The ICSJ Parish Refugee Ministry is dedicated to welcoming refugee families as they arrive in America and walking alongside them as they adapt to a new country and culture. The group has been diligently working with the Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program, RefugeeOne and Exodus World Service. Since 2017, ICSJ has welcomed 10 wonderful families and continues to support and maintain friendships with 7
ICSJ Refugee Ministry News
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• July 18, 2025: An Update About the Andino Ramirez Family
• April 30, 2025: Good News from the Andino Ramirez Family!
• February 2025: ICSJ Financially Co-Sponsors Nicaraguan Family of Five in Resettlement
• January 2025: Congratulations, Idrees! Loyola University Class of 2029!
• January 2025: New Year Update!
• October 2023: Respect Life Sunday
• August 2023:Meet the Thabits, Our 10th Refugee Family!
• June 2023: The Thabit Family–Our 10th Refugee Family!
• June 2023:The Almbied Family
• April 2023:Burundi Family Update
• June 2022:We Welcome our EIGHTH Family!
• March 2022:Help With Our Virtual Baby Shower!• February 2022:Job Needed!
• April 2021:A Family Update
• October 2020:Eight Reasons to be Thankful During This Pandemic
• August 2019:A Refugee Fairytale
• February 2019:An Incredible 2-year Check-In With One of Our Families
• December 2018:A New Refugee Family! Household Items Needed!
• November 2018:We Are So Blessed
• August 2018:Sunday Funday
• July 2018 :Meet Our New Family From Rohingya
• May 2018:And One More Makes Four
• December 2017:Tutors and Mentors Needed
• November 2017:Clothing Drive Results–Be Careful What You Ask For!
• October 2017: (New) Home For The Holidays/Winter Clothing Drive
• October 2017:Never A Doubting Thomas When It Comes to ICSJ
• September 2017:Baby Shower
• August 2017:Kids Come In All Sizes–So Do ICSJ Volunteers
• July 2017:A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
• June 2017:We Have A Second Refugee Family
• May 2017:Well Worth The Wait
• April 2017:We Surpassed Our Fundraising Goal!
• March 2017:Our Family Has Arrived!
• March 2017:ICSJ To Welcome A Refugee Family
• February 2017: On Hold
Get Involved in ICSJ’s Refugee Ministry
Join our ICSJ Refugee Ministry Team
Our Ministry Team works in partnership with Catholic communities across Chicago to help coordinate drives, educational opportunities and advocacy projects to support and uplift the dignity of our refugee neighbors.
Donate to ICSJ Refugee Ministry Fund
Your donation to the ICSJ Parish Refugee Ministry Fund allows us to resettle new families and supports our existing families. To see how your donation will be put to work, please see the ICSJ Refugee Ministry News section below. Thank you for your generosity!
Create and Deliver Care Packs with Exodus World Service
Grab your friends and family to prepare a Home Care Package for refugee families across Chicago. Through Exodus World Service, you will be able to deliver the packs directly to the family!
Become a Prayer Partner with Exodus World Service
We invite you to join us in asking God to intervene on behalf of refugees facing challenges, as well as join in prayers of gratitude. Request a weekly prayer email from Exodus World Service below.
Become a New Neighbor at Exodus World Service
Visit a newly arrived refugee family in Chicago once a week for three months. Volunteers and families have the opportunity to build bridges of understanding, cross-cultural learning and friendship. New Neighbors answer basic questions about life in the U.S., help refugees practice their English and introduce them to their community. Training required through Exodus World Service for all volunteers.
Become a New Neighbor for Youth at Exodus World Service
Adult volunteers visit weekly for three months with an elementary, middle, or high school student, coordinated with Exodus and the child's parents. Volunteers help increase academic skills and confidence through fun activities, and partner with refugee parents on how to support their child's learning. Resource guides are provided and volunteer training is required through Exodus World Service.
Our Community Partners
Exodus World Service
Exodus World Service mobilizes the Christian community to welcome and befriend refugees. They do this by educating churches and individuals about the plight of refugees, connecting volunteers with refugees through practical service projects, and empowering people to be champions for refugees. Exodus World Service grounds their work in four pillar values: Hospitality, Relationships, Dignity, and Mobilization. Through Exodus World Service, ICSJ parishioners have access to service, social and educational opportunities to more fully engage with the refugee population in the Chicagoland area.
RefugeeOne
RefugeeOne is on a mission to create opportunity for refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity, and self-reliance. Every year, RefugeeOne serves more than 2,500 refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants of all ages, ethnic groups, faiths, and backgrounds. Their primary focus is to assist these resilient individuals in becoming independent, self-supporting members of their new Chicagoland community. They provide holistic services (housing support, English language training, mental health care, employment coaching, youth programs, dental care, and more – at no cost to program participants!) to help newcomers build flourishing lives in Chicago. Through RefugeeOne, ICSJ has financially co-sponsored the resettlement of newly arrived refugees. Read updates about our latest co-sponsorship family here. You can donate today to our ICSJ Refugee Ministry to help us co-sponsor our next family resettlement at the link below.
“As we fix our gaze on the Holy Family as they were forced to become refugees, let us think of the tragedy of those migrants today who are victims of rejection and exploitation . . . and give voice to those who cannot manage to make their cry of distress and oppression heard.”
— Pope Francis