The Jesuit Border Podcast

The Jesuit Post
The Jesuit Border Podcast

Brian Strassburger, SJ, and Joe Nolla, SJ, are two Jesuits based in the diocese of Brownsville, TX, and working in the Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico Border. This podcast will share on-the-ground stories and interviews that highlight the tremendous response to the migrant situation from a Catholic perspective.

  1. 3 DEC

    S7E7: “Iglesia en Salida” with Bishop Joseph Tyson from the Diocese of Yakima, WA

    For our final episode of Season 7, we are thrilled to welcome Bishop Joseph Tyson from the Diocese of Yakima, WA. He likes to describe his diocese as the largest border diocese without a border because the population is 75% Latino, with many migrants coming there to work in the fields picking fruit. He talks about what inspired him to require his seminarians to work next to migrants in the field as a part of their formation. He discusses the theme of “Iglesia en Salida” (the Church on mission), describing his parishes not as country clubs but as mission centers that must go out to meet people where they are. Brian and Joe share stories about the Church on mission. Brian shares the example of all the women religious in the Rio Grande Valley accompanying those on the margins. Women religious throughout history have been a bold example of a Church that goes forth on mission. Joe recounts his initial visits to the Ozanam Center in Brownsville, TX, and the fears he had to overcome as he started celebrating communion services there to put into practice the idea of the Church on mission. He kept waiting for what felt like a sufficient quorum, until he realized that the Gospel provides one: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). Turns out it was a pretty low bar! Enjoy this final episode of the season, and blessings on your Advent. We’ll be back with a new season in early 2025.

    39 min

  2. 26 NOV

    S7E6: “Being Part of the Solution” with Harrison Hanvey, from the Office of Justice and Ecology at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States

    We are pleased to welcome Harrison Hanvey, the Manager of Outreach and Partnerships for the Office of Justice and Ecology at the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. Before working for the Jesuits, Harrison spent five years living in Central America, including time working side by side with Nicaraguans in plantain farms and coffee fields. He shares what inspired those experiences and the impact it has had on his life. Harrison visited the border earlier this year, and he has a great story to share about a Colombian family that he encountered on his visit, and how a variety of people from very different backgrounds and political persuasions came together to help solve problems for this family in need. Joe and Brian also share stories about being part of the solution. Joe highlights the efforts of our good friend Rafael Cortes to empower Denilson, a teenager from Honduras, to organize a soccer tournament in his shelter. Brian shares the story of Merari and her daughter Emily, who fell sick at a shelter in Reynosa. Brian kept waiting for Merari to ask him to solve a particular problem he had in mind, without realizing how she was inviting him to be a valuable part of the solution that she was looking for.

    44 min

  3. 19 NOV

    S7E5: “Missing Home” with Jeanne Rossomme, Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C.

    We are delighted to welcome Jeanne Rossomme, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C. She is one of the leaders of the migrant support team at the parish, or “Migrant Familia” as they call it, which is a team of volunteers that accompany, support and advocate for asylum seekers and refugees. Jeanne shares the origin story of the project that began with a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. She talks about the complicated systems of housing, schooling, employment, and immigration status that their team helps migrants to navigate. She shares inspiring stories and reflects on how common it is for migrants to miss their home, just like any of us would.  For anyone who is looking for ways to respond to threats of mass deportations, Jeanne offers a tremendous example of how a small group of parishioners can mobilize to support migrants in their community. Brian and Joe share stories of migrants missing home. Joe recounts the story of Hector, a migrant from Honduras who was kidnapped in Reynosa. The experience was so intense and traumatic for him that it caused him to question the biggest priorities in his life. Brian shares the story of Yamileth who ran the kitchen in her shelter and loved sharing her culture by preparing baleadas (a traditional Honduran dish of a folded flour tortilla filled with food). Brian and Joe stuffed their faces before returning to meet up with Flavio…empty handed!

    41 min

  4. 12 NOV

    S7E4: “The Joy of Participation” with Guerline Mardi, an asylum seeker from Haiti

    We are delighted to welcome Guerline Mardi, an asylum seeker from Haiti. She is multilingual, including fluency in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole. Guerline lived in Argentina for eleven years before migrating north and making the journey to the U.S. alone. She stayed in the Pumarejo shelter in Matamoros, Mexico for one and a half months, where she met the Jesuits when they would come to visit and celebrate Mass. From her first day at the shelter, Guerline looked for ways to help out: from translating for Haitian migrants to participating in the Mass. Brian and Joe talk about the new dynamic of finding a kid before Mass in the shelters to ring the bell during the consecration. They share the story of Melisa, a nine-year-old girl from Honduras, who quickly became the all-star bell ringer in her shelter in Reynosa. But ringing the bell was just the starting point of her participation. Joe shares Melisa’s testimony of what it was that inspired her to keep coming back to Mass: “Because I need Jesus to help me become an even better person.”

