A Letter from Bishop Vann:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope you will join me to celebrate the incredible diversity and the self-sacrificing love that
characterizes our immigrant communities here in the Diocese of Orange and throughout
southern California.

I am honored to join Archbishop Gomez and other Bishops in celebrating the regional Mass in
Recognition of All Immigrants this year on Sunday, July 17, for a gathering and procession at 3
p.m. and Mass at 4p.m., at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. I invite
each parish, center and religious community to participate by bringing a delegation
representing your diverse leadership and a parish banner for the procession. Let us witness to
all that the Diocese of Orange is ¡Presente! with our immigrant sisters and brothers. It is
important for us to come together in solidarity – with all who make our home together in
Orange County: Korean, Filipino, East Asian, Chinese, African, Middle-Eastern, European
descent, and the Latino community. This is especially true at a time when there is so much
distrust and animosity thus making this witness of Faith even more important and vital. We
will be joined this day as well by relics of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. Junípero Serra, and
St. Toribio Romo – saints who accompanied others, who were immigrants themselves and
stood strong in Faith amidst adversity and challenge!

Through our local ministry with immigrants and my role as Chair of the Board of the Catholic
Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC), I see daily the need to for protection and support
for those most vulnerable, for pathways of hope – including a pathway to citizenship, and for
advocacy for just and compassionate immigration reform. Fr. Nicholas Nguyen and I were
blessed and privileged to be present at the national meeting of CLINIC this year and met so
many people who journey with our immigrant brothers and sisters. Each and every one of us is
made in the image of God and so we uphold the dignity of every human person. Our
Citizenship Campaign, launched earlier this year, together with Catholic Charities of Orange
County, is another important way to accompany our immigrant sisters and brothers on their
journey. At parish forums, as we reflect on the scriptures telling of Jesus’ own migrant-refugee
journey with his family and share our own family immigration stories with one another, the
Holy Spirit unites us as a people. If you have not done so already, consider hosting a forum at
your parish (or together with a nearby parish). Together we journey, together in faith!

Please forward the name of the parish leader who will carry the banner and other parish representatives who will participate by Tuesday, July 8 to eramirez@rcbo.org or call our Office of Life, Justice and Peace at 714-282-3105.

Let us remember Pope Francis’ words at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, acknowledging the personal costs of the immigrant journey and recognizing the beautiful gifts they bring us: “By contributing your gifts, you will not only find your place here, you will help to renew society from within.” This is the history of our families and the Church in the United States over many, many years, which was acknowledged, as well by Pope Benedict XVI in his visit to our country in April, 2008.

May God, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas, give us the grace to see the gifts that we are given in one another and unite us together as one in Christ Jesus, in the common bond of Faith, mission and family!

Gratefully yours in the Lord,

Most Reverend Kevin W. Vann, J.C.D., D.D.
Bishop of Orange

Parish Leaders mark your calendars for the next planning meetings:

• Wednesday, July 6, 7:00 p.m. in Room 1A/B of the Pastoral Center at Christ Cathedral
• Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 p.m. in Room 1A/B of the Pastoral Center at Christ Cathedral.

In case your parish would like to host a bus, the following transportation services are in compliance with the Diocese.  Please contact them directly and set-up the number of buses you will need, pick-up and drop-off time, pick-up location, and cost. Keep in mind that every adult needs to have a Waiver and Release Form signed before they get on the bus (children must have a Permission and Release Form).  These forms are to be kept filed in the parish office