The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is praying a special Novena in spiritual preparation for the annual Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants which will be celebrated on Sunday, June 18.
The Mass in Recognition of All Immigrants is a special Mass in celebration of our immigrant roots as a Church and as a nation as well as in support of comprehensive immigration reform that is just and compassionate. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is mindful that we are a Church of many peoples, with different backgrounds, different stories, and different family histories. Each of us is unique, but our Catholic faith teaches us that we are all made in the image of God - imago Dei.
Archbishop José H. Gomez will preside at the Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. Mass begins at 3:30 p.m. with a pre-procession starting at 2:30 p.m. Prayers will be offered for national immigration reform, for our elected officials and for people all over the world to open their hearts to the immigrants who come to their countries.
Mass attendees will be invited to write prayer requests for the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe to be left in the Shrine of the Relic of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Cathedral by the end of the Mass. Archbishop Gomez will present these 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.
Support for immigrants can also be shown on social media by using the hashtag #PrayForImmigrants when posting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. and also by using the #PrayForImmigrants Facebook photo frame starting on June 9 (first day of the Novena).
The following is a listing of the prayer petitions for each day of the Novena (June 9 - June 17)
Day 1- On Human Trafficking
For Pope Francis, that our Heavenly Father may gift him with deep wisdom as he calls the Church to struggle against the evil of human trafficking, we pray to the Lord,
For all bishops in the Church, that they continue to be leaders in the fight against modern day slavery, both domestically and abroad, we pray to the Lord, For our priests and deacons, that they may boldly proclaim Church teaching on human dignity and the Church’s teaching on human trafficking, we pray to the Lord,
For our religious brother and sisters and all the lay faithful, that God inspire them with the continued commitment to fight the evil of human trafficking, we pray to the Lord, For everyone who is trapped in a situation of human trafficking, that God will help to liberate them from their chains, we pray to the Lord,
For perpetrators of slavery, that they repent of their evil ways and turn to God for forgiveness, we pray to the Lord.
Day 2- On Migrants
For all bishops in our Church, that they may be encouraged by our prayers and support to lead God’s people in building a culture that respects the human dignity of all migrants, we pray to the Lord,
For all Catholics, that God inspire them to take action in their local communities to support and protect migrants and to advocate on their behalf, we pray to the Lord,
For unaccompanied migrant children, that God protect them on their journey and safely reunite them with their families, we pray to the Lord,
For our neighbors, coworkers, friends, fellow Christians, and all people, that they may grow in their awareness of the issue of migration and become a voice in the public square calling for greater protections for these populations, we pray to the Lord,
For migrant workers, that they may labor in safe and just conditions, and that we who benefit from their labor may be truly grateful for what they provide, we pray to the Lord,
For migrants, refugees, and all other strangers in our midst, that they may find strength in our concern for justice and feel the warmth of our love, we pray to the Lord.
Day 3- On Refugees
For the bishops, that they will continue in their commitment to refugee resettlement and provide in their communities a place of welcome, we pray to the Lord,
For all refugees, who are forced to flee from their homes, that God bring peace to them and their country of origin, we pray to the Lord,
For refugees in Africa, the Middle East, and elsewhere, who are experiencing great suffering, that God might bring them to a place of peace and safety, we pray to the Lord,
For refugee children, who have been separated by their family due to circumstance or death, that God will provide his protection, we pray to the Lord, For an end to all strife and persecution, that gives rise to refugee crises, we pray to the Lord.
Day 4- Government Officials
For the President of the United States and all government leaders: that they continue to work tirelessly to end the bane of slavery that continues to exist in our communities, we pray to the Lord,
For the President of the United States and all government leaders: that the Son of God, who became human, will help them understand the great dignity of human persons, and support legislation that better protects vulnerable populations in our midst, we pray to the Lord,
For policy makers in our nation, that God grant them the wisdom to enact laws that provide greater protection for all migrant populations, we pray to the Lord,
For policy makers in our nation, that they will provide the support to migrant populations who yearn for a new beginning, we pray to the Lord.
