PATERSON, N.J. — Earlier this month, Christopher VanHaight, OFM, and Sr. Jean Amore, SMIC, from St. Bonaventure Church participated in the New Jersey Statewide Day of Action with the Passaic County Coalition for Immigrant Rights.
The July 1 event was part of the Isaiah 58 National Solidarity Vigil and Fast for Arizona to “support those who are praying and standing strong in Arizona and to demonstrate that the commitment of people of faith to fight for comprehensive immigration reform has not wavered and will not diminish,” according to Sr. Jean.
“We walked the streets of downtown Paterson near the cathedral and the court houses,” she said. “We ended the march back at the cathedral with a prayer service. We were asked to offer a prayer, I in English and Fr. Chris in Spanish.”
The group prayed for:
· Halting deployment of “secure communities”
· Stopping raids
· Ending detention of workers
· Avoiding “copycat of Arizona legislation” in New Jersey
“I spoke on our Franciscan values and prayed that our U.S. Congress will bring about immigration reform that is compassionate, comprehensive and just with policies that promote the common good,” she said.