Immigrants seeking advice about their status waited in the school yard at St. Peter.

Catholics rally to help immigrants seeking help to stay in the U.S.

March 31, 2025 // Immigration

‘Serving the poor is so fundamental to the Gospel.’

—_{Father Gregory Houk, O.Carm, pastor, St. Teresa of Avila Church}

By Valerie Schmalz

More than 100 immigrants with uncertain legal status lined up in the school yard at St. Peter Catholic School on Sunday to speak with University of San Francisco law students and attorneys about their options to stay in the U.S.

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone visited the fair in San Francisco’s Mission District, and spoke with immigrants, law students and volunteers. He blessed those attending and all immigrants, praying: “Bless our people, especially those who live in fear, that they know your peace and always trust in you.”

This was the eighth immigration fair, or workshop sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s Office of Human Life & Dignity, most held since January of this year. Archdiocesan Catholic Charities has held workshops at each of the events, in Spanish and in English, and at most of the events the USF Law Clinic, run by Professor Bill Hing, has offered immigrants individual counseling on their legal options.

*USF Prof. Bill Hing chats with Archbishop Cordileone. Archdiocesan immigration ministry coordinator Saul Perez listens.* *Prof. Hing also founded the IMMIGRANT LEGAL RESOURCE CENTER, which offers resources online and in person.*

“We’re meeting each person individually and treating them as Christ would. We try to provide them with knowledge of their rights and what their current status is,” said Saul Perez, who is organizing the Archdiocese’s immigration outreach and ministry.

“People are grateful, and some are able to apply for citizenship or asylum. We can’t solve all the problems, but we can help the people in front of us,” said Perez, Social Action and Digital Media coordinator.

“People are frightened,” said Raquel Seifert, archdiocesan Catholic Charities immigration specialist, who led a workshop at the March 30 event on do’s and don’ts for undocumented immigrants facing the possibility of deportation, and has held workshops at each of the Archdiocesan events. Commercials on Spanish language TV are urging people to “self deport,” but many have fled not just poverty, but violence and persecution, and do not feel they have a country to which they can return, she said.

“I just wanted to give back because I don’t like what is going on,” said USF law student and immigrant Warren Vigneswaran, who was one of 33 law students and attorneys volunteering. His parents were refugees from the civil war in Sri Lanka who immigrated to the U.S. from the United Kingdom when he was 1 year old. It took 27 years for their family to achieve permanent status in the U.S., said Vigneswaran.

The gym held resource tables and a workshop. Separately, three classrooms were set aside each with eight or more tables where law students or attorneys offered confidential, personalized feedback to immigrants.

During his visit to the fair, Archbishop Cordileone spoke with immigrants, with the law students, those staffing resource tables in the school gym, and with the parishioners of St. Teresa of Avila parish who cooked spaghetti and meatballs and provided food for volunteers, and for some of the participants.

“Yes, we worship. Yes, we pray. But the bottom line of the Gospel is the poor,” said Father Carmelite Father Gregory Houk, pastor of the Potrero Hill, San Francisco parish. “Serving the poor is so fundamental to the Gospel.”

*St. Teresa of Avila parishioners fed those at the fair with spaghetti, French bread and salad.*

St. Peter pastor Father Moises Agudo opened the five-hour event with prayer. Archbishop Cordileone prayed the closing prayer and blessed those in attendance. The Archbishop has written a statement on immigration, noting the five principles of a just immigration policy endorsed by the U.S. bishops. It can be found here.

The Archdiocesan immigration ministry has held workshops and information sessions at St. Francis of Assisi in East Palo Alto, the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, St. Timothy in San Mateo, St. Anthony in Menlo Park, Mission Dolores in San Francisco, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Francisco homeless shelter, and St. Raphael in San Rafael. Two more are planned in the coming weeks. Parishes interested in hosting a workshop can write to [email protected].

Resources for immigrants and information on the Church teaching on immigration can be found at sfarch.org/immigration.