Chicagoland

Parish hosts Mass to show support for immigrants

By Steve Euvino | Contributor
Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Augustinian Father Homero Sánchez, pastor of St. Rita of Cascia Parish, accepts the gifts during a Jan. 19, 2025, Mass sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago’ s Priests for Justice for Immigrants for “Solidarity with Our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters,” with the theme “We See You, We Are One.” Following the Mass, “pastoral packs,” including prayer shawls, rosaries, prayer cards and small statues of St. Toribio Romo, patron saint of immigrants, were blessed and distributed by leaders of Pastoral Migratoria, an immigrant-to-immigrant ministry that originated in the Archdiocese of Chicago, to families affected by deportation. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

On Jan. 19, the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Priests for Justice for Immigrants sponsored a special Mass at St. Rita of Cascia Church, 6243 S. Fairfield Ave., for solidarity with the immigrant community.

“We pray for justice for immigrants,” said Augustinian Father Homero Sánchez, pastor.

As spiritual leader of St. Rita/St. Clare of Montefalco, Sánchez has 2,700 parishioners, and about 90%  are immigrants, he said.

Maria Espinosa came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1998.

“For me, for many, this Mass signifies hope,” she said. “With God, there is hope, there is faith.”

The theme for the Mass was “We See You, We Are One,” meant to express the church’s commitment to immigrants facing fear and uncertainty, offering spiritual strength and community support.

Drawing from Scripture, Sánchez said, “God never abandons his people.” Even in times of doubt and despair, the priest added, “Jesus walks with us.”

The pastor then asked the assembly who is welcome at St. Rita, in the U.S. and the house of God, to which people responded, “Todos” (“all”).

Sánchez said his parish works with immigrants on legal assistance and informing people of their rights, including cases of family separations.

According to NCESC Geographic, Chicago is home to an estimated 1.7 million immigrants, accounting for 18% of the city’s total population.

Two women in attendance spoke anonymously about coming from Colombia seven years ago “for the civilization, [to] escape violence and [for] the economy.”

Both women have jobs and are working through immigration to remain here, but the process has been difficult, they said. They and others said the faithful gathered at a Mass for immigrants symbolized hope.

Following the Mass, “pastoral packs” (“bolsas de acompañamiento”), containing prayer shawls, rosaries, prayer cards and small statues of St. Toribio Romo, patron saint of immigrants, were blessed. Leaders of Pastoral Migratoria, an immigrant-to-immigrant ministry, distributed these packs to families affected by deportation.

Elena Segura, national coordinator for Pastoral Migratoria, said the group was formed in 2007 after this country’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration legislation.

Through the Mass, Segura said, “People know we have a very active ministry here.”

She added, “We are one family. We walk with you. No matter what happens, we will accompany you.”

Established in 2005, Priests for Justice for Immigrants is a coalition of 140 priests from the archdiocese and religious communities, supporting immigrants through education, pastoral care, and legislative advocacy. The group promotes immigration reform, supports undocumented people, and raises awareness of immigrants’ contributions to society and the church.

Father Larry Dowling, moderator for the group, said at Mass, “We stand in solidarity with Latinos, immigrants and the community, to pray together and pledge support.”

Speaking later, Dowling said the group “wants to make sure people are educated and know their rights. We also offer our prayers and legal advocacy.”

Looking ahead to the Trump administration, Dowling said his major concerns include “the pain caused to immigrant families and the pain God feels.”

The Mass concluded with a prayer of solidarity with immigrants, a call to “unseal the doors of the hearts and minds of those … closed and sealed off by prejudice, ignorance and fear.”

Excerpts from the prayer include:

“We give thanks that, although not citizens, (immigrants) contribute greatly to the U.S. economy … assuring the flow of produce, poultry and meat to markets throughout the country.

“We give thanks for the example of parents, willing to make great sacrifices for the safety and security of their families, fleeing violence and extreme poverty, often taking courageous risks, leaving their homes and beloved homeland.

“Free (immigrants) from fear, from persecution, from all the evil machinations of powers and principalities.

“Melt and transform the hearts and minds of those who would seek to close the doors of human compassion and decency on the children, women and men who have immigrated to this country.”

Sánchez said he hopes people left that Mass with a sense that “we are all welcome in the house of God.”

He concluded, “The Lord has given us our freedom. I hope we leave with that sense of living without fear.”

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