April 11, 2008

Mexican officials to offer aid in Asbury

Consulate to provide ID help at church

By SHANNON MULLEN
STAFF WRITER

Officials from the Mexican Consulate in New York City are coming to Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church to help Mexican nationals from the area with identification documents, according to the church's pastor, the Rev. Bill McLoughlin.

The officials will be offering assistance in the church's recently renovated basement from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through April 20.

The church is located at 705 Second Ave. McLoughlin said that those seeking assistance should use the Bond Street entrance.

This is the first time the church has hosted such an event, which makes it easier for Mexican nationals to get the help they need without having to travel to the consulate.

"They've done this in New Brunswick and Lakewood a couple of times already, I think," said McLoughlin, who expects hundreds of area residents to take advantage of the service. Holy Spirit shares its sanctuary with Our Lady of Providence Church, a largely Mexican immigrant parish in Neptune whose church building had to be torn down because it was structurally unsafe.

"We wanted to make sure that the church was open to hosting a program like this," McLoughlin said. "We have almost the perfect area (in the basement) because it's brand new and Internet-connected."

For more information, call Holy Spirit at (732) 775-0030.