Texas Catholics pray for just immigration reform at El Paso shrine

Published: 2006-06-14

EL PASO, Texas (CNS) -- Nearly 1,000 members of 15 El Paso parishes joined in a pilgrimage to the shrine of Cristo Rey (Christ the King) on the U.S.-Mexican border June 10 to pray for just reform of U.S. immigration laws. El Paso Bishop Armando X. Ochoa led the pilgrims in praying the Stations of the Cross as they climbed the three-mile path to the shrine atop Mount Cristo Rey, whose base touches the states of New Mexico and Texas in the United States and the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. In his sermon during Mass at the shrine, Bishop Ochoa urged the pilgrims to learn more about the plight of immigrants in the United States and to let members of Congress know they support protection for the families of migrants and a pathway for people to achieve permanent residency and citizenship. "The church's voice on immigrants is certainly needed now more than ever before," the bishop said. The pilgrimage marked the start of the El Paso Diocese's participation in the Justice for Immigrants campaign sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

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