Press Release: Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters Grants Gift to Catholic Charities’ Immigration Services
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (October 2, 2024) – Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fort Wayne – South Bend (CCFWSB) is pleased to announce they have received a generous gift from Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (OLVM) in support of its immigration legal services.
This gift comes at a critical time, as global unrest has displaced more than 120 million people worldwide, creating an unprecedented demand for immigration legal services. In northeast Indiana, CCFWSB has seen a significant rise in the need for legal services among immigrants, and this contribution recognizes the low-cost exceptional work the organization does to help families build new lives in the region.
Recognized and accredited by the Department of Justice to practice immigration law, CCFWSB will direct the gift towards enhancing and expanding the legal services it provides to immigrant families across northeastern Indiana. This includes hiring additional case managers to assist with the backlog of cases.
“For nearly 25 years, CCFWSB has been at the forefront of addressing the humanitarian needs of migrants, including being a trusted, low-cost provider of immigration legal services to those who may otherwise remain in the shadows of our community,” said Dan Florin, CEO of CCFWSB.
“It is our goal to provide our clients with the highest level of immigration support needed, because without it, families are forced into unimaginable situations,” said Luz Ostrognai, Director of Immigration Services at CCFWSB. “We are one of the only agencies in our region focused on humanitarian visas. We often assist people who live in fear each day because they are at risk of labor exploitation, lack access to many public services, live without healthcare, face discrimination, and risk being separated from loved ones. It is our gospel imperative to provide a humanitarian response.”
The mission of OLVM is rooted in solidarity with marginalized communities, and the Sisters are guided by core values of hospitality and justice. Their generous support reflects their ongoing dedication to serving God’s people and ensuring the dignity and opportunity for all.
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