Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO) is teaming up with local faith leaders for a prayer vigil calling for just immigration reform Friday evening in the sanctuary at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 1100 S. Center St., Santa Ana.
A Catholic Celebration of Mass begins at 7 p.m., followed by the candlelight vigil at 7:45 p.m.
“As members of an inter-faith community OCCCO believes it is a moral imperative to protect community, stop raids and the separation of families,” states the organization's event announcement. “Based on all faith teachings, OCCCO leaders stand to treat all members of
society with dignity and respect.”
The coalition acknowledges the current immigration system is “broken” and change is needed. But they also see a need in publicizing stories of suffering that are out there. A moving gathering is promised.
OC Weekly Editor-in-Chief Matt Coker has been engaging, enraging and entertaining readers of newspapers, magazines and websites for decades. He spent the first 13 years of his career in journalism at daily newspapers before “graduating” to OC Weekly in 1995 as the alternative newsweekly’s first calendar editor.