During a special mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Wednesday, Los Angeles’ archbishop called for peace after a weekend of protests and arrests over the ICE raids.
“We ask for God to support us and help everybody in our country to see the beauty of the human person, to asking God to help us in this challenging moment, and especially giving us the gift of peace,” Archbishop José H. Gomez said.
He said the mass was especially for immigrants and their families.
“We are praying for each other,” he said. “I think that we are supporting everybody that is suffering during this time. I think everybody is willing to address this issue, but there are better ways to do it, respecting the human person and finding the way.”
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The mass brought out people like Terry Brooks, who say they turn to their faith in turbulent times like these.
“I feel powerless over what's happening in the world, so I try and do what I can,” she said. “Like, I volunteer at Homeboy Industries right down the road. That's me getting into action, but there's other aspects of it that are so much bigger than I. So coming here and adding that prayer to other people who I'm assuming are like-minded, maybe we can bring about some kind of change that I can't humanly bring about.”
The church's Isaac Cuevas said the archdiocese is also offering many resources to the immigrant community during this time, including food delivery services.
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