Catholic moms launch ‘Dorothea Project’ to help migrants
Migrants walk alongside the railroad tracks after dismounting from the “La Bestia” train, which they rode through Mexico to reach the Mexico-U.S. border near Chihuahua, Mexico, on Sept. 27, 2023. / Credit: David Peinado Romero/Shutterstock
CNA Staff, Jul 28, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A group of Catholic mothers in the U.S., inspired by Catholic social teaching, is urging support for migrants in the United States through the Dorothea Project, which seeks to defend human dignity, respond to injustice, and educate others in Catholic social teaching.
Katie Holler, a Catholic mother of two, felt called to take action when she learned about the treatment migrants were receiving amid ongoing mass deportations. Turning to social media, she made several posts about the situation and quickly gathered a group of a dozen like-minded Catholic mothers.
Through online meetings, the mothers took their first action in July — launching a letter-writing campaign to U.S. bishops urging them to speak out publicly and advocate for better treatment toward migrants.
A sample letter on the group’s website written from “a concerned parishioner” says:
“In this moment of profound crisis, I respectfully urge you to stand publicly and actively in solidarity with our migrant brothers and sisters. As a shepherd of the Church, your voice carries moral authority and hope. In light of the Church’s teachings on human dignity, the preferential option for the poor, and the call to welcome the stranger, I believe now is the time for bold and courageous leadership in defense of the marginalized.”
In the two weeks since the launch of the letter campaign, more than 150 letters have been sent to 75 bishops. The group has received one response from the Indiana Catholic Conference seeking to discuss the matter more.
While the group began with only Catholic mothers, it has now expanded to include any Catholic woman interested in taking part. There are currently almost 300 women connected to the Dorothea Project.
The group found inspiration for its name from two Catholic women known for speaking out against injustices: Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman and Servant of God Dorothy Day.
Born in Canton, Mississippi, in 1937, Thea Bowman converted to Catholicism as a child inspired by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, who were teachers and pastors at Holy Child Jesus Church and School in Canton. Bowman witnessed Catholics around her caring for the poor and those in need, and this is what drew her to the Catholic Church.
At the age of 15, she told her family she wanted to join the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and became a highly acclaimed evangelizer, teacher, speaker, and writer.
As a young adult, Day was very involved in political activism. She became Catholic in 1927 and in 1933 co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement, which combined direct aid for the poor with nonviolent action on behalf of justice.
Day lived in voluntary poverty, advocating for workers’ rights, racial equality, and peace, even when it meant challenging both Church leaders and government policies. Always speaking up for the marginalized, she was arrested multiple times for acts of civil disobedience.
Holler told CNA that while the letter campaign has ended, “we are still helping women send letters by sharing our template on our website.”
“We are now continuing our efforts by figuring out how we can build relationships with parishes and priests for prolonged education, prayer, solidarity, and action related to issues of Catholic social teaching,” she added. “We are also beginning to work on some new campaigns focused on specific feast days. Both of these are in the beginning planning phases.”
“We’re growing fast and are very thankful to be connecting with so many women across the country who are moved by the Gospel and love of neighbor,” Holler said.