VINELAND — Benito Salinas, an usher at Divine Mercy Parish here, knew something special was afoot May 3, as a crowd gathered for a Mass in support of immigrant reform celebrated by Bishop Dennis Sullivan.
The Mass was to begin at 7:30 p.m., but the parking lot began to fill as early as two hours before.
Salinas was happy to experience the enthusiasm.
“We are supporting each other as it should be, and now that the Church is supporting us, I have a greater hope,” said Salinas, a native of Oaxaca, México. Salinas, 35, a husband and father of three, has been living and working in the U.S. for more than 20 years.
Immigration reform supporters packed the 1,500- seat Divine Mercy Church, overflowing the balcony and the entrances.
They came from all over the diocese, among them Mónica Reyes, 42, from the parish of Saint Josephine Bakhita in Camden. Reyes, also from Oaxaca, expressed similar faith and enthusiasm
“This Mass is uniting us in a single voice, in a single prayer that there are no frontiers for God, nothing is impossible for Him,” said the wife and mother of three daughters born in this country. Reyes said she wanted lawmakers, now considering a bill that would open a pathway to citizenship for those who are undocumented, to place themselves in the position of families threatened with separation because of deportation.
“If you all have a family to love, why we are being separated? We also love our families,” she said.
María Rodríguez, 33, came from Saint Francis Cabrini Parish, Ocean City. “There is a Mass said in our favor, this is what really motivated me to come, it gives me hope,” said Rodriguez, a mother from Guerrero, México, who has been living and working in the United States for 12 years.
Some brought their Lupita, as they lovingly call at Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of Mexico and much of Latin America.
Ramón Ibarra, 50, a parishioner of Saint Bridget Church, Glassboro, held an image of the Virgin at the Mass. Ibarra, a native of Guanajuato, México, has been living and working in the United States for 30 years. With his wife, he has raised five children and three grandchildren.
“We are here, the whole family is here and I feel happy and grateful with our Bishop Sullivan for gathering us together, ” said Ibarra, holding aloft the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. He wanted to thank Bishop Sullivan for defending immigrant families.
Others thanked the bishop for his presence and support of their cause.
“Thanks for being our voice,” said Rodríguez. “Thanks for seeing our shadow,” added Salinas.
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