Saint Thomas More Hosts ICOM Vigil For Immigrant Justice

BY RHONDA MISKA

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01/21/2026

As the sun rose on Tuesday, January 13 over the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, Father Peter Etzel, SJ proclaimed these words from the prologue of John’s gospel: “A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

Father Peter was joined by several hundred others, including dozens from Saint Thomas More Catholic Community, at the ICOM (Minnesota Interfaith Committee on Migration) vigil. The vigil for immigrant justice has been held on the second Tuesday of each month for the past twelve years. The Whipple Federal Building is the regional ICE headquarters for a five-state area, the site of immigrant detention facilities, and an immigration court.

Joseph “Waziya” Bester, a member of Gitchitwaa Kateri Catholic Church and a spiritual guide with the Mendota Mdewankanton Dakota Tribal Community, chanted and drummed to guide those gathered in the four directions prayer. The inclusion of native prayer helped those gathered recall that we live on Dakhota land. All of us who are not indigenous are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Bester also reminded those gathered that Episcopal Bishop Henry Whipple, for whom the building is named, was a humanitarian that advocated for the dignity of Native Americans.

Jessica Pereira spoke about her experience as a Catholic, a citizen, a mother, a family physician, and the spouse of a non-white man, sharing passionately how aggressive and unconstitutional enforcement harms the community. She led those gathered in praying the “Hail, Holy Queen” prayer, offering intercessions for Renee Good, those grieving her violent death, and all families impacted by detention and deportation.

Izzy Poferl spoke about her inspiring encounter with Dolores Huerta, immigrant and co-founder/leader of the United Farm Workers of America (UFW), and Jessie Pereira spoke of the many unsung Latina “Rosies.” Rosie the Riveter, the iconic image of a woman flexing her bicep and wearing a red bandana, a symbol of all the women who joined the workforce during World War II. Jessica pointed out that Rosie the Riveter may have been Rosalia or Rosario, since many of those who worked in factories during the war years were Mexican or Mexican-American. In the background of the presentations and prayers, street puppets of Rosie the Riveter and Dolores Huerta towered above the crowd. At the back of the crowd, a giant American Eagle Puppet soared over the assembly. The street puppets were made by STM parishioner Greg Poferl.

Before Father Peter offered a final blessing, Rose Mary Beth Redmond and other St. Thomas More musicians led the group in the song “How Can I Keep From Singing?” For me, the refrain, “Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing?” felt like an anthem of joyful resistance. We sang that, in the face of intimidation and violence, Christ is our King and we choose love over fear. I can only hope that our voices carried to reach those detained in the building.

Near the close of the vigil, ICOM organizer Greg King directed us to look at the Whipple building, now hidden behind tall fences and barricades. It is a site of sadness, fear, and domination for so many immigrants who pass through its doors, he said, and invited us to imagine the possibility that the building could be a place of joy, relief, connection, and celebration where immigrants. Collectively, it is possible to choose immigration reform that would create pathways for immigrants to regularize their status. This would allow them to be reunited with families and continue contributing to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro community with a greater sense of security and belonging. As the dawn sky brightened on Tuesday morning after the vigil and we walked from the vigil site to the parking lot, I carried with me this invitation.

In Ignatian spirituality, we engage in imaginative prayer, placing ourselves in a Scripture scene and trusting that God can speak through our imagination. As we are in the Twin Cities are surrounded by thousands of masked, armed, and undertrained federal agents carrying out unconstitutional and inhumane enforcement actions against citizens and noncitizens alike, perhaps we can engage the power of imagination as part of our faithful nonviolent resistance. We can imagine a world where the human dignity of all is see and respected, where meaningful pathways for immigration are created, where enforcement is only carried out humanely and lawfully, where families live in safety instead of fear, where people of every background reverence one another as members of one human family.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.




We are always looking for ways to give you, our parishioners, the opportunity to share your experiences! If you would like to submit your story, please email Marie at mvalois@morecommunity.org. 


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