Day 5- DACA Students and Professionals
For all professionals and students who arrived in this country at a young age together with their parents, so they can find strength and trust that God will continue keeping their families together, we pray to the Lord,
For DACA students, may they trust that policy makers in our nation will provide the support to reach a comprehensive immigration law that will include them and their parents, we pray to the Lord,
For DACA students and professionals who have been separated from their father or mother due to deportation or incarceration, may they trust that God will provide his/her protection, we pray to the Lord,
For DACA students and their families, may God grant them wisdom and discernment so they can continue supporting other immigrant families with the knowledge they have acquired in the time they have lived and contributed to our nation, we pray to the Lord.
Day 6- Migrant Families
That migrant families stay united in the power of Jesus Christ, who is the only one who gives them strength, we pray to the Lord,
That relatives of migrant families who stay behind in their native countries find comfort and strength in Our Lord, who is the source of peace, wisdom and understanding, we pray to the Lord,
That migrant families find the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, in times of troubles such as the deportation or incarceration of one of their members, we pray to the Lord,
For migrant families, that God will always provide their protection, we pray to the Lord.
Day 7- Professionals who work/serve immigrants and refugees
For immigration lawyers, social workers, and those who take care of immigrants in detention centers, that they may find seek God to treat all their clients with dignity and love, we pray to the Lord,
For schools’ faculty members and staff who serve and deal with immigrant students and families, may they find wisdom and knowledge in God to meet the academic and personal needs of those they serve, we pray to the Lord,
For law enforcement members, that they may treat immigrants with the dignity and respect that every human being deserves, we pray to the Lord,
For all those involved in the health care of the immigrant community – especially the uninsured – may they rely and trust God, who is the source of wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual and physical healing, we pray to the Lord,
For all who support and advocate for migrants, that God may inspire them and give them strength to continue to serve and support those impacted by our broken immigration system, we pray to the Lord.
Day 8- Business and Community Leaders
For business owners, may they find prosperity in serving the immigrant community with love, dignity and respect, we pray to the Lord,
For business owners, may they seek God as the source of charity and support immigrants with a giving heart, we pray to the Lord,
For community leaders, mainly those serving immigrants and refugees, may they rely on God to lead their organizations with wisdom, honesty, patience and love, we pray to the Lord,
For business owners who have treated vulnerable populations – such as immigrant and refugee individuals and families – with dishonor and disrespect, may they turn to God for forgiveness, we pray to the Lord.
Day 9- Our Nation
For all the United States Catholic Bishops, may they always seek God, provider of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment to guide their flocks, immigrants or not, we pray to the Lord,
For all government leaders, may the Son of God Jesus, who became human, help them understand the great dignity of human persons, and support legislation that better protects vulnerable populations in our midst, such as undocumented adults and children, and refugee families, we pray to the Lord,
For U.S. citizens and residents, that we may see the face of God in every human being regardless of their legal status, we pray to the Lord,
For U.S. citizens and residents, may we continue to welcome the stranger in this nation founded by immigrants, we pray to the Lord,
For all immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters, who contribute to this country with their hard work and labor, may they find the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, we pray to the Lord,
For all immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters, may they trust God who provides for all their needs, including a comprehensive immigration law, we pray to the Lord,
For U.S. citizens and residents, may we unite in prayer for peace with our brothers and sisters in Venezuela and Syria, and in other parts of the world living in war and crisis, especially Africa, Asia and the Middle East, we pray to the Lord,
For all people of good will, may we always make sure that we live what we pledge as the builders and contributors to a nation united under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, we pray to the Lord.
For more information, please visit the Cathedral website at www.olacathedral.org.
For more links to immigration prayers, prayer cards and other prayer & reflection resources visit
www.usccb.org/about/migration-and-refugee-services/national-migration-week
