St. John Vianney Parish in Lithia Springs has received a financial grant from Catholic Charities to create a program which would aid local immigrants in two major areas: current United States law and the immigration and educational services available to children in the Douglas and Cobb County school systems.

The program, held once in February, will be repeated March 10 and 11.

The first part of the two-part program, “Immigration and Law” was held on Tuesday, Feb. 10, with 35 to 40 people in attendance. Josephine Simbillo, a paralegal specializing in immigration, discussed the various types of immigration. She also gave extensive information on the various immigration procedures, timelines, and required supporting documents. The presentation also focused on deportation and removal proceedings, as well as immigration bills that are currently in the legislative pipeline.

The second part, educational services available to children in the Douglas and Cobb County school systems, was on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Felix (John) Rentas, a Spanish translator and facilitator for the Cobb school system, and Magdalena Cardona, an English as a second language teacher in the Douglas school system, were the presenters.

The program will be repeated on Tuesday, March 10, and Wednesday, March 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. John Vianney Church, 1920 Skyview Drive, Lithia Springs. For more information call the church at (770) 941-2807