Reflection from "Radical Welcome - People of Faith Working for Immigrant Rights"

"Radical Welcome" - An Energizing Interfaith Gathering for Immigrant Justice!

Last night, October 1st, over 50 leaders from different faith communities from the Chicago Metropolitan-area gathered at St. Gertrude's Catholic Church to pray, sing, listen, discuss and take action for immigrant rights!  

Sidney Hollander, member of KAM Isaiah Israel and board member of the Chicago Religious Leadership Network on Latin America, gave the welcome where he highlighted the importance of looking to the guiding principle of "welcome" in our diverse faith traditions.  He called on all of us to join the interfaith movement to welcome all people and to work for just and humane immigration policies.

Leslie Combs, District Director for Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, gave the legislative update informing us of Congressman Luis Gutierrez's intention to propose an immigration bill in the House of Representatives in the weeks following the mass mobilization for immigrant rights in Washington DC on October 13th.  She called on all of us to come together and organize our communities to join the struggle ahead of us to pass comprehensive immigration reform.   Click below to read more...

We were blessed to have music led by Jim Manzardo, member of St. Gertrude's; and prayers led by Tomas Bissonnette, also member of St. Gertrude's; Rev. Dan Dale, pastor at Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ; and Rabbi Ruth Gelfarb.  

After listening to different speaker, we had the opprotunity to have breakout sessions led by members of the Chicago New Sanctuary Coalition Organizing Committee, where we learned about different ways to get involved and engage our faith communities around immigration issues - Education for Transformation, Legislative Advocacy, Detention and Deportation, Court Watch, and The Border and Roots of Migration.  Each person made a commitment to take action in some way and to invite others to join the movement.  

It was inspirational to see the commitment and the passion that everyone brought to the gathering to continue to learn, engage, act and help grow the movement to ensure that not just our religious communities, but our nation is a sanctuary of peace and justice for all people.