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Father Dennis Gill, rector of the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, preaches during the Holy Hour for Migrants Nov. 16. (Photo by Jay Sorgi)<\/p>\n
By Jay Sorgi \u2022 Posted November 21, 2025 <\/p>\n
Many Philadelphia-area Catholics, inspired by the plight of immigrants to the United States and the fear they are experiencing, are taking to prayer to discern God\u2019s calling for them to support their sisters and brothers.<\/p>\n
Dozens of Catholics came together Sunday evening, Nov. 16 at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia to pray in a Holy Hour for Migrants.<\/p>\n
It happened on a day that Pope Leo XIV released a message<\/a> for the ninth World Day of the Poor\u00a0about \u201cthe duty to shoulder our responsibilities in history, without hesitation\u201d and preached a homily at the Vatican where he said \u201cthere can be no peace without justice<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI felt it was very important for not only my prayers, but for us all (to) align our prayers and have a communal way to do something for this day,\u201d said Samantha Fallacaro after the holy hour. \u201cIt\u2019s the least we can do for the poor and the migrants.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a lot of friends from across the aisles, but in both political extremes. Everybody I\u2019ve come into contact with is filled with so much uncertainty, so much fear and anxiety. That\u2019s part of why I wanted to come today, to have some sort of solace from that, to gain some sort of clarity.\u201d<\/p>\n Father Dennis Gill, the rector and pastor of the Cathedral Basilica, led the holy hour. He had also led a eucharistic procession during a prayerful vigil<\/a> at the office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Nov. 13 in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Holy Father called us to a culture of attentiveness, and part of that was to awaken our consciousness of those who are most in need, especially the poor. Among the poor today would be the migrant, especially here in the United States,\u201d said Father Gill.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re in an especially unique moment in our own history, and perhaps in our own country, where we cannot afford to take our mind off it. The news is filled, day in and day out, with situations all over the land where migrants live in great fear, are experiencing great struggle, and are immediately in the face of great difficulty. What is ours to do?\u201d<\/p>\n One in five Catholics in the United States is in danger of being deported through current enforcement actions of the federal government, according to a USCCB-sponsored study by World Relief<\/a>.<\/p>\n The congregation on Sunday night prayed before the Blessed Sacrament and heard part of the 25th chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew, where Christ explained that the judgment of people \u00a0will be based on how they cared in love for those most in need.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important to observe the laws of the country in terms of migration, and we do that. But we also attend to the greater law, the law that we heard in the Gospel proclaiming that whatsoever you do to the least, you do unto Christ. That pertains to everyone in every situation, but especially at this moment, the migrant,\u201d said Father Gill.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s necessary for us to do whatever we can, and one of the things that we can do is pray for all of us that we are aware of the need to treat one another as Christ would have us, and to do so with great respect, great regard, great care, and fairness.\u201d<\/p>\n The faithful at the cathedral prayed a special Litany of the Saints in song which included Philadelphia\u2019s own St. Katharine Drexel<\/a>, who has her resting place inside the basilica.<\/p>\n \u201cSaint Katharine was outstanding in her care for the marginalized, and for her it was the Native American Indian and the African American,\u201d Father Gill said. \u201cShe spent her life and her money. She founded a religious community of sisters to be attentive to these men and women and provide the Gospel for them and the hope of life now, a proper life now, (and) an eternal life. She\u2019s interceding (for) us.\u201d<\/p>\n