The Jesuit Border Podcast

The Jesuit Post
  • 4.9 (49)
  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
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. 2D AGO

    S8E3: “We are responsible for each other” with Dr. Kim Lamberty, Executive Director of the Quixote Center

    We are excited to welcome Dr. Kim Lamberty, who is the Executive Director of the Quixote Center. The Quixote Center works to empower vulnerable people, especially in Haiti, Nicaragua, and Panama, through sustainable development, U.S. policy reform, economic justice, and educational initiatives. Kim talks about their three layers of response to immigration: local economic development, policy reform (especially around the trafficking of weapons out of the U.S. that arm gangs and cartels), and ensuring care for the dignity and safety of migrants en route. Kim shares powerful testimonies of people stepping up to address the needs in front of them, not from a position of wealth and resources, but out of a sense of responsibility to those in need. Brian and Joe also share stories that reflect our responsibility for one another. Joe talks about Delmy, a migrant from Honduras, who was raised as a child to share food with others before having her own. Joe saw this in action when Delmy broke a bite-size candy bar into tiny pieces to ensure that everyone had a taste. Brian shares the story of Nesy, a single mother from Honduras, who spent several months at a shelter with her two kids. Now in the U.S., Nesy reached out to Brian in the Christmas season because she wanted to give back. The story of her generosity is inspiring and should serve as a challenge for all of us. May we practice the same level of generosity as Nesy, as we remember that we are responsible for one another.

    38 min

  2. MAR 4

    S8E2: “Lawyer Up” with Marianne Staniunas, Pro Bono Immigration Counsel at Ropes & Gray LLP

    We are delighted to welcome Marianne Staniunas, who is the Pro Bono Immigration Counsel at Ropes & Gray LLP. Marianne talks about the complexities of U.S. immigration law and how migrants have a right to legal representation, but not a right to free counsel. Given the shortage of immigration lawyers in the country, many asylum seekers face a complex system without representation. Marianne shares her fears at the start of a new administration with the criminalization of migrants and the ways their rights are being arbitrarily stripped from them. In spite of this, she continues to find hope in her clients, who offer inspiring examples of resilience.  Brian and Joe share stories that highlight the need for legal representation to navigate the immigration system. Brian tells the story of Felipe and Rebeka, who were recently deported to Mexico after getting stopped at a checkpoint on the way to Houston to get medical care for their 10-year-old daughter who had a brain tumor. Brian started sending texts to Marianne (today’s guest) to try to understand the situation and provide some orientation to the family. Joe weighs in on the complexities of U.S. asylum law through two examples. Alejandro was a soldier in Venezuela and a member of the ruling party who refused an order to fire upon fellow countrymen, which brought threats to him and his family. Dolores witnessed the murder of her sister by the cartel and feared for her life, especially after she reported the case to the local police and did not receive any protection. These two cases might sound like obvious asylum claims, but Joe reflects on how narrow interpretations of asylum can lead to denials in cases like Alejandro and Dolores, especially if they do not have legal representation to help argue their cases.

    42 min

  3. FEB 25

    S8E1: “We are united more than divided” with Bishop Brendan Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria, TX

    For our first full episode of Season 8, we are humbled to welcome Bishop Brendan Cahill of the Diocese of Victoria, TX. Bishop Cahill was recently elected chairman of the Committee on Migration for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which he will assume in November 2025. He shares from his life experience that has drawn him to encounters with other cultures, from studying the theology of African-American Catholics to working with migrants at a Catholic Worker House in Houston. He encourages all of us to seek out dialogue and encounter, like going to Mass in another language, so that we might discover the ways in which we are united more than divided. Brian and Joe open up the new season by talking about changes that took place on the border with the start of a new presidential administration. Brian shares the story of Jazmín, who had come up to the border with her brother and young daughter on January 20th with an appointment to legally enter the U.S. It was only when they approached the bridge that they learned that their appointment had been canceled. Reflecting on his conversation with Jazmín, who was so distraught, Brian talks about how we share in each other’s pain as fellow members of the Body of Christ. Joe reflects on the unity we encounter in the liturgy as we celebrate our shared faith. By incorporating a Haitian Creole hymn into Masses at migrant shelters, Joe was struck by the way Haitian participants came to life as they joined in song and how it enriched the experience for everyone.

    41 min

  4. SEASON 8 TRAILER

    S8 Teaser: Drastic Changes on the Border since January 20th

    We are getting ready to launch Season 8 of The Jesuit Border Podcast. A lot has changed on the border since our last season. A new presidential administration took over on January 20th and made immediate changes that have impacted the lived experience on the border and people’s ability to seek protection in the US. In this teaser, we give updates on what January 20th was like on the border, and how things have evolved since then. Joe shares the story of Regino, who fled violence in Honduras with his family only to be kidnapped and tortured in Matamoros. Regino and his family had a CBP One appointment to enter the US, but it was canceled on January 20th when the new administration took over. Brian shares the story of 22 asylum seekers who missed their CBP One appointments before January 20th because they were kidnapped. Even though their families paid their ransom, and they were released before the inauguration, CBP denied them entry to the US while citing “capacity issues.” Now they are all stuck in shelters in northern Mexico. What has been happening on the border since the inauguration? What options are available to asylum seekers now? What hard choices are they having to make? We discuss these questions in light of what we are seeing on the ground in this teaser to Season 8.  The first full episode of the new season will be released on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025.

    19 min

  5. 12/03/2024

    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

  6. 11/26/2024

    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

  7. 11/19/2024

    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

  8. 11/12/2024

    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
See All (70)

Trailers

4.9
out of 5
49 Ratings

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 - 2025
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Jesuit Post
  • Show Website
    The Jesuit Border Podcast

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada