Thousands of Catholics around the Golden State and the nation will undertake pilgrimages — between Aug. 15, the Feast of the Assumption, and Oct. 15, the feast of St. Teresa of Avila — to draw attention to the need for comprehensive immigration reform.One of the largest processions (in terms of numbers of people) is scheduled Aug. 27, when 2,000 people from 16 parishes are expected to proceed from St. Angela Merici Church in Brea to Rep. Ed Royce’s office a short distance away. The event is co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Dioceses of Orange and San Bernardino, with Auxiliary Bishop Dominic Luong of Orange among the participants. Parishes from Los Angeles will include St. John Vianney (Hacienda Heights), St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Rowland Heights), St. Denis (Diamond Bar) and St. Lorenzo Ruiz (Walnut).“The issue of immigration calls forth so many strong opinions and emotions,” noted Bishop Kevin Vann of Orange. “It is time to focus less on rhetoric and more on solutions, thinking of the families and lives behind the words. It is imperative that both parties and both chambers of Congress work together to produce a bill which creates an immigration system predicated on the rule of law but which upholds values which all Americans cherish — hard work, opportunity, and compassion, and which many of our own forebears (mine included) experienced. But above all, let us approach these matters as people of faith and prayer.”The first of the California marhces left Sacramento last week bound for Bakersfield, the home district of House Republican Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, and will take 21 days to cover the 285 miles to McCarthy's office. The Dioceses of San Jose and Monterey are also organizing a pilgrimage to Congressman McCarthy’s office. Starting in San Jose, the pilgrims will travel through Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Carmel, Salinas, Greenfield, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Lompoc and Delano before ending their journey in Bakersfield on September 2.
