Today, we give thanks to God as we take an important step in our pastoral and humanitarian mission by starting the Mental Health Program. This initiative comes from our deep commitment to the dignity, life, and hope of migrants. In a world shaped by forced displacement, inequality, and vulnerability, this program is a real sign of care, support, and love for others.
The city of Juárez, Mexico, has welcomed thousands of migrants searching for a safe place to rebuild their lives. At the Columbano Ministry of the Border, we support them by meeting basic and spiritual needs. Through our work, we have seen that mental health is essential for people of all ages to join a new community and look to the future with hope.
We are very grateful for our year-long partnership with the Humanitarian Health Initiative for the Border (ISHF). This group of health professionals, guided by compassion and a commitment to social justice and human rights, has helped us support migrants’ physical and mental health.
Migrants bring with them stories shaped by pain, loss, uprooting, uncertainty, and often violence from their home countries or during their journey. These experiences leave unseen marks that affect their emotions, selfworth, and hopes for the future. As a faith community, we know that healing the heart and mind is just as important as caring for the body. Jesus showed compassion to those who suffered, looked at them with kindness, listened without judging, and gave them back their dignity and hope.
We are happy to welcome the professionals joining our Columbano team. Each brings valuable experience from different organizations and a caring, professional approach to working with people on the move. They will focus on group support, as well as educational and community activities that build relationships, improve daily life, and encourage resilience, mutual help, and a sense of belonging.
We have also set up a clear plan for individual psychological care. Each professional can work with up to five people in ongoing therapy sessions, usually lasting eight to twelve sessions, with the option to extend if needed. This support aims to provide emotional help, tools to handle trauma, and a path toward healing.
This program is a seed of hope planted in a time of pain and uncertainty. We believe that with professional help, solidarity, and our faith, we can support deep healing and change. We always remember that every migrant is sacred, carries God’s image, and deserves to live with dignity, peace, and hope at every step of their journey.
Columban Fr. Alvaro Martinez lives and works in El Paso, Texas.