During a recent procession in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bishop
Stephen Blaire of Stockton said that “the journey of life is difficult
at this time for Hispanics in the United States.”“Many have friends and family members who are without papers; many are without papers themselves; children in school are being bullied; and young immigrants who signed up for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are anxious that they might lose their opportunity to work and their protection from deportation; racism has raised its ugly head in many communities; and so many of our neighborhoods and homes are plagued with violence,” he said.
Bishop Blaire added:
To all of you this day I remind you that OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE COMES TO MEET YOU TO LEAD YOU TO JESUS. She says to each of you what she said to St. Juan Diego: “Do not be disturbed in your heart; do not be afraid. Am I not with you, I who am your mother?” We need to hear these words of comfort and strength when there is so much hostility in the public conversation about immigration and immigrants.
I wish to say loudly and clearly to all of you that as your bishop I am with you. You are the Church. I will walk with you no matter how hard it gets.Bishop Blaire also decried racism, stating, “I sincerely believe that unless God is accepted as sovereign Lord over the earth and over our lives, communities will continue to deteriorate, the earth will be devastated, and family coherence will be diminished.”