Catholic Charities is seeking help from parishioners in the archdiocese to assist more than 1,000 asylum seekers with food, clothing, shelter, legal assistance and other needs. Parishioners have been asked to contribute essential items for the migrants such as shoes, socks, underwear, baby items and clothing for children. Church bulletin announcements include a QR code for donations as well as an Amazon Wishlist.

Most have arrived in New York this summer via bus from Texas. They come from Latin America, particularly Venezuela, as well as some from Africa and Europe.

“We try to see with the eyes of Jesus … These just aren’t statistics. There are not just refugees and asylum seekers in the plural. These are people with names, and with dads and moms. These are husbands and kids, and we love them, and we welcome them,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan at a press conference on August 16th.

“Christ in disguise,” is how retired Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, one of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy’s experts on immigration issues, described the migrants during a recent interview on NET, the diocesan cable television outlet.