The Migrant Ministry, an interfaith effort sponsored by the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park, opened its new location in January 2026 inside the former St. Bernardine School, where volunteers provide clothing, meals, social services and immigration support to migrant families each week.
The Migrant Ministry is coordinated by a volunteer leadership team, with different members overseeing housing, immigration support, volunteers and other key programs. As a coordinator on the Migrant Ministry’s leadership team, Celine Woznica oversees key programs including housing, volunteer management, and immigration support.
“We have expanded so much. We still operate our free soup kitchens and serve meals, distributing clothing, coats, shoes and other essentials, but we have also pivoted significantly to immigration support, social services and accompaniment,” Woznica said.
The Migrant Ministry is currently accompanying 26 families, helping them find apartments, covering six months of rent, and providing mentors to support their transition. The ministry also assists families who have had a loved one detained, guiding them through the challenging process.
“We outgrew the previous space because so many people were coming from other shelters and stations. They weren’t coming for showers; they were coming for the clothes, bedding, shoes and other items we were providing,” Woznica said.
A key resource for families is Pan Familiar de Acción, a booklet created by Woznica that helps migrant families prepare for possible deportation. The guide provides instructions on assigning temporary custody of children, discussing deportation with them and organizing essential documents, with ministry staff reviewing it alongside families to ensure they understand each step.
“It’s 24 pages long. I created it in color and want it to be distributed in three-prong folders so it reads like a book because many of the migrants we are accompanying don’t have high levels of literacy. If it’s colorful and formatted like a book, rather than just stapled in the upper left-hand corner, it’s much easier to read,” Woznica said.