The challenges migrant ministry face in parishes

Most parishes in the KL Archdiocese have a Migrants and Refugees Ministry which is under the Parish Integral Human Development Ministry. The Kuala Lumpur Archdiocesan Office of Human Development (AOHD) after feedback from these ministries have compiled the following challenges faced by them.

No burial grounds/columbarium for migrants and refugees therefore the migrant ministry has to source for burial grounds.

— Lack of committed volunteers to join and lead the parish migrant ministry.
— Limited temporary shelters makes it difficult, at times, to place vulnerable cases, especially in the case of men.
— Bringing in visiting priests who have to apply for missionary visa. It is difficult to get approval from the Immigration. Therefore, we apply under social visit pass and where there is a high risk of being sent back by Immigration.
— Some volunteers prefer to assist locals than foreigners in the parishes because of their “Xenophobia” mindset.
— Lack of knowledge of the different cultures makes it difficult to know the mind-set of migrants and refugees. Likewise, migrants and refugees find it difficult to adjust to the local way of thinking.
— Migrants and refugees prefer to gather at a city centre parish rather than in the parish where they belong. The risk of gathering in the city centre is that they are vulnerable to extortion and arrest, especially for those who are undocumented and have to travel far.
— Advocating for alternatives — cremation than burial. Due to traditional beliefs, refugees prefer to be buried.
— Bias and weak mechanisms to protect workers by the authorities make it a challenge to advocate for the rights of Migrants and Refugees.
— People in the ministry prefer to assist documented migrants rather than undocumented, ones because according to Malaysian Law, we can be charged for harbouring illegals.
— Lack of knowledge and how to respond to people’s need according to Christian values.
— Unable to find catechism teachers for refugee children.
— Due to the language barrier, migrants and refugees find it difficult to go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
—  Lack of funds to assist refugees who have gone beyond their insurance limits.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online