"The circle of compassion should be extended to all victims of injustice," Guerrero said at a Capitol news conference before the forum. "Yes, the immigration laws are broken, but we'll fix them with comprehensive immigration reform, not scare tactics, not smokescreens."
Father Dan Panchot went with a pilgrimage from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. The bus was full and drove all night; they arrived about 7:00 a.m. There were more than 10,000 people from Monterrey, with 10 or 12 groups of matachines who danced. There were about 30 priests from Monterrey. The archbishop of Monterrey preached. Dan’s bus left on a Sunday evening and arrived at La Luz Parish at 5:40 a.m. Many people had to go to work.
Father Jaime Phalan left twice from the novitiate to go to Tacna, Peru. The first time he went in the afternoon. The plane didn’t take off because Tacna had fog and didn’t have radar. He left again the next morning and took off. We hope that they got all the cows and pigs off the runway before the plane tried to land in Tacna.
Jaime has developed quite an airport ministry. He frequently goes to the airport to pick up and drop off people. He always gets there early and takes a book with him. People seem to approach him and ask questions or just want to talk. Jaime doesn’t get his books read this way, but he influences a lot of people.
Congress is having hearings about immigration reform in different parts of the United States. However, these are not public hearings. People speak only by invitation, and they are set up with themes. Austin Interfaith had their own forum and a press conference. Fr. Joe Tomei and José Guerrero, both from St. Ignatius Martyr, spoke at the press conference. The Austin American Statesman reported:
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These are the four novices at the novitiate in
Lima, Peru: starting from the left, Elmer (Peru), Margarito
(Mexico), Rodrigo (Chile), Paim (Brazil).
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It has been said that Father Moreau had intended that there always be at least one person from the Congregation be before the Eucharist at all times. There is an urban legend that what he really meant was that there always be at least one person from the Congregation in an airplane in the air at all times. Father John Korcsmar and Father Jaime Phalan have done their best: they met at the airport in Lima as Jaime was coming into Lima and as John was leaving for Austin.
Minerva Camarena Skeith and Sr. Lili Martinez have made arrangements with the federal government to make sure John Korcsmar gets his exercise. Upon returning the U.S. John had a loooooooooooooooong walk from his airplane to the immigration section. After walking and walking through the Houston Intercontinental Airport for a loong time, John was greeted with the sign "Welcome to Houston." John wondered, "What city was it where I got off the airplane if I am only getting to Houston now?????"
