Philly Congregations Join National Rallies Praying For a “Pathway To Citizenship” For Immigrants

PHILADELPHIA - June 20, 2013 - PRLog -- Philadelphia, PA: Faith leaders, dressed in full regalia, along with members of the interfaith community organizing group POWER (Philadelphians Organized To Witness, Empower, & Rebuild), will hold three prayer rallies next week outside Senator Pat Toomey’s Philadelphia office located at 8 Penn Center 1628 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, in support of immigration reform. The first prayer rally takes place Monday June 24th and will start at Love Park between 8-8:30am. The group will, then, walk across the street to Senator Toomey’s office, and begin praying the he’ll remember immigrant families as he deliberates Senate Bill744, the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.”  In addition to the prayer vigil, members of POWER congregations will give personal testimonies about how they are literally living in fear. They will share stories of families split up because of deportation, how they are afraid of ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement), constantly feeling like their living in the shadows, and concerned daily about children brought here as infants but who have no legal status.

The US Senate will soon begin hearings on Senate Bill 744, the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act.”  A vote could come before the June 30th recess, and would create a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants and ease their anxieties. Members of POWER want Senator Toomey to vote in favor of this bill, in support of the 11-million immigrants living in this country, and the tens of thousands living right here in Philadelphia.  POWER clergy and members will repeat these prayer rallies on Tuesday June 25, and Wednesday June 26th –all starting out at Love Park between 8-8:30am.

POWER’s prayer rallies coincide with thousands of other prayer vigils taking place across the country lead by clergy leaders in POWER’s parent organization the PICO Network (http://www.piconetwork.org). PICO launched the national action it calls “Campaign For Citizenship” in January 2013 and has been taking action demanding immigration reform in 15 states and 40 Congressional Districts to build public support for a direct and affordable path to citizenship. PICO organizations have trained 2,600 grassroots leaders, held events with more than 20,000 people of faith and held more than 250 meetings with Members of Congress

POWER’s three prayer vigils outside Senator Toomey’s Philadelphia office are the latest in this nationwide effort.  For more information about POWER’s prayer vigils for immigration reform, contact Leslie Patterson-Tyler of Tyler-Made Productions by calling (609) 247-2632 or email Leslie@TylerMadePR.com.

About P.O.W.E.R.

We are Philadelphians Organized to Witness, Empower & Rebuild (POWER). We are congregations from all across the city, intentionally bringing people together across the lines of race, faith, income level and neighborhood -- lines which have historically kept Philadelphians divided.  We are people of faith committed to the work of bringing about justice here and now, in our city and our region.  By strengthening and mobilizing our networks of relationships, we seek to exercise power in the public arena so that the needs and priorities of all Philadelphians are reflected in the systems and policies that shape our city. For more information go to http://www.powerphiladelphia.org.

P.O.W.E.R. Congregations

1.   Arch Street United Methodist Church
2.   Calvary St. Augustine Episcopal
3.   Calvary United Methodist Church
4.   Chestnut Hill United Church
5.   Congregation Kol Tzedek
6.   Congregation Lev Ha-Ir
7.   Congregation Rodeph Shalom
8.   Cookman Beloved Baptist Church
9.   Epiphany of our Lord Catholic Church
10. Evangel Chapel
11. Grace Christian Fellowship
12. Grace Epiphany Episcopal Church
13. Harold O Davis Baptist Church
14. Holy Innocents Catholic Church
15. Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
16. Living Water United Church of Christ
17. Masjidullah, Inc.
18. Mishkan Shalom Synagogue
19. Mother Bethel AME Church
20. New Life Ministry
21. New Vision UMC
22. Old 1st Reformed UCC Church
23. Philadelphia Praise Center
24. Prince of Peace Lutheran church
25. Second Baptist Church of Germantown
26. St. Benedict's Roman Catholic Church
27. St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church
28. St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal
29. St. Paul's Baptist Church
30. St. Peter's Episcopal Church
31. St. Raymond's Catholic Church
32. St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church
33. St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
34. St. Therese Catholic Church
35. St. Therese Roman Catholic Church
36. St. Vincent's Roman Catholic Church
37. St. Williams Roman Catholic Church
38. Sweet Union Baptist Church
39. West Phila Mennonite Church
40. Woodcrest United Church of Christ