WASHINGTON—The Justice For Immigrants (JFI) campaign of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will hold a regional convening and training in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 19-20.  The convening, which will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Colorado Springs, will bring together immigration reform supporters from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma to provide them with coalition building skills, advocacy tools and other materials to strengthen and grow the support base for immigration reform. It will also seek to arm advocates with updated Catholic messages and educational pieces to continue to push for comprehensive immigration reform.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver will preside the opening Mass for the convening, and Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs will concelebrate.

“Comprehensive immigration reform remains a priority for the Catholic Church. The convening in Colorado Springs will provide the necessary training and educational tools for immigration reform and JFI supporters to continue to grow the grassroots base that seeks humane and compassionate changes to our nation's immigration system,” said Johnny Young, executive director of the Migration and Refugee Services of the USCCB.

“JFI is looking to draw attendees from Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain and Southwest states, because of the region's large population of Catholics,” said Antonio Cube, JFI national manager. “We know that the majority of Catholics have heard the bishops' call for immigration reform but have not felt compelled enough to act. By convening in Colorado Springs, the JFI campaign is looking to seize upon the opportunity to educate Catholics in Colorado and the surrounding states about the church’s position on immigration reform and urge them to act on it. We invite Catholics, other people of faith and supporters of comprehensive immigration reform to attend the convening,” he said.

For additional information about the Colorado regional convening, call 202-541-3165.  Information can also be found on the following Web sites:
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Invitation.aspx?e=40b22360-4bdc-4652-b430-b6efbe9dc705  
www.justiceforimmigrants.org
and http://www.usccb.org/mrs/.
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Keywords: Justice for Immigrants, Comprehensive Immigration Reform, Immigration, Southwest, Rocky Mountain States, Archbishop Chaput, Bishop Sheridan, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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