ARCHBISHOP GOMEZ OFFERS PRAYERS IN SOLIDARITY WITH DREAMERS ASKING FOR ALL TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS AND DIGNITY AS CHILDREN OF GOD
November 12, 2019  |  By:   |  Press Releases  |  

On the eve of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as faithful gather in prayer for immigrant brothers and sisters at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in North Hollywood, Archbishop José H. Gomez sends a message of hope in solidarity with dreamers from Baltimore, Md. as he attends the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) annual meeting.   

“In this great country, we should not have our young people living under the threat of deportation, their lives dependent on the outcome of a court case. So, we pray tonight that our President and Congress will come together, set aside their differences, and provide our young brothers and sisters with a path to legalization and citizenship,” stated Archbishop Gomez in a message read this evening at a Rosary and Mass for dreamers at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in North Hollywood.

“So, let us continue to stand together as one family, in solidarity and compassion — to defend the rights and dignity of our brothers and sisters, who are children of God. To those of you who are undocumented — please know that your family, the Church, will never abandon you. Stay close to Jesus and stay close to the Church.”

Archbishop Gomez focused on DACA and the future of the nation in his weekly column in Angelus https://angelusnews.com/voices/daca-and-our-future/. 

The Archbishop’s full message follows.

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am sorry that I cannot be with you tonight. As some of you may know, I am in Baltimore this week for the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic bishops.

Please know that I am close to all of you tonight in your prayer.

It is long past time for our leaders to do the right thing and welcome the Dreamers, helping them to make their own contribution to the American dream.

In this great country, we should not have our young people living under the threat of deportation, their lives dependent on the outcome of a court case.

So, we pray tonight that our President and Congress will come together, set aside their differences, and provide our young brothers and sisters with a path to legalization and citizenship.

But tonight is not about politics, it is about prayer. And prayer is so much more powerful than politics.

We stand in the presence of our Heavenly Father tonight as one family of God. As St. Paul said, when one member of our family is suffering, we all suffer together.

So, let us continue to stand together as one family, in solidarity and compassion — to defend the rights and dignity of our brothers and sisters, who are children of God.

To those of you who are undocumented — please know that your family, the Church, will never abandon you. Stay close to Jesus and stay close to the Church.

Brothers and sisters, let us entrust all of our cares and anxieties to Our Lady of Guadalupe, our Mother. May she keep us always in the mantle of her loving care.

And may she intercede to guide our leaders — that they might grow in wisdom and mercy, and they might have a heart to feel the pain of those who are suffering.

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The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Archdiocese in the United States with approximately five million Catholics. For the latest news, events and to subscribe for media alerts visit media.la-archdiocese.org. Follow us on social media at LACatholics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Video archives and footage of Masses celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez are also available.