Fr. Rob Cavanna, The Venerable Rena Romero, and Ms. Cyara C. Carretero

Casa Maria Update

Faithful Innovation

Casa Maria: Feeding Our Neighbors in the Name of Christ

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
— Matthew 25:35

Over the past four months, Casa Maria—a ministry of St. Nicholas/San Nicolás Episcopal Church in Richfield—has been on the front lines of our response to immigrant families during Operation Metro Surge.

As families began sheltering at home, Casa Maria quickly expanded from a weekly walk-in food shelf into a home delivery operation. Within just a few weeks, the ministry served 340 families in a single week, while continuing to operate its in-person food shelf. We made 1,627 deliveries in total.

Through the extraordinary generosity of Bishop Loya, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, congregations across the Episcopal Church in Minnesota, and supporters from across the country, Casa Maria grew its capacity to serve four times as many families as before Operation Metro Surge.

This effort was made possible by countless volunteer hours and generous financial and in-kind donations. We are especially grateful for core volunteer teams from St. Nicholas/San Nicolás, St. John’s – Minneapolis, Christ Church, Grace, and St. Stephen’s. More than 250 additional volunteers stepped forward—many from across our diocese, and many from the wider community.

This ministry has not only fed families—it has deepened relationships and strengthened faith. Some volunteers visited St. Nicholas for the first time. Many shared that participating in this work helped them “channel helplessness into hope.”

One family’s story: 

A single mother with three children received weekly food deliveries and later asked for help with rent after being out of work for several weeks. Through Bishop Loya’s Migrant Support Fund, we were able to provide financial support and connect her with additional community resources. Her children have returned to in-person learning, and she is back at work—but the family continues to rely on the weekly food shelf.

Families receiving food were deeply grateful. Children waved from windows. Parents greeted volunteers at the door. What began as a logistical response to crisis became something more—a ministry of presence, dignity, and care, feeding both body and soul.

This is not just Casa Maria’s work—this is our shared ministry as a diocese.

Signs of Grace and Provision Along the Way

In these past months, we have witnessed both grace and provision—God’s presence among us, and God’s care made known through the generosity of others.

  • Prayer shawls gifted for immigrants sheltering at home 
  • Cards and notes of encouragement for immigrant neighbors and the Casa Maria team 
  • A gift bag of written prayers from an ECMN youth group 
  • Prayer and scripture placed in every food delivery 
  • A request for a house blessing from a family who received a delivery
  • Medical professionals volunteering at Casa Maria offering care to families 
  • The weekly 4:00 pm Spanish Mass at St. Nicholas has drawn new people into prayer and worship

Again and again, volunteers and resources arrived just when they were needed most.

These moments remind us that this ministry is about more than food—it is about dignity, connection, and hope in a time of fear. It is, in its own way, an act of faithful resistance—standing alongside our immigrant neighbors and affirming their worth, their humanity, and their belonging.

The Current Need

As deliveries have ended and families return in person, the need has not decreased—it is growing.

Casa maria is now serving more families than ever through the walk-in food shelf, and we expect this level of need to continue for some time. Requests for rental assistance are increasing, many of which are being processed through Bishop Loya’s Migrant Support Fund.

At the same time:

  • Volunteer energy is shifting, and fatigue is real 
  • The food system is strained—we do not have enough food 
  • We are purchasing food from multiple sources, and weekly costs are significant 

This is not sustainable without continued support.

How We Can Respond Together

We invite congregations and individuals across the Episcopal Church in Minnesota to join this work:

Pray
Join our Circle of Prayer and hold families, volunteers, and staff in prayer. Contact:  Rena Romero

Give
Support food purchases and operations through a financial donation: https://givebutter.com/casa-maria
Donate food and personal care items. View current needs and drop-off information: https://www.saint-nicks.org/casa-maria-donations; Host a food or supply drive in your congregation or community.

Volunteer
Help onsite or support food procurement: casamaria@saint-nicks.org

Share
Tell this story and invite others into this work of mercy and justice. Help connect us with local businesses, foundations and other organizations who may support this mission.

God continues to bless us so that we may be a blessing to others—and we are profoundly grateful for the ways this diocese continues to show up in love.