Cesar Chavez' commitment to justice for the most vulnerable members of society continues to influence Catholics today who are fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, said Cardinal Roger Mahony during the annual Mass honoring the legendary labor leader.
"We have this Mass every year near his birthday, because we want to keep alive the spirit of his spirituality and his deep commitment to the protection of all in a non-violent way," said Cardinal Mahony at the beginning of the liturgy at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels March 25. "We are, this moment, hoping and working so that we will get a just and fair comprehensive immigration law passed and signed before the August recess of this Congress."
The cardinal added that "just immigration reform" must offer a path to legal residency for the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants already in the country and not just for those who come in the future. The next few months will be critical, said the cardinal, adding that he feared that if a law is not passed by August, Congress will likely not look at the issue again until 2009.
"Now is the time to pray and work as hard as we can to make sure that they all do something," said Cardinal Mahony.
Following the Mass in the outdoor plaza, scores of faithful signed petitions urging Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Organizers also had on hand numerous cell phones so voters could call their representatives on the spot and leave a message.
Earlier in March, Cardinal Mahony visited Washington and made the rounds of congressional and White House offices, lobbying for passage of an immigration reform bill that includes a path to legalization for immigrants already in the country illegally, a guest worker program, appropriate border security measures and improvements in the system for reuniting families that are separated by long waits for visas.
During the liturgy honoring Cesar Chavez, Deacon Valentin Saucedo, homilist, noted that Chavez --- the grandson of Mexican immigrants --- relied on his Catholic faith to confront injustice.
"Cesar Chavez knew that the Eucharist gave him strength to keep fighting on behalf of the people he served in his life," said the deacon in Spanish. "The legacy of Cesar Chavez challenges us. We too are to put into practice what he left us."
Several hundred farm workers traveled from Central California to attend the Los Angeles Mass. Following the liturgy, Richard Chavez, brother of the late labor leader, pleaded with the congregation to help the 28,000 farm workers who lost their jobs after a January freeze destroyed the Central Valley's citrus crops and caused an estimated $1 billion in losses.
"Thousands of people have no money to take care of basic needs like rent, utilities, food," said Chavez. The Cesar Chavez Foundation is accepting monetary and food donations to assist farm worker families.
Catholic News Service contributed to this article.
Editor's note: For more information on comprehensive immigration reform, visit www.justiceforimmigrants.com. To assist farm workers hurt by the citrus freeze, visit www.chavezfoundation.org.
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