CINCINNATI — The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is joining with the other Roman Catholic dioceses in the State of Ohio on a campaign to generate 10,000 letters to congressional delegates across the state, urging them to support the Dream Act or similar legislation to provide a path to regularize the status of immigrants brought to the United States when they were very young.
The effort is part of a two-year, worldwide “Share the Journey” campaign launched by Pope Francis on Sept. 27, inviting all to share the difficult journey of migrants and refugees through prayer and support. The Archdiocese will collect letters between now and Dec. 18, International Migrants Day.
“I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our solidarity with migrants and refugees in our Archdiocese,” said the Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati.
“The Church stands with these brothers and sisters of ours who have journeyed great distances to find life, security, and hope for the future in our own communities. Not only that, but we walk beside them, listening to their stories, helping bear their loads, and celebrating the gifts of culture and faith they bring to us. Through them, we are reminded of who we really are: pilgrims on a journey from this life to a greater Kingdom.”
The Archdiocese and related ministries have planned a number of “share the journey”: programs over the next two months. These programs “ will provide us with an opportunity to encounter our fellow travelers in our communities, appreciate their hopes and struggles, and advocate for their dignity,” Archbishop Schnurr noted. These efforts include:
• A presentation on the Catholic Church’s teaching on migration, titled “Restoring Order and Human Dignity” on Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 101 W. Pearl St., Wapakoneta.
• A presentation by the Rev. Daniel Groody entitled “Passing Over: A Compassionate Response to Immigrants and Refugees” on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. (with a light dinner at 5:30 p.m.) at St. Albert the Great Church, 3033 Far Hills Ave., Kettering.
In addition, ongoing opportunities for education and service to migrants and refugees exist through Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio at (513) 241-7745 or https://ccswoh.org/ and Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley at (937) 498-4593 or http://www.cssmv.org/ .
For more information on any of these or other upcoming events, please contact our Catholic Social Action Office at 513-421-3131, ext. 2660, or [email protected].
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the 44th largest Catholic diocese in the country, with more than 450,000 Catholics, and has the sixth largest network of Catholic schools in terms of enrollment. The 19-county territory includes 211 parishes and 111 Catholic primary and secondary schools.
