The transitory nature of their stay in any area often makes it difficult or impossible for them to retain strong ties to any parish community. Most, however, seek pastoral and sacramental ministry from any parish or area where they may happen to be. It is not uncommon for each child of a large family to have been baptized in a different state, and in a different parish. It is difficult, if not impossible, to track down all these documents again. The migrant farmworkers possess a strong sense of family life, which can be very helpful in outreach efforts.
Families ministering to families is a very useful model.
Many successful attempts to involve local youth in outreach to the farmworker youth have been made. Children are, of course, often the first to break the barriers of mistrust and prejudice. It is not uncommon for younger children to await the arrival of the migrant students in the schools in spring when the families return to begin the annual crop season. Pastoral ministry to the migrants includes a variety of options and opportunities. Most pastoral agents are parish or diocesan-based and do outreach ministry for periods ranging from four weeks to seven or eight months, depending on the length of time the farmworkers are in the area.