Power of Faith, at Sea and Land
Fr. Mattia Ferrari and his companions from the World Meeting of Popular Movements and CELAM (Luca Casarini and Cesar Piscoya) are now in the US for their 40 day tour of encounters / encuentros with community organizing groups, Catholic bishops / clergy / religious, and lay leaders.
We experienced a deeply moving day in San Diego yesterday, after Sunday's encounter in the Coachella Valley with farmworkers and Catholic clergy who are organizing for improved housing conditions:
We accompanied a mother into her ICE check-in, and other families at federal immigration court
We prayed the US / Mexico border wall, and at the Otay Mesa Detention Center, reflecting on the immorality of systems that profit off the separation of families -- here and abroad
We met with the pastors of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Chula Vista, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in San Ysidro
And then we had dinner and fellowship with Bishop Michael Pham, Bishop Felipe Pulido, and a group of 30 San Diego Organizing Project clergy, leaders. A mother, father, and daughter shared their experience being separated by ICE and suffering for 6 months in the Otay Mesa Detention Center. Volunteer lay leaders shared about the FAITHS court accompaniment program, and our state level campaigns to eliminate tax incentives for private prison corporations and their investors
The experience affirmed for local clergy and lay leaders the sacredness of organizing / popular movements, and enduring with faith through the darkness of these times.
Big thanks to Cecilia and Gabby for all their dedication and care to make it possible!
Fr. Mattia and his companions are scheduled to visit Central and Northern California before traveling for local encounters in Seattle, Texas, Denver, Pittsburgh, Iowa, Minneapolis, South Bend, Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, Washington DC, Hartford, New Jersey, and New York through July 30th.
This is such a blessed opportunity for us to deepen solidarity and inspire faithful public witness -- may the local encounter in your region serve as a time of communion, solidarity, inspiration, and a faith that goes outward to the peripheries of our world.
