For a month, Fr. Alvaro Martínez has lived in El Paso, Texas, and has had the opportunity to learn about the missionary work that the Columbans carry out in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. This group has chosen to accompany migrants arriving in the city, many hoping to cross into the United States, but all in search of a better future. Despite Juárez’s multiple needs, the missionaries affirm that their work is guided by the Spirit of Jesus and is based on the method of pastoral discernment “See, Judge and Act.”
This method, originated in the twentieth century by the Belgian priest Joseph Cardijn within the Social Doctrine of the Church, invites us to observe reality objectively (see), analyze it in the light of the Gospel and ethical values (judge), and finally commit ourselves to concrete actions to transform situations of injustice (act). Adopted by various movements after the Second Vatican Council, this approach continues to be relevant in pastoral and social contexts.
Inspired by this method, the Columbans have concentrated their efforts on providing comprehensive care to migrants in Juárez. Since November 2018, among many other responses to migrants’ various needs, they have started offering basic medical services. By 2025, with support from the Diocese of Juárez, a small clinic was established near the Cathedral. It provides physical, mental, dental health services, and care for complex chronic diseases.
This work is carried out with the help of volunteer doctors and nurses, as well as social organizations. Currently, the clinic serves more than 40 people each week, mostly migrant women and children, along with over 68 individuals with chronic diseases from different Latin American countries. They offer medical support, self-care advice, medications, and assistance with clinical studies payments. The clinic also aims to help migrants integrate into the Mexican legal and social systems by improving access to education, health, and food. Although this effort may seem small given the great need, the missionaries believe that the transformative power of love in solidarity is vital because every act of shared love adds to the ocean of hope that the Gospel embodies for those who migrate.
