Archdiocese launches ‘Know Your Rights’ initiative in partnership with Catholic Charities, USF
By Saul Perez
Twenty-five immigrants attended the first in a series of Know Your Rights workshops at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in East Palo Alto on Sunday, as the Archdiocese launches a new initiative to support our immigrant community.
The Spanish-language presentation and question and answer follow up organized by the Office of Human Life & Dignity is a key part of our immigration ministry, in partnership with Archdiocesan Catholic Charities and the University of San Francisco’s Law School Immigration & Deportation Defense Clinic.
Upcoming Know Your Rights workshops will be in English, Spanish and we are open to offering them in other languages as the need presents itself.
The Aug. 18 presentation was by Raquel Seifert of Catholic Charities Center for Immigration, Legal and Support Services.
The next workshop at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Menlo Park on Sept. 22 will be presented by the University of San Francisco Law School’s clinic, led by Professor Bill Hing.
On Oct. 12 we will offer a third workshop at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, as part of a day celebrating the Blessed Mother. This year the San Francisco Area Rosary Rally theme will be “Our Lady Who Unites All Peoples” with the Mass of the Americas offered for All Immigrants by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. The Oct. 12 Know Your Rights Workshop will be presented by Catholic Charities in the Event Center after the Mass and procession. The day will also include an ethnic food festival in the Event Center.
The Aug. 18 workshop after Sunday Mass at St. Francis of Assisi provided an essential opportunity for the community to receive crucial information about their rights and available resources, including referrals to schedule consultations with Archdiocesan Catholic Charities Center for Immigration Legal and Support Services. The presentations covered important topics such as the new Biden Administration executive order, “Keeping American Families Together,” and the processes of citizenship. Daughter of Charity Sister Trinitas Hernandez, founder of the Rosalie Rendu Center, who works closely with the parish, offered information on becoming citizens.
St. Francis pastor Father Larry Goode noted many St. Francis’ parishioners immigrated here decades ago but they remain in the uncertain world of being undocumented, even as their children and even grandchildren are citizens. There is a great thirst for information, he noted.
At the same time, the ministries of the Archdiocese of San Francisco are now seeing a large number of new undocumented immigrants, including young women who are pregnant and families with small children who need support. There are also people with green cards who want to take the next step to becoming citizens.
We are deeply grateful for the support that made this workshop possible, and for the partnerships with both Catholic Charities and the USF Law School.
For more information, or to schedule a workshop contact Saul Perez, [email protected].
Information on the Catholic Church’s teaching on immigration can be found here.
Also, an upcoming Sept. 18, 7 p.m. webinar “Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration” featuring Dr. Todd Scribner from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will discuss Church teachings on immigration and contemporary issues at the border. Register here.
—Saul Perez is the Social Action & Digital Media Coordinator for the Office of Human Life & Dignity, Archdiocese of San Francisco.