On December 2, Father Gary Graf concluded a remarkable 900-mile pilgrimage that began on October 6 in Dolton, Illinois, the boyhood home of Pope Leo, and ended at the Statue of Liberty. 

The Archdiocese of Chicago priest and member of Priests for Justice for Immigrants undertook the journey as a pilgrimage of prayer, solidarity, and action to highlight what immigrant children and their families are currently facing in the United States. 

Father Graf joined interfaith leaders at an event near Battery Park. The day’s soggy weather cancelled a planned celebration at the tip of Manhattan, moving the gathering indoors. 

Among the speakers was Father Eric Cruz of the Archdiocese of New York, Bronx coordinator of Catholic Charities Community Services. In his remarks, Father Cruz issued a powerful call to action, declaring: “What is occurring now is not about safety. It’s not about justice. It’s about discrimination, dehumanization, and division, actions that target millions based solely on their nation of origin, their skin color, the absence of documents, regardless of their contributions, regardless of their children, regardless of their status, period.” 

Father Cruz emphasized the role of faith communities in demanding change: “We call on one another, we who worship in churches, synagogues, mosques, whatever our affiliation may be, to actively engage our local and state legislators and officials, to insist on justice, to insist on human rights, civil rights, and to insist on comprehensive immigration reform at every level.” 

‘Inheriting that spiritual gene’ 

Following the event, Father Cruz spoke with The Good Newsroom about his personal connection to immigrant advocacy and what he believes Catholics in the pews need to do to effect change. He recalled growing up in the South Bronx at St. Augustine parish, where his mother, a Puerto Rican immigrant, faced resistance but found welcome from an Irish parishioner named Mary, who helped integrate the family into the parish community. Reflecting on the spiritual inheritance that drives his ministry, he shared: “Mom would pray for her after Mary passed, every day, a rosary just by herself for Mary. And that, it’s almost inheriting that spiritual gene. It just meant a lot.” 

Father Cruz seeks to help new immigrants integrate into their respective parishes in the same way. 

He also spoke about the growth of immigrant ministry in the archdiocese and trusting in God’s guidance: “The immigration ministry, Pastoral Migratoria, that we started in 2018, has five currently active parishes and another 12 wanting to join us now. So the road was laid out by Providence. You just have to say yes and depend on Him to continue onward, that’s for sure.” 

The interfaith gathering served as both a commemoration of Father Graf’s pilgrimage and a rallying cry for communities of faith to stand in solidarity with immigrant families facing fear and uncertainty.