Volunteer at the Assumptionists Shelter reflection just before the End of the Experience.
December 2024 – Julia Hennessey
November was an incredibly busy month for the shelter, but also one filled with joy and a deep sense of fulfillment from the work we are doing. We saw a significant increase in the number of migrants we received, three times as many as in previous months. What stands out to me the most are the small moments of connection with these individuals. As a volunteer at the Assumptionists Shelter, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact our work has on these families.
A small moment of connection stood out to me while driving back from purchasing a family’s bus ticket. There was a young woman, my exact age, who wanted to stop at the store to buy lipstick. This struck me that despite the hardships, she, like all of us, simply wanted to feel beautiful while embarking on a difficult journey for a better life. In that small moment, I was reminded of our shared humanity despite our circumstances.
The families I encounter are sacrificing and risking everything for their children. There are pregnant women, mothers with infants, and single mothers and fathers. The parents face recurrent themes of loss, trauma, and unimaginable hardship. I spoke with one father who witnessed his wife’s murder while his children were present. He pursued asylum to escape the violence for the sake of his children. His whole family was kidnapped for over a month, and his infant was fed food meant for toddlers the entire time. It’s so easy to take for granted access to proper food and nutrition for babies, while this child was deprived of something so basic. Another mother of two children, along with her son, witnessed her husband murdered in front of them. The majority of families I meet have children who have either been victims of or witnesses to heinous crimes committed against their families. The most heartbreaking part is seeing these children cope with the trauma they have endured, which will likely stay with them for the rest of their lives. These children, embodying innocence in its purest form, are victims of pain nobody should ever have to bear.
These stories all reinforce the importance of addressing the God-given dignity of these families, each with their struggles, hopes, and dreams. When mothers hug me goodbye at the airport or bus station, and thank me for everything we have done for their families, I realize the profound impact of even the smallest acts of compassion. I realize the simplicity and importance of what we are doing here in El Paso.
While it’s easy to let our political views shape our perspective, I encourage you to look beyond politics and see the issue through the eyes of Christ. Regardless of your stance on border security, ask yourself: How would Christ interact with these migrants, many of whom are seeking asylum? Christ would have seen these families with love, dignity, and respect, without judgment. This is the work we strive to do in El Paso. I continually pray that God gives me the grace and charity to carry out His work as He intends.
– Julia Hennessey
