Bishop of Derry fights for immigration reform on US visit

Bishop Hegarty pictured with (l-r) Congressman Crowley, New York; Congressman Gutierrez, Illinois; Congressman Neal, MA; Congressman Walsh; Vermont; members of the Friends of Ireland Delegation.

Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty provided a much needed lift to the plight of the undocumented during a busy visit to the United States last week. Bishop Hegarty, a pioneer in the fight for immigrant rights in this country, held masses in Boston and Philadelphia before traveling to WashingtonDC for meetings with clergy and politicians to discuss reform.

To coincide with the celebration of All-Saints and All-Souls Days, Bishop Hegarty celebrated a Mass at St Brendan’s in Dorchester for the deceased in the Irish community. The purpose of the mass, which was attended by 500 people, was also to afford closure to undocumented Irishmen and women who had suffered loss back in Ireland but couldn’t return to Ireland in order to attend funerals.

Bishop Hegarty then met with Consul General to Boston Michael Lonergan as well as representatives from the IrishPastoral Center and their Board of Trustees where he thanked them for the terrific work that they had undertaken on behalf of the Irish community throughout the years.

After a similar stop-off in Philadelphia, Bishop Hegarty, armed with a strong message in support of comprehensive immigration reform, traveled to Washington DC where he met with Chaplains, members of Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and Congressmen Neal, Walsh, Gutierrez and Crowley of the Friends of Ireland group.

Bishop Hegarty stressed the importance of keeping the message alive and of remembering the 50,000 or so undocumented Irish people in the United States. Bishop Hegarty is the Chairman of the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants and has been a strong and constant voice for comprehensive immigration reform throughout the years.

For over 50 years, the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants (IECE) has sought to provide pastoral support to emigrants in cooperation with various apostolates, sister organizations and volunteers.