In collaboration with the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Omaha, Omaha Together One Community (OTOC) hosted civic academies on Catholic Social Teaching, immigration, and organizing with 400 Anglo parishioners — building new relationships with Omaha's three largest parishes and giving parishioners a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience.

A year ago, after ICE picked up and detained 76 workers at a meatpacking plant, OTOC brought together interdenominational judicatories and the Catholic Vicar General for a prayer service and conversation on how organized people of faith are called to respond.

This sparked a series of civic academies with 400 suburban, Anglo parishioners, during which the Vicar General presented Catholic Social Teaching on immigration and OTOC lifted up the realities that immigrants are facing, bringing attention to a crisis not directly experienced by those in the audience. Leaders are also organizing a civic academy with Spanish-speaking parishes through the Diocesan Hispanic Ministry Office, to take place later this month.

Stirred into action, participants committed to attending a house meeting session next month to bring immigrant and non-immigrant parishioners face to face to share personal stories and build the solidarity and relationships required to live out the church’s commitment to welcome and defend newcomers in Omaha and beyond.

Leaders committed to hosting a candidate session in the fall with gubernatorial and other candidates for office to urge commitments for fair and dignified treatment of immigrants.