IMAGE: CNS photo/Loren Elliott, Reuters
By Rhina Guidos
WASHINGTON
(CNS) — During a time when immigrants around the country have come under
attack, the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, and representatives from other dioceses in Texas and nearby New Mexico
are joining a variety of faith groups in a show of support and solidarity for
migrants in their communities.
“Be
a light in the times of darkness,” said El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz in a YouTube
video posted July 18 announcing an interfaith procession in El Paso on July 20,
which will be joined by faith leaders from the Presbyterian, Unitarian,
Lutheran, Muslim, Baha’i and indigenous Tigua traditions. A vigil
following the procession will feature testimony from separated families.
The second day, which focuses on the church’s teaching on migrants,
will begin with a Mass celebrated by the bishops in attendance and includes a
keynote speech by a Vatican representative, a social justice drama by the youth
of the diocese, as well suggestions for how to offer hospitality to migrants.
Father
Robert Stark, of the Migrants
and Refugee Section of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human
Development, will participate
as a keynote speaker. Other Catholic bishops from dioceses nearby plan to
attend, including Bishop Edward J. Burns and Auxiliary Bishop Greg Kelly of Dallas, as well as Bishop Oscar Cantu and retired Bishop Ricardo
Ramirez of Las Cruces, New Mexico.
“You
may have heard in the news about the pain, the violation of human rights and
the suffering of our migrant brothers and sisters in our border communities,”
said Bishop Seitz in the video. “I’m calling on all our parishes, parishioners
and clergy to put their faith into action.”
– – –
Copyright © 2018 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. www.catholicnews.com. All rights reserved. Republishing or redistributing of CNS content, including by framing or similar means without prior permission, is prohibited. You may link to stories on our public site. This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To request permission for republishing or redistributing of CNS content, please contact permissions at cns@catholicnews.com.
