Hundreds of catechists in the Archdiocese of Chicago participated in a series of online workshops to learn how to better accompany religious education students who fear that stepped up immigration enforcement could tear their families apart.
The workshops, which took place over three consecutive Thursday evenings in January and February, were in response to requests from catechists who saw their students traumatized by what they saw on the news, on social media and, often, in their neighborhoods, said Javier Castillo, senior coordinator for formation ministry in the archdiocese’s Office of Lifelong Formation.
Nearly 300 catechists attended each session.
“The catechists were very worried about how we can help the children and parents at these very hard moments in their lives,” Castillo said, noting that many of the affected families are of mixed status.
“Children were presenting issues and trauma,” Castillo said. “Children didn’t want to leave home. They were worried that when they got home their parents would not be there.”
Some parishes responded in the fall, during Operation Midway Blitz, by allowing students to attend classes online, he said. But that wasn’t enough.
“Fear and uncertainty affect the whole person,” he said. “How do we make them feel more comfortable and supported with prayer?”
Anabel Delgado, who teaches the second year of confirmation preparation at San José Sánchez del Río Parish, 3647 W. North Ave., was eager to join the effort when Castillo approached her.
Delgado, who did the Zoom presentations in Spanish, noticed the change in her students about a year ago, she said. Students were becoming more distracted and acting up more.
Two siblings, who usually got along, were sniping and bickering.
When Delgado was able to ask one of the siblings what was going on, she explained that her sister wanted to go out like she normally did, as if the increased immigration enforcement that started in Chicago soon after the inauguration of President Trump did not pose a danger.
“She said, ‘I’m afraid they’re going to catch us and we’re going to have to go back, and we have nobody over there,’” Delgado said. “‘All of our family is here.’”
When enforcement was stepped up even more in the fall of 2025 with Operation Midway Blitz parishes with large immigrant populations began to see declining Mass attendance and fewer students showing up for religious education classes.
Delgado and her fellow catechists began offering whistle packets in addition to “know your rights” information.
Having whistles and a protocol to use them to notify anyone in earshot if federal agents are nearby helps students feel like they are doing something to protect their community, Delgado said.
At the same time, the class talks about how to respond to federal agents as Christians.
“‘What do you think Jesus would say to ICE agents?’ I’ve had that question a lot this year from different students,” Delgado said. “They can’t understand why things are happening to good people. If they [the people being detained] are really criminals, why are they being attacked in the street? Why can’t they get warrants?”
Always, she said, it’s important to listen to students and understand where they are coming from.
Flor Garcia, who presented the workshops in English, emphasized the importance of making that connection.
Garcia is a senior at St. Xavier University studying social work, and, as part of her education, has been working with United Stand to provide academic coaching in Catholic schools. She also is religious education student herself, preparing for confirmation at St. Bede and St. Denis Parish.
Catechists have the opportunity to help their students process their emotions by understanding that having even “negative” emotions is not wrong.
The most important thing is for students to understand that they are not alone, she said.
“Of course, catechists are supposed to be able to have kids acknowledge that they have faith and they have God to trust,” Garcia said. “It’s not always comfortable to have conversations like this.”