The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is trying to help counter the widespread violence that has broken out in the city during protests against federal immigration operations in LA.
Unrest in the city, home to a large Latino population, broke out on 6 June after immigration raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at multiple sites, resulted in dozens of arrests of what authorities claimed were illegal migrants and gang members.
As tensions escalated during the course of last weekend, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles released a statement in which he called for “restraint and calm” and called on Congress to fix the nation’s “broken” immigration system. He also called for a day of prayer amid growing violence over the ICE arrests, reports the US-based Catholic News Agency (CNA).
It notes that the archbishop has instructed parishes across the archdiocese to hold special Masses for peace and unity, encouraging both Catholics and non-Catholics to pray for peace and an end to the rioting.
Father Juan Ochoa, who runs the archdiocesan worship office, in a 10 June message to parishioners encouraged parishes to offer special intentions and suggested people partake in prayerful observances such as Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic adoration and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The message also encouraged people to pray the rosary as a family, fast, read sacred Scripture and pray the Sacred Heart novena, reports CNA.
