An Update from the Arakaza Family

We’re delighted to share some wonderful news about the Burundi refugee family our parish first welcomed back in March 2022. They’re doing well, and it’s a joy to see how far they’ve come! A recent photo is attached, which they asked us to share along with their warm greetings and heartfelt thanks.

Their oldest child, Ryan, who was born in a Kenyan refugee camp where the family lived for ten years before coming to the U.S. during COVID, turned 14 this year. He was accepted into Misericordia and moved there in mid-September. He continues to attend his same school, now commuting each morning on a bus from Misericordia.

Their daughter, Kylie—who many may remember from the online baby shower—just turned 3 and started Pre-K this fall through Chicago Public Schools’ Chicago Early Learning program.

Their youngest, Rylie, celebrated her first birthday in June and is doing great!

Mom continues to work first shift at Misericordia, and Dad remains on third shift at a local factory. The family remains deeply grateful for all the ways the parish helped them get started here and sends warm thanks to everyone.

And especially exciting news — they have their citizenship appointment scheduled for the end of this month! Please continue to keep the Arakaza family in your prayers.

ICSJ Refugee Ministry

An Update from the Andino Ramirez Family

Letter received from our partners at RefugeeOne on July 17, 2025 

It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through summer! Our summer activities are in full swing, including the Youth Program’s summer camp, where this year’s theme is Science in the Sun. Though many children participate in our program, the Andino Ramirez children are taking a different approach, and we’re excited to share more about them with you!

The eldest son (age 17) is in a social work program this summer and is really enjoying it—he hopes to give back to his community through this career path one day. The middle and youngest children both opted to take summer courses through their school. The middle child is taking boxing classes and the youngest is catching up on English to prepare for the coming year. We love that the kids are able to explore their different interests through summer programming!

The kids will also receive dental care at RefugeeOne soon—our in-house dental clinic provides free dental support to clients. Care is provided by pro-bono dentists, as well as our full-time dental hygienist.

The mother continues to work and feels much more established in Chicago. She is excelling at her current job, but the RefugeeOne Employment team continues to monitor for job upgrades since her current position does not have benefits. The Employment team thinks she’d excel at a Spanish speaking role, so they’re actively working on finding a good fit for her.

Though the Andino Ramirez family has faced hardships, they are adjusting to life in Chicago, step by step. Your support was a big part of them finding stability and safety here. Each member of the family gives back to our community in their own unique way, and we’re so grateful that your generosity is allowing that good to unfold.

Despite the suspension of the federal U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in January, we’re still quite busy helping our newest neighbors thrive because of the generosity of supporters like you! In addition to serving hundreds of newcomers we’d welcomed before the suspension took hold, we’ve enrolled 120 new refugees since January 20. Newcomers are learning English, finding jobs, building friendships, learning to cope with trauma, becoming U.S. citizens, and so much more. Additionally, we continue to advocate for thousands worldwide who now dangerously wait in limbo.

Thank you for this incredibly timely support!

Good News from the Andino Ramirez Family!

In January, ICSJ made a donation to financially co-sponsor the resettlement of a Nicaraguan family of five.

Here is the latest update from RefugeeOne on the Andino Ramirez Family! You can read the Pope Francis’ most recent letter addressing migration in the U.S. HERE.

The Andino Ramirez family has done a fantastic job of utilizing RefugeeOne’s services to build an independent life here in Chicago. We’re inspired by their adjustment and excited to share these updates with you all.

As mentioned in the previous update* the mother participated in (and officially graduated!) our Cultural Orientation program. She dedicated herself to taking in all that she could from the course. In fact, she was the only one who brought a journal and took detailed notes! Her determination has been evident in every aspect of her resettlement process.

The mother also showed resiliency in her job hunt. Over the past few months, she worked closely with our Employment team to find work. They attended job fairs together and applied for numerous positions near the family’s home. Our Employment team noted she was excellent in interviews and answered questions thoroughly. Today, we’re proud to report that she gained employment from one of those interviews! After a few weeks on the job, she’s enjoying her new position and is eager to improve in her role.

