Welcoming the Stranger: Office for Immigrants, Diocese of Talca
For many immigrants arriving in Chile from across Latin America and the Caribbean, the journey does not end once they cross the border. Newcomers frequently face unfamiliar legal systems, language barriers, employment discrimination, and the general uncertainty that comes with starting over in a new country, often without the support networks that longtime residents can rely on.
Maryknoll helps immigrants and refugees navigate these challenges through the Office for Immigrants in the Diocese of Talca, providing assistance with immigration documentation, legal processes, employment concerns, and access to essential public and social services. The office serves individuals and families from across the region, reflecting the diverse origins of migrants currently arriving in Chile.
This ministry embodies the Catholic Social Teaching principle of Rights and Responsibilities as they apply to migrants, affirming the Church’s long-standing teaching that the right to migrate in search of a better life carries with it a corresponding claim to dignity and just treatment. It also reflects Maryknoll’s founding charism of welcoming the stranger, offering newcomers to Chile not just practical assistance but a genuine sense of belonging within the Church.
Gifts to this project support legal assistance, documentation help, and social service referrals that help immigrants and refugees in the Diocese of Talca build stable lives and become active members of their new communities.
