Parishes host prayer vigils to support citizenship for immigrants

August 26, 2021

Several archdiocesan parishes recently partnered with an interfaith effort to secure legal protections for millions of immigrants fleeing poverty and violence.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Holy Innocents, Visitation B.V.M. and St. Vincent de Paul parishes in Philadelphia each hosted evening prayer vigils earlier this month as part of a campaign organized by the nonprofit New Sanctuary Movement (NSM). Founded some two decades ago, NSM works to end injustice against immigrants regardless of status.

The prayer vigil series, which spanned the week of Aug. 9-13, featured a basket of bread and fish at each stop, symbolizing Christ’s miraculous feeding of 5,000 with just five barley loaves and two fish (Mt 14:13-21, Mk 6:34-44, Lk 9:10-17, Jn 6:1-15).

Source: Parishes host prayer vigils to support citizenship for immigrants