PBMR participates in Eucharistic procession

On Saturday, Oct. 11, members of the PBMR community joined over 200 Chicago Catholics in a mile-long Eucharistic procession from St. Eulalia Parish to the ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois. The peaceful procession included communal prayer and singing during the procession and ended with a request by chaplains to enter the facility and provide Holy Communion to detainees held at the facility. The request was denied.  

In response to increased action from federal enforcement agencies in Chicago, PBMR has joined community violence intervention (CVI) groups, ministry partners, and others around the city to rally support for our communities who now live in an ever-present fear.  

We are rooted in the belief that every person is created in the image of God and deserving of dignity, safety, and belonging. In this moment of heightened fear and uncertainty in our city, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment toward those values. Our dignity and sense of safety should never be determined by our legal status. 

We know from experience that true safety does not come from the sword but from the relationship we forge with one another. Our communities long for peace, but a peace that is built through trust, opportunity, and a sense of belonging. The increased militarization in our neighborhoods risks deepening fear and trauma among families already struggling to heal from generations of violence, poverty, and marginalization. 

PBMR stands in solidarity with all who seek justice and peace through nonviolence, dialogue, and accompaniment. We will continue to open our doors to those in need and walk alongside our neighbors, especially those most marginalized. 

We call upon everyone to remember the sacred dignity of every person, to act with compassion and restraint, and to prioritize approaches that restore rather than divide. Together, we can choose a path rooted not in fear, but in unity and the well-being of every person.