Thousands Joined Archbishop Gomez For Special Mass In Solidarity With All Immigrants
Archdiocese Launches New Website Dedicated to Raising Awareness and Providing Resources on Immigration
LOS ANGELES, June 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Archdiocese of Los Angeles launched today TheNextAmerica.org (FuturoEstadosUnidos.org), a new bilingual website aiming to raise awareness, provide resources and share the Christian perspective on immigration. The website is launching on the heels of the Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants yesterday, a special Mass presided by Archbishop José H. Gomez at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels that united thousands in prayer and celebration of the immigrant spirit of the U.S.
"The promise of America is that this land will be a home for all peoples — no matter what the color of their skin, or what nation they came from, or what language they speak, or what religion they believe," said Archbishop Gomez in his homily. "Let us pray for our country today. May we know peace and security and freedom in our borders, and may our children be blessed. Let us pray for our leaders in Washington and all those who serve our country in government and law enforcement. Let us dedicate ourselves — all of us — to the beautiful promise of America!"
The Mass is a culmination of a novena, nine days of prayer and reflection, at parishes throughout the tri-county Archdiocese, and a three-day, 50-mile walking pilgrimage by a group of faithful from Orange County to the Cathedral for all those impacted by the broken immigration system.
Following the Mass, faithful venerated the relics of St. Junípero Serra, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and St. Toribio Romo. These saints are of great significance to the Catholic immigrant community in the U.S. from its founding to present day. Those attending the Mass also wrote prayer requests for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe that they left in the Shrine of the Relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Cathedral. Archbishop Gomez will present the prayers at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe during a Mass for the first Archdiocesan Pilgrimage with Archbishop Gomez to the Basilica in Mexico City on July 8. Faithful may submit prayer requests at TheNextAmerica.org though the first week of July.
TheNextAmerica.org provides information and resources for anyone interested in or affected by immigration in the U.S. The site includes an overview of immigration from a Christian perspective, Archbishop Gomez' vision of immigration in the U.S., outlines the need for reform, and provides resources for parish communities, media, and offers various ways in which to become involved and obtain support.
The community of faith across the Archdiocese are also showing their support by sharing immigration stories on social media using the hashtag #PrayForImmigrants and using the #PrayForImmigrants Facebook profile photo frame available at archla.org/prayforimmigrants.
CONTACT:
Adrian Alarcon
213-637-7216 | [email protected]
Doris Benavides
213-637-7254| [email protected]
SOURCE Archdiocese of Los Angeles
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