The following is from a letter recently received from Cardinal Sean
Dear Monsignor /  Father
I write to you today to speak about a major humanitarian and societal crisis that is building in the State of Massachusetts and within our Archdiocese.  Please take the time to review this letter with your parish staff and prepare your parishioners to be ready and willing to assist.  The challenge is the fate of immigrants arriving daily in Massachusetts, and in need of basic shelter and compassionate care and welcome.
First, allow me to give a brief explanation of the crisis that we are currently facing, but which is sure to become much larger.  Next, I will outline what we have done and what we are doing.  Finally, I will ask for specific help, so that we can act now before the need becomes overwhelming.
The Situation: Presently there are 7,000 families being cared for in state sponsored shelters (approximately 20,000 individuals); by October 31st the expectation is that 7,500 families will be with us. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll have been deeply committed and determined to care for a rising immigration population, but they have also been honest in saying that the Commonwealth faces a mounting crisis beyond its capacity to respond effectively.
What we have done: The Archdiocese, through Catholic Charities, St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children and the Archdiocesan Planning Office for Urban Affairs has worked closely with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and with other non-profit agencies even as the flow of immigrants has increased geometrically in the last few months. All three of those agencies have expanded capacity to address both the short and long-term needs for housing and supportive services.  Over these past months, we have offered the State the use of 8 of our buildings, which we hope it will be able to authorize and use.  In addition, some of our parishes have already received new shelters and people into their communities as the Commonwealth has greatly expanded its shelter capacity.  The Archdiocese has offered assistance to those parishes, and we will continue to offer help to any parishes and communities we are not yet aware of needing assistance.  As noted above, our three Archdiocesan affiliated agencies are deeply engaged in this crisis.  Our relationship with the Healey-Driscoll administration has been constant and consistent.  Recently, we have partnered with our very effective Saint Vincent de Paul Society to plan for how we can prepare for the cold weather coming; most of the recently arrived families are from warmer climates.
Visit Cardinal Sean’s blog at https://cardinalseansblog.org/ to read more.
 
Our parish is one that has assisted immigrants and those in need in numerous ways. It is the ministry of our St. Vincent de Paul conferences that do such great work in helping the poor. We as a parish have help in so many ways with our food, clothing, and healthcare supplies drives in the past as an answer to the call to help those in need. In conversation with members of the parish and some of our parish staff, I am asking you to assist at this critical time in the following manner:
 
Bring clothing to a nearby St. Vincent de Paul clothing box. Local boxes can be found at the following locations.
St. Pius parking lot behind the parish offices
St. John’s Swampscott parking lot across the street from the church
OLA in Lynnfield behind the parish offices
We will have bins at both of our churches for other types of resources that are needed. Please bring: diapers, toothbrushes (adult and child size), toothpaste, soap, deodorant, mouthwash, combs, lotion, shampoo, washcloths, and Kleenex tissues. We will then deliver them to agencies that will get them to those in need.
 
If you have any additional ideas as to how we can help during this crisis please reach out to me and with your thoughts so they can be explored and considered. You can call me at the office 781-598-4907 or email [email protected] 
 
Nuestra parroquia ha ayudado a inmigrantes y personas necesitadas de numerosas maneras. Es el ministerio de nuestras conferencias de San Vicente de Paúl el que realiza una gran labor para ayudar a los pobres. Nosotros, como parroquia, hemos recibido ayuda de muchas maneras con nuestras campañas de alimentos, ropa y suministros de atención médica en el pasado como respuesta al llamado de ayudar a los necesitados. En conversación con miembros de la parroquia y algunos miembros de nuestro personal parroquial, les pido que ayuden en este momento crítico de la siguiente manera:
Lleve la ropa a una caja de ropa cercana de St. Vincent de Paul. Las cajas locales se pueden encontrar en las siguientes ubicaciones.
Estacionamiento de San Pío detrás de las oficinas parroquiales
Estacionamiento de St. John's Swampscott al otro lado de la calle de la iglesia
OLA en Lynnfield detrás de las oficinas parroquiales
Tendremos contenedores en nuestras dos iglesias para otros tipos de recursos que sean necesarios. Por favor traer: pañales, cepillos de dientes (tamaño adulto y niño), pasta de dientes, jabón, desodorante, enjuague bucal, peines, loción, champú, toallitas y pañuelos Kleenex. Luego los entregaremos a agencias que los harán llegar a quienes los necesitan.
Si tiene alguna idea adicional sobre cómo podemos ayudar durante esta crisis, comuníquese conmigo y comparta sus ideas para que puedan ser exploradas y consideradas. Puedes llamarme a la oficina 781-598-4907 o enviarme un correo electrónico a [email protected]