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Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network 


A. Title of agency or organization? Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network

B. Where is home base (city/state/country)? Boise, Idaho  U.S.A

C. Date founded? 1986

D. Names of key spokespersons/officers:  Hector R. Rodriguez and Celine Caufield
 
E. What/who is key constituency or audience?  Main audience seems to be the migrant and seasonal Mexican farm workers.

F. What are the agency’s main activities? Main activities are conferences, workshops and publications.

G. Mission statement? (You may quote mission statement if available; use quotation marks)  “The CMFN works to bring the pastoral presence of the Church to thousands of migrant farm workers throughout our country. Though most farm workers continue to adhere to their traditional faith, they often lack the pastoral presence and support of the local church community.”

H. What are the key im/migration issues of concern to this agency?    CMFN has taken issues  such as the Farmworker’s Health, the effect of Pesticides, Education and child-care, Labor Organization and Pastoral Issues.  They also provide a avenue for the Catholic immigrant for spiritual encouragement.

I. What appears to be the most common informational basis for statements issued, press releases, reports, etc.?  Most publications seem to be books of prayers, sacraments, and encouragement relating to farm workers.  Also a newsletter is published every quarter containing reports and updates on farm worker issues, listings of coming events and other available resources.

J. Any publications? (what types, sample titles; if online, give links)
• En Marcha Hacia el Señor: a bilingual manual for reflection groups in migrant communities &SHY relates themes of the Bible to the lives of migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
• Un Pueblo Que Camina: a bilingual First Communion manual for catechists working with migrant children and families.
• Oraciones del Peregrino: a pocket-size booklet of traditional prayers in Spanish and English, designed for farmworkers.
• Celebrando la Presencia de Jesucristo, an adult bilingual catechetical manual on the sacraments developed at the request of catechists and pastoral agents who minister to the migrant population.

K. Give at least one citation of this agency in a newspaper article (preferably an Arizona newspaper). Use a citation index to research this e.g., Lexis Nexis, available from the Migration Course Web Page made by the Fletcher Library: 

Provide a quote from the article that gives a good idea of this agency’s perspective on im/migration.  Note: not a quote from agency’s own web site.

L. Other issues of interest? None

M. Is the agency noticeably pro or con immigration? (you may need to determine this from readings its position papers, press releases, news reports, etc)   As most of the content addressed improving health and social issues for the migrant workers, I have to say this organization is pro-immigration.

N. Web site? Give URL:  http://www.cmfn.org/index.html


David.Delao@asu.edu