SAN DIEGO — Cardinal Robert W. McElroy urged people of faith “to speak up and proclaim that this unfolding misery and suffering, and yes, war of fear and terror, cannot be tolerated. To say, ‘Go no further.’”
The San Diego Diocese is presenting a prayer service and procession to speak up about how Trump Administration policies are hurting the most vulnerable, or are on track to do so, and to pray for God’s mercy to accompany the affected families.
The bilingual event, titled “Journeying with Immigrants, Defending the Vulnerable,” will be held on Saturday morning, April 12, in the east area of Waterfront Park, next to the County Administration Building.
The event is to begin at 10 a.m., with a prayer service that includes Scripture readings and public testimonies. Afterward, there will be a procession to the federal building on Broadway and Front streets, where there will be a vigil at 11:15 a.m., with the event ending around noon.
The prayer service is co-presented with the San Diego Organizing Project. Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano will be on hand, and priests, deacons, religious women, and ministry leaders are invited, as well as all faithful.
The event is being held on the day before Palm Sunday, when the Church commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Holy Week. The crowds laid palm branches at his feet as they welcomed him, a stark contrast to what would unfold days later. Authorities would condemn Jesus as a criminal and crucify him.
Community members are invited to wear red and bring palms and religious symbols, and clergy and altar servers to wear vestments.
Around 1,500 faithful turned out for the initial prayer service the diocese presented on Feb. 9, which featured Cardinal McElroy days before he left to lead the Archdiocese of Washington.
The prayer service in April comes at a time when the Trump Administration is laying off thousands of federal employees and cutting programs that help the most vulnerable across the country.
Due to changes in federal funding and asylum policies ordered by the administration, Catholic Charities San Diego will be scaling back operations in two of its programs, its migrant respite shelters and refugee services.
Catholic Charities is offering virtual workshops in Spanish to advise immigrants about their rights, working in coordination with parishes. And the organization continues to offer an up-to-date webpage in English and Spanish that offers resources and reliable information to undocumented migrants. The pages are plandeemergencia.org and emergencysafetyplan.org.
