12:15 p.m. Sunday at L.A. Cathedral
Archbishop Gomez joins farm workers, UFW president, Chavez family at Cesar Chavez Mass
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez celebrates the annual Cesar Chavez Memorial Mass on Sunday at Downtown L.A.’s Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels before an audience that includes more than 100 farm workers from Fresno, Kern and Ventura counties, United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez and Paul F. Chavez, president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation. The Mass marks the 22nd anniversary of Chavez’s passing on April 23.
While the UFW anthem “De Colores” is performed, a pre-liturgy procession of 20 farm workers walking in pairs will carry images of the four men and one woman who were killed during UFW strikes plus posters bearing the names and pictures of 14 California farm workers who recently died from extreme heat. They will approach the alter adorned by a large image of Cesar Chavez.
Farm workers will bring up the communion gifts. Communion will be followed by remarks from Arturo Rodriguez and Paul Chavez. After Mass, the farm workers will meet and be photographed with Archbishop Gomez outside the Cathedral.
Among the workers attending the Mass will be leaders of the 5,000 grape and tree fruit workers at Gerawan Farming who are battling to have the company implement their union contract that was hammered out by a neutral mediator and approved by the state in 2013.
WHO: More than 100 farm workers from Fresno, Kern and Ventura counties joining Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, UFW President Arturo Rodriguez and Paul Chavez, Cesar’s son.
WHAT: Cesar Chavez Memorial Mass just before the 22nd anniversary of his death April 23.
WHEN: 12:15 p.m. pre-liturgy procession; 12:30 p.m. Mass, Sunday, April 19, 2015.
WHERE: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles 90012.
– end –