Bishop Nguyen to Lead Prayer Service for ‘Dreamers’ Outside Rep. Ed Royce’s Office
Hundreds of faithful advocates to gather, calling for fair and just legislation for DACA Youth
Garden Grove, Calif. (January 23, 2018) – The Most Reverend Thanh Thai Nguyen, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange, will join immigration advocates and faith leaders for a prayer service calling for a just resolution for thousands of young people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Event Details
- What: Prayer Service and Advocacy Event for DACA Youth
- Who:
- Most Rev. Thanh Thai Nguyen, Auxiliary Bishop of Orange
- Faith leaders and immigration advocates
- Two “Dreamers” from local parishes sharing their testimony
- When: Tuesday, January 23, 2018, at 6:30 p.m.
- Where: Outside the Brea District Office of Rep. Ed Royce (210 W Birch St., Brea, CA)
Purpose and Background
This community event continues the prayerful call for legislators to pass a permanent resolution that protects DACA recipients from deportation and provides a path to eventual citizenship.
The DACA program, which protected nearly 800,000 young people brought to the U.S. as children, was eliminated by the administration in September 2017. This event is a public follow-up to a December open letter sent to congress members Ed Royce and Mimi Walters, signed by bishops and pastors from three dioceses, reiterating the Catholic Church’s unwavering support for DACA recipients.
Bishop Nguyen will lead the event by sharing his own harrowing migration story and calling on the community to respond with hospitality and love.
Statement from Bishop Thanh Thai Nguyen
“I am personally called to prayerful solidarity with the dreamers in our community and across our country. Having fled religious persecution and journeyed toward a new life in America, I am called to stand with these young people as they seek to keep their dreams alive.”
“As Catholics and people of faith, we are challenged to welcome the stranger and speak up through prayer and action when we see injustice in our world. Today I call on our community to stand shoulder to shoulder with the dreamers and call on the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of our elected officials.”
Contact Information
Pastoral Center: Communications Department 13280 Chapman Avenue Garden Grove, CA 92840 Office: 714-282-3075 Fax: 714-282-3029