‘The invisibles’ united by Spanish tongue
Special church services in Niagara-on-the-Lake for migrant farm workers
The Spanish language church service that launched in Niagara-on-the-Lake Saturday is about more than religion. For the seasonal agricultural workers who live in the area but remain distant from the community, it’s about bringing people together. “The isolation is the big issue. We try to connect the workers with the local community,” said Rev. Javier Arias of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara. “We call them the invisibles. Nobody sees them.” Arias, the rector of St. Alban’s on Ontario Street in Beamsville, is originally from Colombia and saw a need for a service for non-English speaking migrant workers five years ago. He estimated there are 4,000 seasonal agricultural workers in Grimsby to Niagara-on-the-Lake, with the majority coming from Mexico. In 2014, he started a Spanish service at St. Alban’s, drawing about a dozen people in the beginning. Today, he said between 100 and 120 workers attend every Sunday at 6 p.m. and they’ve built a beautiful community. The church offers programs for workers after the service, including a medical clinic, English lessons and clothing donations. Last year, it offered 2,400 meals during the season from February to the end of September. The Beamsville church is out of reach for migrant agricultural workers in Niagara-on-the-Lake though. Arias said a bus picks up workers in Jordan and Vineland to go to the church, but sending a bus to Niagara-on-the-Lake is too far, at more than an hour there and back, and too expensive. So, he decided to go to them. He said there are about 1,000 Spanishspeaking seasonal workers in Niagara-onthe-Lake. Other workers from the Carribean speak English so the connection with the community is easier for them. Arias approached Rev. Dorothy Hewlett, the rector of Christ’s Church at 1294 McNab Rd. in Niagara-on-the-Lake, who was on board. Hewlett said the church has a history with Spanish services. About 30 years ago, it held a service for eight to 10 workers who lived close to the church. That lasted for about 10 to 12 years but by 2003 when she arrived, many of those Spanish parishioners had to work on Sundays and didn’t attend. Arias has now sparked the idea again. “These are neighbours,” said Charlene Cratt, co-chair of the Latino Ministry at the church with Shirley Sherwin. “It’s just welcoming people into the church.” Spanish services will be held every Saturday at Christ’s Church at 7 p.m. until the end of the season in August or September, depending on the number who attend. The first service Saturday night drew a handful of seasonal workers, but more are expected when the agricultural season really gets underway and workers start arriving back in Niagara. One of those in attendance was Alicia Dela Cruz of Mexico, who’s worked in Niagara-on-the-Lake for 16 years at a nearby greenhouse. She lives a block away from the church from the end of January to September. Through a translator, she said it’s good the service is being held nearby. She’s a Catholic, but it’s the closest Christian church that has a Spanish service. She liked the idea of making new friends there. She said it’s difficult to get away from work — right now Friday is a shopping day but starting in May there are no days off — and Beamsville would be too far to go. Arias plans to start a clinic and offer programs after the Saturday Niagara-onthe-Lake services like they have in Beamsville, so migrant workers in the east part of Niagara can take part. There were winter clothes already collected for workers at the church hall Saturday and next week representatives from Quest Community Health Centre will be there. Arias said the workers need this kind of service and support. “It’s inclusion of people in the community.”