In an attempt to increase visibility for an immigrant community
increasingly under threat, Salvadoran prelates met with congressmen on the Hill
as well as members of the Salvadoran community at three parishes in the
Washington metropolitan area, including the Cathedral of St. Thomas More.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge concelebrated an evening Mass with his
brother bishops, including one who was a close friend of the martyred and
soon-to-be canonized Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero of El Salvador, at the
Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington April 12.
Earlier in the week, the Salvadoran prelates — Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez,
Archbishop José L. Escobar Alas of San Salvador, Bishop Elías Bolaños of the
Diocese of Zacatecoluca and Bishop William Iraheta of the Diocese of Santiago
de María — visited St. Camillus Church
in Silver Spring and the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington. The
Arlington stop delivered the highest turnout — with 800 attending the Mass — likely due to the large
Salvadoran community throughout the diocese. A reception followed in the church
hall.
In addition to offering spiritual support to the 125,000
Salvadorans throughout the Diocese of Arlington, the visiting bishops also
opened themselves up to questions during a panel discussion that preceded the Mass.
The Q&A was held in Spanish with quick translations by Archbishop
Thomas G. Wenski of Miami who joined the Salvadoran bishops and Bishop Burbidge.
Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde also concelebrated the Mass.
During the panel discussion, more than a dozen people lined up to
ask questions, focusing primarily on the Salvadoran bishops high-level
political meetings with members of Congress to secure legal status for
Salvadorans and other members of the immigrant community as well as greater aid
for El Salvador, which has been racked by gang violence.
Father José Hoyos, director of the diocesan Spanish Apostolate,
was the master of ceremonies for the event. He was especially grateful for
Bishop Burbidge’s presence throughout the evening.
“Bishop Burbidge is letting the Hispanic community know that
Christ is with us in this struggle for immigration reform,” Father Hoyos said.
At the start, Father Hoyos introduced the bishops, who were
seated together beside an image of Archbishop Romero, to the nearly 300 people gathered in the church hall. Many Salvadoran families with young
children filled the 155 chairs that were set before the panel with more people standing
on the sides.
The Salvadoran bishops, along with Archbishop Wenski and Bishop
Burbidge, attempted to assuage concerns, especially the anxiety caused by the
uncertain future of the Temporary Protected Status program, or TPS, for
Salvadorans who fled their home country.
The bishops emphasized the importance of increasing the "visibility" of the Salvadoran community to immigration policymakers by highlighting the strong work ethic and faithfulness of its members. For example, one attendee, José Edgardo Granados came to the United States from El Salvador as an early beneficiary of Temporary Protected Status 26 years ago and for the past 11
years he has taught Spanish at St. Louis Catholic School in Alexandria. He received U.S. citizenship on May 9, 2007 and he
is hopeful that others in the Salvadoran community with TPS will find their path to citizenship as well.
“I have all of my hope that God is in charge and he is going to
decide what is best,” Granados said.
Granados’ son, Gerardo José Granados, was the artist who created
the image of Archbishop Romero that was placed beside the panel of bishops.
According to Granados, there is a possibility that it will be the official
portrait of the martyr used by the Catholic Church for the canonization
ceremony.
Martina Benavides, who is also Salvadoran and attended the event
at the cathedral, expressed her hope that Salvadoran families in danger of
being separated will be granted permanent status in the United States.
“Thank God the church is united in prayer to give residency to
all immigrants,” Benavides said. “With God, nothing is impossible.”
Benavides also was grateful for the presence of Bishop Burbidge,
asking him to pose with her and her friend, Ana Vasquez, for a selfie. She
found out about the event from Father Hoyos, who constantly reiterates the
faithfulness of the Salvadoran families to the Catholic Church as well as the
reality of their pain.
“Immigrants are suffering now because of the new immigration
policy even though many of them have been here in this diocese for years and
have children who were born in United States,” said Father Hoyos. “They have
roots here.”
In a statement released April 12, Bishop Burbidge reaffirmed his
solidarity with the Salvadoran community.
“The presence of so many of the faithful from El Salvador
among us — an estimated 125,000 — provides a valued contribution to the Diocese
of Arlington,” Bishop Burbidge said. “I am most appreciative of their many
contributions and their witness of faith.”