed the Catholic Church’s long history of serving immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. They also emphasized compassion, dignity, and practical support for families rebuilding their lives.

Dr. Gina Pérez on Immigration and Sanctuary

We have admired Sister Rita Mary Harwood for many years because of her dedication to immigrant and refugee families in Northeast Ohio. Through decades of humanitarian work, she has helped thousands of newcomers find resources, stability, and community.

Dr. Gina Pérez has also earned national respect for her work in anthropology and immigration studies. Her research explores migration, immigrant communities, and the role of faith organizations in welcoming newcomers.

Dr. Pérez began by sharing how the Sanctuary Movement of the 1980s shaped her understanding of immigration. Churches across the United States helped asylum seekers fleeing violence and political instability in Central America. That experience inspired her lifelong interest in immigration and refugee advocacy.

She also discussed the Catholic Church’s continuing commitment to sanctuary, accompaniment, and advocacy. She expands on those themes in her acclaimed book, Sanctuary People. NYU Press describes it as “a compelling exploration of the ways in which faith communities are creating new activist strategies and enacting new forms of solidarity.”

Refugee Resource Center Serves More Than 900 Families

Sister Rita focused on the remarkable growth of the Refugee Resource Center at St. Colman Parish. She and Father Robert Reidy founded the center in 2022. Today, it serves more than 900 refugee and immigrant families throughout Greater Cleveland.

According to an April 2026 article in the Plain Press, Father Reidy explained that the center provides household essentials that families cannot purchase with federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Each month, registered families receive items such as toilet paper, paper towels, personal hygiene products, and other everyday necessities.

Sister Rita also explained how the center protects each family’s dignity. Every family receives a membership card, much like a warehouse club card. They simply present the card during each visit instead of completing paperwork every time. That small change creates a more welcoming and respectful experience.

A Balanced Catholic View of Immigration

Immigration remains one of the nation’s most debated issues. We appreciated moderator Bill McCarron’s thoughtful introduction because he acknowledged both compassion and the rule of law.

He described the Catholic response to immigration as a “both-and” approach:

• We affirm the dignity of every human person.
• We recognize the right of nations to govern and secure their borders.
• We call for compassion, justice, and wise judgment.
• We seek solutions that serve the common good.

He concluded with these observations:

“Aquinas gives us the structure: prudence, order, and the common good.

Pope Leo gives us the emphasis: dignity, compassion, and moral urgency.

If we can hold those together, we move closer to a society that is not only ordered—but truly just and humane.”

Faith, Immigration, and Service

The program offered a thoughtful discussion of immigration, refugee resettlement, asylum, Catholic social teaching, and immigrant services. Regardless of where people stand on immigration policy, the speakers demonstrated how faith communities can help families rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

For anyone interested in immigration, refugee resettlement, Catholic immigration ministry, and refugee assistance in Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, the presentation offered valuable insights into the important work taking place in our community.