Serving God and the Dear Neighbor without Distinction
Sisters, Pax Christi, and Casa San José to Host Interfaith Prayer Vigil in Support of Our Immigrant Neighbors on August 22 in Pittsburgh
If you feel called to join us in this work to offer light and love to our dear neighbors who are facing so much darkness and despair, please join us in Pittsburgh on August 22nd from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. outside the ICE Office (3000 Sidney Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203) for a peaceful and prayerful time of advocacy and solidarity with our immigrant neighbors.
Join Us to Pray
Interfaith Prayer Vigil with Our Sisters, Pax Christi, and Casa San José
Take Action
Voice Your Values
“What our charism is about is unity,” Sister Mary Parks said to those gathered on Pittsburgh’s South Side on Friday, August 1, steps away from the ICE Office that – just hours earlier – sent agents to Ambridge, taking several immigrants into custody, including at least one man who was heartbreakingly separated from his family and young children.
Having witnessed firsthand the fear and anguish of the immigrants targeted in this law enforcement action, Sister Mary urged the assembled group of pastors, parishioners, and concerned citizens to remember that “we’re all one – we’re all in this together. There is nobody we can say doesn’t matter.”
Guided by Gospel values and Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25 to welcome the stranger and care for those on the margins, our Sisters have a long history of ministering to and supporting immigrants. In 2013, we founded Casa San José here in Pittsburgh as one way to continue this legacy of love. We see every immigrant and refugee as a neighbor who is worthy of love, safety, and respect – that, when we welcome the stranger, we welcome Christ, remembering that Jesus himself was an immigrant fleeing violence with his family.
“What we have to do, really, is to try not to build up the camps of ‘us’ and ‘them,’” Sister Mary continued, urging us to remember that the Sisters’ call to love God and the dear neighbor without distinction means not separating ourselves from anyone, even the ICE agents carrying out the orders that have inflicted so much suffering.
“Our intention today is love,” Sister Janice Vanderneck, founder of Casa San José said, talking with a local journalist after the prayer vigil ended. “Love is going to change hearts. Love is going to transform.”
Will you join us in praying for the grace of being changed by love?
Pittsburgh: Interfaith Prayer Vigil Outside ICE Office with Our Sisters, Pax Christi, and Casa San José
8am to 10am on the sidewalk outside 3000 Sidney Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (the closest public parking is just off the Hot Metal Bridge, about a 3-block walk)
Join us in a peaceful and prayerful time of advocacy and solidarity with our immigrant neighbors. We will hold space for all immigrants, and especially for those who are being taken into custody at this location.
Fasting
For the remainder of the day, you are invited to continue to pray for immigrants who are being targeted for removal – the vast majority of whom have no criminal record and are complying with the processes required by the government to attain a proper legal status.
If you feel inclined to join others who plan to fast, you may want to consider fasting from negativity or judgment, especially if fasting from food could compromise your health.
We also encourage you to take action on this day by contacting your representatives in Washington to voice your values and concerns, and by doing a special act of kindness on that day.
Read more about the cruelty toward immigrants that happened in Ambridge on July 31st here.