Though the mother and her three children have a permanent status in the U.S., she still feels deep fear of deportation and immigrant detention for her family and especially her husband—fears that many of our clients share. We’re glad she opted into our Wellness services to have space to discuss these anxieties with one of RefugeeOne’s licensed therapists.

 On the school front, all went well for the children at parent-teacher conferences. The kids are finishing up the year well and preparing for some summer fun! Many schools offer summer programs for students, and once RefugeeOne learns which school programs they’re participating in, we’ll invite them to our summer programming that works with their schedules.

 Thank you again for helping newcomers find their pathway to safety in Chicago. Your donation not only makes a direct impact on the Andino Ramirez family, but also bolsters this community of welcome. We’re grateful to be in this work together!

ICSJ Financially Co-Sponsors Nicaraguan Family of Five in Resettlement

A message from RefugeeOne* on the Ramirez Family!

Thank you, ICSJ Parish, for your generous and incredibly timely gift to RefugeeOne. We’re so grateful your parish has opted to co-sponsor the Ramirez family. As you know, the new administration has temporarily suspended the resettlement program, however this does not prohibit us from continuing to serve clients to the best of our abilities as they rebuild their lives in Chicago. We’ll ensure that the Ramirez family has access to all of our programs, such as housing, resume and job support, Youth services, mental health therapy, and much more.

This was an especially moving arrival at O’Hare, as a mother and her three children were reunited with their husband and dad. The family—originally from Nicaragua—had been separated for two years. The father came to the U.S. in 2022 to find refuge and work to provide more opportunities for his family. In the meantime, the mother and children applied for refugee status and were eventually sent to Chicago as well. As you can imagine, it was an emotional reunion! Despite their new surroundings and apartment, the kids were simply focused on making up lost time with their dad.

Since his arrival, the father has established his own work at a local factory, secured an apartment in the city, and applied for asylum. The family moved into his place, and RefugeeOne provided our usual furnishings, household essentials, and two weeks’ worth of groceries to the family. The family has already received their Link card, a card that allows them to receive cash assistance and SNAP benefits.

Our Youth team enrolled the three boys (age 9, 14, and 16) into local schools. The mother and children walked to Nixon Elementary where they met with a teacher and received a tour. Then they walked to Kelvyn Park High School where they met with administrators who answered the family’s questions about the school. The boys had their first day of school last week, and according to their case manager it went well!

The mom was also enrolled in our Cultural Orientation classes, which take place every Friday. “CO” is an 8-week long program that focuses on topics like rights as a US resident, cultural norms in the US, carrying personal identification, US laws, money management, creating a budget, steps to getting a job, the importance of paying taxes, and so much more.

Finally, we want to share that the mother and her three sons have permanent status in the U.S., granted through their refugee status. We know it’s a difficult and concerning time for all newcomers, so we have begun offering Know Your Rights trainings for all clients so that they’re prepared should they interact with ICE officers.

Thank you again for all the continued support!

*Please note that the financial co-sponsorship of the Ramirez Family through RefugeeOne is a different effort than the Welcome to America Pack recently collected by the parish to support our partners at Exodus World Service.

Congratulations, Idrees, on your Scholarship!

Our first refugee family has been in the United States for almost 8 years now! Since their first day here, they have been accompanied by ICSJ parishioners as they settled into their new life in Chicago. After huge milestones and celebrations, like becoming American Citizens, the family has a new and wonderful accomplishment they would like to share with our parish community.

Idrees, 17 years old, just received a well-earned, 4-year, renewable, Trustee Scholarship to Loyola University Chicago as a part of the Class of 2029!! Beginning in August of 2025, he will study in the Environmental Engineering program. Idrees and his parents have worked hard to make this happen and we could not be more proud! Thank you to all who have continued to support this ministry and celebrate alongside us throughout the years! Go Ramblers!