Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the cultures, traditions, histories, and experiences that shape our communities. At Catholic Charities of New York, it is also a time to recognize the people, programs, and agencies that support individuals and families across the Archdiocese.
For Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re highlighting members of our community whose heritage and commitment to service reflect the many ways culture, faith, and compassion come together.
Supporting Immigrant Families and Building Opportunities
For Priscilla Placencio Jimenez, a member of Catholic Charities of New York’s immigration team, her Dominican heritage is a source of strength and a reminder of the generations who helped create opportunities for those who followed.
Through her work with individuals and families from communities around the world, Jimenez understands the importance of listening, recognizing each person’s experiences, and helping people navigate their journeys.
“I love what I do. I love where I come from. It has given me a lot of strength and opportunities, and it helps me see things differently,” she shared.
Whether sharing Dominican food and traditions with coworkers or supporting New American families as they navigate unfamiliar systems, Jimenez carries her heritage into both her personal life and her work.
Expanding Access to Immigration Legal Services
Michelle Yepes, the daughter of two Colombian immigrants, supervises Catholic Charities of New York’s immigration legal services program serving communities throughout the Lower Hudson Valley, including Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, and Rockland counties.
In areas where access to legal assistance can be limited, the program brings services directly to community members through monthly legal clinics, helping individuals receive guidance in their own language.
“I grew up surrounded by the language, food, music, and traditions my her parents passed down,” said Yepes. “My family also embraces the diversity of New York City, celebrating connections to Colombian, Cuban, Dominican, and Mexican cultures.”
Meeting Community Needs Through Service
For Gloria Valencia, who volunteers by providing free haircuts to members of our Day Laborers Program in Yonkers, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate her heritage and her connection to her culture and its history.
“I understand the importance of being there for people who may need support and a helping hand,” said Valencia.
For Merari Quinones, also a volunteer with the Day Laborers Program, Catholic Charities of New York’s work is personal.
“I see myself reflected in other mothers and other children who may be waiting for this agency,” she shared.
Connecting Faith, Education, and Environmental Stewardship
Jenny Chevarria, Director of Religious Education at St. Margaret Parish in the Bronx, our longtime partner, celebrates her Puerto Rican heritage and the values her family instilled in her, including faith in God, love of country, and the pursuit of dreams.
For Chevarria, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to gather with others, share food and traditions, pray and worship together, honor the Blessed Virgin, and support one another in ways that demonstrate love.
“It is an opportunity to reflect and talk about how we were raised, how we continue to nourish our culture, and how we love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ,” she explained.
Chevarria expressed gratitude for Catholic Charities’ support of community conversations, opportunities to teach Catholic social teaching and collaboration with parish partners.
At St. Margaret Parish, plans are underway for a tree-planting project involving young people and parishioners. The parish also anticipates a presentation on Catholic social teaching and themes from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, encouraging young people to explore the connection between faith, care for creation, and responsibility to their communities.
A Mission Rooted in Dignity and Belonging
The stories of Priscilla, Michelle, Gloria, Merari, and Jenny embody the many ways Hispanic heritage enriches Catholic Charities of New York. Their experiences connect cultural pride and family traditions with immigration support, volunteer service, community resources, religious education, and partnerships that respond to local needs.
As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, we celebrate the staff, volunteers and community partners whose stories and dedication bring this mission to life. Their contributions remind us that service begins with recognizing the dignity of every person and building relationships rooted in compassion, understanding, and hope.
