Las Cruces, NM—On Thursday, 9/24, multi-faith leaders and clergy from NM Comunidades en Accion y de Fe (CAFé) will gather to witness Pope Francis’ message to the United States Congress during his papal visit to the U.S. CAFé will also send a delegation of faith leaders to Philadelphia to see the Pope.
It is the first time in America’s history that a Roman Catholic Pope will address Congress. The Pope will meet with leaders, including President Obama and the United Nations General Assembly, during his Apostolic visit on September 22-27th this week. Well known as the “People’s Pope”, he also plans to visit children who attend Our Lady Queen of Angels Elementary school, which is located in East Harlem, NY and primarily an immigrant community; and the Pope will also visit inmates at the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.
“Pope Francis is love in action and he’s calling people of faith, not just Catholics, to act according to his message of inclusion for all of God’s children, especially the most vulnerable who have been excluded from society,” explains Sara Melton, community organizer for CAFé, who is making the trip to see the Pope.
She adds, “We reject the idea that there is not enough for our children and families to thrive in New Mexico. Like Pope Francis, we reject the ‘economy of exclusion’ and call for an economy of inclusion that puts our love for our families back at the center of our common life. We must organize for public change for policies that create stronger and healthy communities.”
This past Sunday at San Pedro Catholic Church in Del Cerro, Catholic leaders Rosa Fretwell-DeSilva and Ruben Lugo, collected prayers from their fellow congregants to deliver to Pope Francis. Fr. Eleazar Perez blessed them and the prayers they will be taking to the Pope.
“I’m not only carrying people’s prayers,” said Ruben, “I’m carrying their cries of pain for their families asking the Pope for healing. I may be taking their pain to the Pope, but I’m bringing back hope.”
NM CAFé and faith leaders will have two Pope watch parties for multi-faith leaders eager to see the Pope’s message to the United States Congress and our elected officials. The watch parties will be held on Thursday, 9/24. See below for details.
The watch parties are open to the public. Please RSVP to Johana Bencomo, (575) 545-3412 or johana@organizenm.org.