The massacre of migrants

Last Thursday marked exactly 14 years of weekly interfaith prayer vigils we have held at Tucson's downtown El Tiradito ("The Discarded One") shrine to remember the thousands of migrants who have died in the desert over the last two decades. Here is a copy of that evening's vigil (albeit without formatting.) 

IN MEMORIAM

  728th Weekly Vigil -- May 1, 2014

  (We began the vigil 14 years ago today and have never skipped a Thursday)

Remembering our migrant sisters and brothers who have died along the US-Mexico border in search of work. In the year that ended Sept 30, 2012, 179 bodies of migrants were found in the Tucson Sector. The next year,182 more. From last Oct 1 to March 31, 46 more. Since 1999, over 2,300 bodies have been brought to the Medical Examiner's "coolers" in Tucson, Since 1994, over 6,000 bodies have been found along the US side of the whole southern border.

OPENING SONG

Envía tu Espíritu (3) 

Sea renovada la faz de la tierra (2) 

OPENING PRAYER

O God, we pray for all the migrants who have died in the desert...  

Bless them with eternal life and comfort their families who mourn. Turn hearts from violence and xenophobia, so that reconciliation and peace may reign on the border. Amen.

READINGS

From Sojourners

March 26, 2014

by Troy Jackson 

   “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest.”

   As I reflect on the plight of the undocumented immigrant in the United States today, I wonder if the words of the Psalmist, echoed by Jesus on the cross, don’t hit a little too close to home.

   Despite the courage and passion and tireless work of Dreamers and undocumented workers and family members and faith allies, the U.S. House of Representatives has turned a deaf ear, and the president’s administration continues a pace of deportation rarely seen in the history of humanity.

   Every day of delay means more families torn apart, more undocumented workers suffering sexual abuse and wage theft, and more children crying themselves to sleep because mommy or daddy is gone. With legislation going nowhere fast, hope and anticipation have given over to anger and groaning...

  Still, for people of faith, we are reminded by Psalm 22 that even in the darkest hour, the hope of a new day is just around the corner. God will act. And we are committed to staying in the struggle in anticipation of that great day of rejoicing...

RESPONSE  (from the Book of Proverbs, 31:8)

Levanta la voz... 

por los que no tienen voz; ¡defiende a los indefensos! Levanta la voz, y hazles justicia; ¡Defiende a los pobres y a los humildes!

Speak out...  

for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

REFLECTIONS

LIGHTING OF THE CANDLE

We light this candle... 

so that all our migrant sisters and brothers who have died in the desert may not be forgotten. Amen.      

                  (A period of silence)

CLOSING PRAYER

God of peace...  

We beseech your blessing upon our torn and tortured borderlands. We live in a time of hate, mistrust, fear and violence. Bless us with your Holy Spirit, that we may follow your way and create a world where all may live and work together in peace. Amen.  

CLOSING SONG

Peace is flowing like a river, 

flowing out of you and me, 

flowing out into the desert, 

setting all the captives free.  

Hope is flowing like a river..