Farm workers, labor union members and community leaders will join the family of Cesar E. Chavez to celebrate the legacy of Chavez, a life-long Catholic and founder of the United Farm Workers (UFW) during the 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6 Spanish Mass, presided by Archbishop José H. Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles.
The 14th annual Mass celebrates Chavez’s commitment to the struggle for justice and dignity for all workers. Cesar Chavez’s son Paul Chavez, and Arturo Rodriguez, UFW president, will speak at the end of mass.
“Cesar Chavez was a man of prayer and man of peace. Learning about his life tells me that he had a deep devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe and that he tried to live the Beatitudes in his daily life,” said Archbishop Gomez. “He fought for justice for his people — using the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting, and self-sacrifice; and he always urged non-violence. I’ve been also thinking a lot about Cesar Chavez these days, as we continue to struggle for immigration reform. To me, justice for immigrants is one of the great human rights issues of our time.
“Let us come together in prayer on April 6 to remember a great leader and a humble man of faith, conviction, sacrifice and hope,” Archbishop Gomez said.
