Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church in Riverside will invite psychiatrists onto its campus to get help for a congregation that is predominantly Latino and struggling with depression and anxiety over immigration crackdowns.

The Rev. Miguel R. Ceja, the church’s pastor, said he is working on a pilot program partnering with Loma Linda University’s School of Psychology to bring physicians and therapists to help individuals with depression and anxiety.

The 4,000-member church is 70 percent Latino, 15 percent Vietnamese, 10 percent Caucasian and 5 percent Tongan. Services are held in four languages.

“In our communities, people tend to think depression is a part of life, and this is particularly a challenging time if you are an immigrant or a person of color,” Ceja said.

But faith in God heals and rescues, he said.

“The message of Easter is the hope of new life,” Ceja said. “Even in the midst of hopelessness and suffering, we seem to be able to overcome with the power of our God.”

Full story at Orange County Register.