“In a powerful witness of solidarity, Pope Francis celebrated mass last July on the island of Lampedusa off the coast of Italy, a port of entry for many migrants escaping hardship in the Middle East and Africa. In his homily, he had an important message for these migrants: “The Church is at your side as you seek a more dignified life for yourselves and your families.”
On the Feast of the Ascension (Thursday, May 29), members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, including those who celebrated Mass on the border in April 2014 to pray for immigration reform, will take their message to Capitol Hill, asking our legislators in the House of Representatives to act on immigration reform legislation before the elections in the fall. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) joins the USCCB in this effort to reform our current immigration system and address the root causes of migration.
You can also answer our Gospel call in Matthew 25 to welcome the stranger by joining Catholics across the country in prayer and action for immigration reform in the seven days leading up to Pentecost (June 1-8). Please visit theJustice for Immigrants website of the USCCB for prayers, educational resources, sample social media posts, and instructions on how to email, call, or visit your legislators in support of just immigration reform.
Yours in Christ,
Your Catholics Confront Global Poverty team
Tags: Advocacy, CRS, Immigration reform, US Bishops, USCCB
