S7E5: “Missing Home” with Jeanne Rossomme, Parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C.

The Jesuit Border Podcast

We are delighted to welcome Jeanne Rossomme, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C. She is one of the leaders of the migrant support team at the parish, or “Migrant Familia” as they call it, which is a team of volunteers that accompany, support and advocate for asylum seekers and refugees. Jeanne shares the origin story of the project that began with a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border. She talks about the complicated systems of housing, schooling, employment, and immigration status that their team helps migrants to navigate. She shares inspiring stories and reflects on how common it is for migrants to miss their home, just like any of us would.

For anyone who is looking for ways to respond to threats of mass deportations, Jeanne offers a tremendous example of how a small group of parishioners can mobilize to support migrants in their community.

Brian and Joe share stories of migrants missing home. Joe recounts the story of Hector, a migrant from Honduras who was kidnapped in Reynosa. The experience was so intense and traumatic for him that it caused him to question the biggest priorities in his life. Brian shares the story of Yamileth who ran the kitchen in her shelter and loved sharing her culture by preparing baleadas (a traditional Honduran dish of a folded flour tortilla filled with food). Brian and Joe stuffed their faces before returning to meet up with Flavio…empty handed!