    39 min

  5. 4 NOV

    S7E3: “Resisting Polarization in Politics” with Theresa Cardinal Brown, Senior Advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center

    We are thrilled to welcome Theresa Cardinal Brown to this special episode of the podcast. Tomorrow (November 5th) is the Presidential election, so we are bringing on a special guest with a wealth of experience in immigration politics. Theresa is a Senior Advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center, which brings together strategists from the left and the right to help members of Congress craft bipartisan legislation. She is a regular media contributor discussing immigration issues in publications such as the Washington Post, New York  Times, and USA Today, on television on Fox News, PBS News Hour, CNN International, and NPR. She is also the producer and a regular voice on the podcast “This Week in Immigration”, covering the latest in immigration policy news (one of Brian’s favorite podcasts!). In this episode, Brian and Joe ask Theresa about the recent history of immigration policy and how we got to where we are today. She talks about the contrasting priorities for both political parties around immigration, and where we could find common ground to get beyond the partisan divide. She shares how her faith motivates her in resisting polarization and seeking bipartisan solutions. It’s an informative and inspiring interview, so please enjoy this special episode. And remember to vote! To listen to the podcast “This Week in Immigration,” click here.

    48 min

  6. 29 OCT

    S7E2: “The Long Wait” with Pedro De Velasco, Director of Education and Advocacy at the Kino Border Initiative

    We are excited to welcome Pedro De Velasco, who is the Director of Education and Advocacy at the Kino Border Initiative (KBI). KBI is a binational program that includes a shelter and soup kitchen for migrants in Nogales, Senora, and education and encounter programs, along with advocacy outreach in both the U.S. and Mexico. Pedro outlines the current dynamic of migrants arriving at the border and beginning a long wait for a CBP One appointment to legally enter the U.S. Since the wait can stretch for months, Pedro explains how KBI helps migrants find affordable housing and employment, along with enrolling children in local schools. Pedro reflects on how his faith inspires his commitment to this work, and how faith shapes the mission of KBI. Brian and Joe share stories of how migrants have made the most of their long wait for a CBP One appointment. Joe shares the story of Stephen, a young man from Colombia, who would make a new vocab list of English words to practice every single day. Brian shares the story of Aldo and Cinthia and their family from Guerrero, Mexico. They would always attend Mass on our visits, and little two-year-old Ixia loved learning the sign of the cross in English…or at least her version of it!

    36 min

  7. 22 OCT

    S7E1: “Starting Something New” with Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, Provincial of the U.S. Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus

    For our first episode of Season 7, we are humbled to welcome Fr. Tom Greene, SJ, the Provincial of the U.S. Central and Southern Province of the Jesuits. Fr. Greene was the one who first conceived of this mission to the U.S.-Mexico border in south Texas over three years ago. In this episode, he shares the origin story of this mission and what inspired the idea to send Jesuits to the border to try something new. Before becoming a Jesuit, Fr. Greene went to law school and practiced as a lawyer, so he also talks about the ways he has put his legal background to use in his Jesuit life. Speaking of trying something new, the border is marked by changes in policy that can often come suddenly and unexpectedly, requiring new ways of responding. Brian talks about an Executive Order from June 4th and how that impacted the ability to help vulnerable cases. He shares the story of Juan, Francy, and their kids who missed their CBP One appointment in April because they were kidnapped. They had to restart the process, and are still waiting for a new appointment all these months later. Joe talks about one of the recent fraud updates for the CBP One app that requires every member of a travel group over 14 years old to take a live photo to confirm an appointment. Sounds like a good idea, until you hear the case of Breanne and Maylene that shows how a change in policy can have devastating unexpected consequences. Listen to this episode to hear how these changes have required the Del Camino team to think creatively about how to respond to the ever-changing dynamics.

    44 min

  8. SEASON 7 TRAILER

    Teaser: Season 7 of The Jesuit Border Podcast

    We are getting ready for Season 7 of The Jesuit Border Podcast! As the migrant situation at the U.S.-Mexico border continues to evolve with new policies and political discourse, we will continue to share on-the-ground stories and experiences with you, along with interviews with inspiring people dedicated to accompanying migrants along the border and across the country. Join us every Tuesday for a new episode. The first episode of Season 7 will come out on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024.

    3 min
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Trailers

About

Brian Strassburger, SJ, and Joe Nolla, SJ, are two Jesuits based in the diocese of Brownsville, TX, and working in the Rio Grande Valley along the U.S.-Mexico Border. This podcast will share on-the-ground stories and interviews that highlight the tremendous response to the migrant situation from a Catholic perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    The Jesuit Post
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2024
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Jesuit Post
  • Show Website
    The Jesuit Border Podcast

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