« Jesus lives, His mercy is alive! | Main | Blood Drive at Christ the King »
A Million Prayers Initiative
May 23, 2007
Believing in the power of prayer, the Office of Justice and Peace in conjunction with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign invites you to join your voice with countless others in A MILLION PRAYERS INITIATIVE.
The campaign, called “A Million Prayers Initiative,” asks Catholics to lobby and pray on behalf of immigrants nationwide, their families, and members of Congress. The U.S. Senate will be considering this legislation during the next two weeks and they need our prayers and need to know that we are calling for a just and equitable immigration reform bill, one that will make a vital difference in the lives of those who will live by its mandates. Our voices are essential and crucial in the legislation.
There are many ways to raise our voices but two in particular are called for at this moment:
Advocacy
The campaign calls all of us to educate ourselves based on the five U.S. Bishops’ immigration principles, and to encourage parishioners to call our Senators.
To make family a priority in immigration law
To insist the worker programs contain protection for U.S. and migrant workers
To allow for an earned legalization program for the undocumented in the country
To restore due process protections
To respond to the economic, political, and social root causes of migration.
Call our Senators Dianne Feinstein at (310) 914-7300 and Barbara Boxer at (213) 894-5000, and asked them to Support legislation which would:
include a legalization program which is workable and supports family unity including a realistic and achievable path to citizenship;
create a new worker program with worker protections, living wage levels, and a path to citizenship; and
preserve family reunification in our immigration system by reducing family backlogs and maintaining all family preference categories.
Prayer
All of us are asked to pray a special “Justice Prayer” to help guide thousands of advocates as they work to influence the passage of a just and humane comprehensive immigration reform bill in the U.S. Congress. Please share this prayer with your parishioners, communities and families.
The Justice Prayer
Come, O Holy Spirit!
Come, open us to the wonder, beauty, and dignity of the diversity
found in each culture, in each face, and in each experience
we have of the other among us.
Come, fill us with generosity as we are challenged to let go and allow others
to share with us the goods and beauty of earth.
Come, heal the divisions that keep us from seeing the face of Christ in all men,
women, and children.
Come, free us to stand with and for those who must leave their own lands in order to find work, security, and welcome in a new land, one that has enough to share.
Come, bring us understanding, inspiration, wisdom, and the courage needed to embrace change and stay on the journey.
Come, O Holy Spirit, show us the way.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops • Justice for Immigrants Campaign 202-541-3352 · www.justiceforimmigrants.org
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Oscar A. Solis
Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles
Director of Office of Justice and Peace
Topics: Immigration |