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 <a href="https://lacatholics.org/statement-from-archbishop-gomez-on-la-immigration-raids/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">released a statement</mark></a> 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 <a href="https://lacatholics.org/praying-together/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">day of prayer</mark></a> amid growing violence over the ICE arrests, <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264683/los-angeles-archbishop-calls-for-day-of-prayer-mass-for-peace-and-unity-amid-riots"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports</mark></a> the US-based <em>Catholic News Agency (CNA)</em>. <br><br>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. <br><br>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 <em>CNA</em>.
A special Mass was scheduled at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Wednesday, 11 June, “to unite our communities in prayer during this time of unrest”, according to the archdiocese.
The archdiocese also encouraged Catholics to participate in a candlelight prayer vigil, with people gathering for a peaceful interfaith prayer vigil on the evening of 10 June, according to a social media post by the archdiocese.
An interfaith prayer vigil had previously been scheduled for the evening of last Sunday at Los Angeles City Hall, but had to be postponed amid escalating violence, <em>CNA</em> notes.
“With so many in fear, we are hoping to share a message of peace and hope, uniting our prayers with others throughout Southern California to end the violence, bring healing and for a path toward reform of our broken immigration system,” said Michael Donaldson, senior director for the archdiocesan Office of Life, Justice and Peace.
After conflicts between protesters and law enforcement intensified over the weekend, President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard despite strongly worded opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The president subsequently deployed hundreds of Marines to California to join National Guard troops in protecting federal property and personnel, and providing security to ICE agents.
At the same time, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-10/mayor-bass-enacts-curfew-local-emergency-downtown-los-angeles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">enacted a curfew</mark></a> in parts of the downtown area.
The <em>Guardian</em> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/los-angeles-national-guard-troops-marines-morale"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">reports</mark></a> that some National Guard troops and Marines deployed to Los Angeles have told friends and family members that "they are deeply unhappy about the assignment and worry their only meaningful role will be as pawns in a political battle they do not want to join".
<em>Photo: Police officers in riot gear confront a demonstration following federal immigration operations in Los Angeles, USA, 9 June 2025. (Photo by RINGO CHIU/AFP via Getty Images.).</em>
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