Amid national unrest, hundreds pray for peace at L.A. Cathedral
Amid national unrest, violence over immigration enforcement, hundreds pray for peace at L.A. Cathedral
With tensions still high in the region’s immigrant community over mass deportation actions, crowds flocked downtown to spend an hour in prayer at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Wednesday, Feb. 4, a day designated as a Day of Prayer for Peace in the largest Roman Catholic diocese in the nation.
Archbishop Jose Gomez celebrated Mass on Wednesday, following the call six days before from Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for a Holy Hour of Peace to pray “for reconciliation where there is division, for justice where there are violations of fundamental rights, and for consolation for all who feel overwhelmed by fear or loss.”
“Today, we especially pray for our government leaders, for the law enforcement officers, and for those protesting and defending the immigrant families caught up in this struggle,” Gomez said. “Here in Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and in so many other cities, we ask the Holy Spirit to take away the spirit of confrontation … and awaken again the conscience of America.”