The community of Our Lady of Fatima & St Nicholas Church in Passaic experienced a deeply moving evening during the Night of Solidarity and Hope for Our Immigrant Brothers and Sisters on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The celebration brought together parishioners, community leaders, and several priests from the Diocese of Paterson for a moment of prayer, gratitude, and commitment to justice.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney, and the homily was given by Father Gary Graf, who is currently undertaking an extraordinary pilgrimage on foot from Chicago to New York—thousands of steps under sun and rain—in support of immigrant rights and human dignity.
At the beginning of the celebration, Bishop Sweeney reminded the faithful that we are “two days before Thanksgiving, asking for blessings, peace, and justice for our country, the United States.”
He warmly welcomed Father Graf, highlighting that “he has been walking for seven weeks from Chicago to Passaic and will continue on to the Statue of Liberty in solidarity with the immigrant community, raising his voice with love and peace but also asking for justice, for respect for every human being; we are all children of God.”
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The bishop also expressed gratitude to Father Rolands Uribe, the pastor of the church, and the priests present, including Father Duberney Villamizar, vicar for Hispanic Affairs, and Father Yojaneider García, director of the Office of Catechesis and Faith Formation, who extended the invitation to Father Graf to share this special evening.
Father Graf began by highlighting “the good relationship Bishop Kevin has with his priests,” which he described as a beautiful example for the entire diocese.
He then spoke about the richness of cultural heritage: “Many years ago, our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents built the incredible churches and cathedrals.”
He also focused on the present, emphasizing that young people are an essential part of the future of our communities.
With great humility, he shared: “I walk very little compared to all that you have walked, from so many countries (including the priests), leaving land and family.”
He encouraged everyone to keep their identity alive: “Keep alive our culture, heritage.”
Father Graf expressed deep affection for priests, saying, “No one is loved more than a priest. The world esteems us, loves us, receives us.”
And he offered a heartfelt message to his brother priests: “Fall in love with your people, because the priest who does not fall in love with his people… what poverty, what sadness!”
Referring to his long journey, he added, “Walking 50 days is nothing.”
Father Graf shared how this pilgrimage has been both a human and spiritual experience. “Along the way, I have met so many people of goodwill who love immigrants very much, because they know they were immigrants, or their parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents were. Sometimes one forgets, and so it was very important for me to stand up and express that truth and tell that truth.”
He added that this truth is not often heard in Washington: “We are not hearing from Washington that we are an immigrant people; it is a blessing.”
He reflected on the roads he has traveled—“the highways of Indianapolis, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey”—and asked: “Who built those roads, those buildings, if not immigrants?”
With conviction, he said: “We are a nation of immigrants, we are so proud of our heritage, and that’s what I came to celebrate with all of you… and remind ourselves that the greatest sin is the sin of forgetfulness, when we forget where we came from — and we lost.”
With affection, he encouraged everyone to honor the sacrifices of their families: “It is our responsibility to work hard like our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, and [honor] the sacrifices they made every step of the way from their countries.”
To the teenagers present, he offered a simple but profound task: “When you get home tonight, thank your parents and grandparents and ask them what was their story, their sacrifices.”
At the end of the celebration, Father Villamizar offered thanks to the communities of Passaic, Morris, and Sussex County and shared an exciting announcement: as a result of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan for the Hispanic Community, one of the priorities identified was the need for a Pastoral Migratoria program.
He joyfully announced that, after months of dialogue with the Chicago Pastoral Migratoria, the Diocese of Paterson is ready to begin this important work, and that Miguel Rodríguez will serve as the liaison with the Archdiocese of Chicago.
“Little by little, we will begin planting this pastoral ministry in the parishes of our diocese,” he said.
Finally, Father Graf spoke with great emotion about Our Lady of Guadalupe, reminding everyone that she accompanies us in our identity and in our faith. He emphasized that she “invites us, allows us to see ourselves as sons and daughters of that great Mother of ours here on our continent.”
The evening ended with this comforting truth: under the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we walk together as one people—loved, guided, and sustained by God.
