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  • Panorama City Girl Makes Heartfelt Plea to Pope Francis – Kacey Montoya Reports
    March 27, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    A 10-year-old Panorama City girl met Pope Francis and asked him to raise the issue of immigation reform when he meets President Barack Obama on Thursday. Kacey Montoya reports for the KTLA 5 News at 10 p.m. on March 26, 2014.

  • Girl, 10, Asks Pope to Help Immigrant Father – Lynette Romero Reports
    March 27, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    Jersey Vargas, of Panorama City, traveled to the Vatican to ask Pope Francis to talk to President Obama about immigration reform. The 10-year-old’s father had been detained after he was caught driving without a valid license. Lynette Romero reports from the KTLA Newsroom for the KTLA 5 Morning News on Thursday, March 27, 2014.

  • Area immigration activists hope to meet with pope today
    March 26, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    On Wednesday, they expect to participate in a mass general audience with Pope Francis, but they said they also have been told their group will be separated for a personal greeting with the pontiff.

    “We don’t know if we have five minutes or 15 minutes, but we are anxious to speak with him, even if briefly,” said Francisco Moreno, a spokesman for the Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas en Norteamérica, which promotes the advancement of the Latino community in North America.

  • Many Voices Try to Shape Pope Francis-Obama Meeting
    March 26, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    In anticipation of Pope Francis’ Thursday meeting with President Barack Obama, activist Judie Brown sent the pontiff an unsolicited 12-page memo that detailed what she said is the administration’s hostility toward the church on issues such as abortion and contraception.

    The meeting also spurred 10-year-old Jersey Vargas to travel to Rome from Los Angeles to ask the pope to help her and other American children of undocumented immigrants by supporting changes to U.S. immigration law.

  • Jersey and the Pope: Girl asks pontiff to help end deportations
    March 26, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    Southern California immigration activists weren’t close enough to reach the pope Wednesday to deliver their message face-to-face against deportations of undocumented immigrants, but 10-year-old Jersey Vargas squeezed in between the masses and pushed herself to the front to greet him. She did it twice.

    The activists, assisted by Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez, arrived in Rome and delivered some 1,300 letters from children whose families fear deportation. They hoped to ask Pope Francis to intervene on their behalf with President Barack Obama when the two men meet Thursday. Vargas, who is articulate for her age, was their representative.

  • L.A. Girl With Dad In Deportation Asks Pope Francis To Push For U.S. Immigration Reform
    March 26, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    Young Jersey Vargas arrived at the Vatican Wednesday morning carrying a cloth handkerchief her mother sewed with the words “Nest of Love” across the front.

    The 10-year-old girl’s hope was to be able to hand it directly to none other than the pope himself.

  • St. Joseph student and teacher receive service awards
    March 26, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    St. Joseph High School senior Alexis Laggren and Regine Donner, a St. Joseph French Teacher, were honored with Archdiocese of Los Angeles Christian Service Awards in a special Mass on March 18 at St. Basil’s Church in Los Angeles.

    Every year the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Department of Catholic Schools recognizes outstanding high school seniors who work to bring about change in their local communities, cities, and society at large, as well as teachers who also deserve recognition as an example of service to their local communities and to their students.

  • Young advocate seeks pope’s aid on immigration
    March 22, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    A 10-year-old student from Noble Avenue Elementary School in North Hills visited the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels last week on a diplomatic mission.

    Jersey Vargas, a fourth-grader, was about to leave for Rome and a possible visit with Pope Francis, but first she wanted to ask Archbishop Jose H. Gomez for his blessing and his help. Jersey said she hoped the archbishop will “help my Dad out, so he can be with me and my family, and we won’t be separated ever again.”

  • Unpacking #ReCongress Part Two: Mark Hart
    March 19, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    Yesterday, I shared a bit about the overall experience of getting to and being at Congress. With this post, I’ll begin sharing some of the special moments of the past few days and will invite you to “dig deeper” for more resources that will help you take in Congress. Our first talk was scheduled for the second period on Friday, so Sarah and I agreed that after the Opening Ceremony (which you can view here) we would spend time prepping in the wonderful Speakers’ Lounge at the Convention Center … [Read More…]

  • LA archbishop blesses immigration reform advocates going to Vatican
    March 18, 2014  |  In The News  |  

    Los Angeles, Calif., Mar 18, 2014 / 06:07 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles gave his blessing Sunday to a group of children and immigration reform advocates who are traveling to Rome to ask Pope Francis for his help and benediction.