Prayer Service Focuses On Immigration Reform
Martha Figueroa remembers the immigration raid on her home like it happened less than three hours ago – not more than three years ago.
“I remember them knocking,” she said, of the immigration officials and police, “and then suddenly, our apartment was filled with officers. They handcuffed my husband.”
Figueroa was in America legally; her husband was an undocumented immigrant. He ended up in custody, hours away in Chicago, with the most fascinating of items seized as “evidence that he was in a gang.”
“We had a small shrine in our home to Our Lady of Guadalupe,” she said, “and it included two Rosaries that we got from one of our priests here in the Diocese of Evansville. The police and immigration officials seized the blue Rosary because they said it was gang colors; it proved that my husband was involved in gang activity.”
Figueroa, a registered nurse who works nights at a hospital in Dubois County, made many trips to Chicago before her husband finally was released, and he is on track to obtain legal-immigrant status.
Theirs was one of the stories that served as the foundation of a Sept. 4 bilingual prayer service at Monastery Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand. Benedictine Sister Karen Durliat, director of the Diocese of Evansville’s Hispanic Ministry, organized the service as a prelude to the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for Immigration Reform, which formally began Sept. 9 with Congress’ return to session in Washington, D.C.
Fatima Miranda, a college student from El Salvador, told the dozens in attendance about coming to America seven years ago at age 11. “I came to live with one of my sisters here,” she said. “Both of our parents are still in Salvador. I have eight sisters and eight brothers; seven of them are in America now.”
She arrived in January and started school here soon thereafter. “I finished high school,” the now-18-year-old said. “I have legal status, and I go to college. But so many my age don’t have this opportunity.”
Attendees sang and prayed in English and Spanish for the passage of comprehensive immigration reform during the service, which was followed by a reception.
In this issue of the Message, you’ll find the first in a series of features that will provide the answers to “10 Questions about Hispanic immigrants you never had the chance to ask.” You also will find the first several days’ prayer intentions for the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. Look for more in the weeks to come.
Another bilingual prayer service is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Evansville’s Nativity Parish (3635 Pollack Ave.). Nativity also will host a Spanish presentation on preparedness for immigration reform at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 29.
Nativity’s Hispanic Men’s Club is holding a Mexican Fiesta beginning at 1:30 p.m. this Sunday (Sept. 15) that will feature food, music games and raffles. The fiesta is open to the public; all are invited and welcome.
