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.
This is ridiculous. Someone who has broken a law (illegal entry to the U.S.), SHOULD feel guilt, anxiety, and fear of discovery. They have committed a sin and all the psychiatrists in Riverside County cannot grant them absolution.
Are we supposed to feel guilty that they feel guilty? Should we be upset because their law breaking family or friends are causing them mental anguish? No and No. Buck up folks, it’s simple – The United States of America has the duty and obligation to defend the borders, period.
Kristin, you comment is about the most insensitive I have ever read on this site. Think of the people who are now college graduates with good jobs that were brought here as young children by their parents escaping the cruelty of the Latin American nations. They are not Mexican or from other countries. The only country they know is the U.S. We are a very rich nation. The immigrants work the jobs our citizens don’t want to do, as proven over and over again in the farm fields. Immigrants grow and harvest our food, build our houses, pay taxes and Social Security that they will never receive later. Did they come here eligibility? Maybe, but so do most refugees. We, as Catholics, need support them, help them and welcome them.
Bob One, you fail to understand that there are procedures in place for those brought here illegally as children. They must be motivated to avail themselves of this nation’s generosity in allowing them to remedy that situation. Secondly, there are no “jobs our citizens don’t want to do”. This is a fallacy, often embraced by those employing illegals for astonishingly low wages to justify their actions.
Recognize too, that not all Catholics believe as you do on political issues. While you may find this disconcerting, expand your circle and see that you do not hold a monopoly on virtue.
Kristin, you live in a different world than reality. Ask any farmer in the Central Valley or the Monterey fields how successful they have been hiring non-migrants. A recent article in our local paper reported on the difficulty in hiring people to work the grape vineyards. Some are paying nearly forty thousand a year, with vacations and benefits, and they still can’t get locals to do the work. A recent news article on local tv showed a person brought here by his parents when he was a baby. For some reason he was deported, minor infraction. He doesn’t speak Spanish and has lived int he U.S. for nearly 40 years and has never returned to Mexico. Where does he go? He has to go to a church sponsored shelter because he has no home and…
Bob One, necessary for you to set aside your local media propaganda and recognize that you have lost the plot. The call of the Church is to save souls, and not allow that mission to be eclipsed by “social justice” diversions.
Psychiatrists called in to help law breakers and/or their law breaking friends is patently stupid and a waste of the priest’s time as well as the shrink’s. The option of going to confession or going home, preferably both, is what this priest should be offering, not mental health services.
Blessings on Father Ceja and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish! This is EXACTLY what Pope Francis means when he refers to the Church as a “field hospital”! Thanks be to God for Father Ceja’s leadership. For God’s sake critics, these parishioners are human beings- God’s children.
Amen!
What is needed is the whole truth: mercy AND justice.
No surprise here.
When Fr. Ceja was in the desert at Our Lady of Solitude parish he was very active in Dhard left Democratic Party circles. In 2008 he personally endorsed Manny Perez for State Assembly—and Perez is militantly pro-abortion.
Fr. Ceja is also on record for telling parishioners “not to vote for Trump”—and Bishop Barnes did not discipline him!
Fr. Ceja has been a strong supporter of the leftist Inland Congregation United for Change (embedded with PICO) group which receives funding from George Soros and supports illegal immigration and gay rights.
Several years ago, Fr. Ceja became the spokesperson for the local union leaders in the desert and he confronted the Agua Caliente Indians. The Tribal chief,…
Veronica T: Father Ceja is providing balance in the Church. The pastor at the parish I attend is told the congregation that we must vote for Donald Trump…voting for Hillary Clinton would be a mortal sin. Go figure!
Who are they kidding? There is a huge psychiatrist shortage!
“Services are held in four languages.” That’s depressing me.