Migrant Farmworkers Project Desginated Diocesan Mission

Bishop Susan Bell, with the approval of Synod Council, has designated the Migrant Farmworkers Project to be a diocesan mission, effective October 1.

"This designation takes our diocesan ministry with migrant farmworkers to the next level," said Bishop Susan Bell. "Niagara is truly becoming a mission-shaped Church, responding to God's call in ways that meet spiritual and pastoral needs."

This Spirit-led ministry reaches out primarily to Spanish-speaking farmworkers from Latin America and workers from the Caribbean who come to Canada. Of the estimated 5000 migrant farmworkers, about 25% work in Southern Ontario, supporting local farmers with their harvests. The mission supports workers throughout the Niagara peninsula by offering opportunities for worship, a place to gather in community, access to medical care, translation services, bicycles for transportation, education workshops on rights and safety, seasonal clothing, and more.

The mission operates out of two hubs where workers can gather: St. Alban's in Beamsville and the public library in Fenwick. The hubs host a café with access to wi-fi and fresh, home-cooked meals made to go. Many of the workers stay and enjoy the company. The Beamsville hub also hosts a community closet for seasonal clothing and personal care items, private medical rooms for access to Quest Community Health services, a food bank, and a bike repair shop, which supplies bikes to workers at a small cost for easy transportation. Both hubs offer meeting areas where they can host educational workshops, celebrations, and more.

The mission designation comes as the Reverend Peter Ciallella was formally instituted as the ordained missioner for the Migrant Farmworkers Project and the rector of St. John the Evangelist in Winona. Peter meets with the workers at the hubs and directly at the farms. This is particularly helpful for workers who are working late hours or are too far from the hubs for easy transportation to join the weekly gatherings. The mission works to make sure that the workers have access to the necessities to meet their physical, mental, and spiritual health needs.

"I engage in a conversation with the workers and provide spiritual service," reflected Peter, on how he meets the spiritual needs of the workers, in a recent article for the Niagara Anglican. "We also have Eucharist both at St. Alban's Church in Beamsville and St. John's in Jordan."

Under Ciallella's guidance, the mission has several new goals with this new designation to expand its impact. The first is establishing a community for newcomers to Canada from Latin America and connecting that community with our migrant farmworkers. With the support of Peter's wife, Sandra, the second goal is to make sure the communities feel accessible to all genders. Once this has been established, the team can then build up the spiritual dimension of the mission through worship, retreats, and formation.

The mission relies on volunteers and donations to provide its successful services. In the past, the mission largely depended on the vision and direction of the missioner. With the designation, an advisory board will be established and will use a collaborative, team approach that includes the input from diocesan leaders. This new board will give the missioner the support they need to implement the vision of the mission in line with the diocesan Mission Action Plan.