#Bordermass – USCCB and Bishops Take Immigration Reform to Social Media

Did you hear about today’s “Border Mass” when you were at your parish this weekend? Just curious. I’m guessing that many didn’t, which is why I think it’s terrific that the USCCB team is working overtime to employ social media to share this experience with the faithful around the world. In short, here’s an overview of the mission, excerpted from the USCCB website:

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Migration, joined by bishops on the border, will travel to Nogales, Arizona, March 30-April 1, 2014, to tour the U.S.-Mexico border and celebrate Mass on behalf of the close to 6,000 migrants who have died in the U.S. desert since 1998. The Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on April 1, followed by a press conference at 10:30 a.m.

The following bishops are a part of this mission (Twitter links included where available):

• His Eminence Sean Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston
• Most Reverend Eusebio Elizondo, Auxiliary Bishop of Seattle and Chairman, USCCB Committee on Migration
• Most Reverend Gerald F. Kicanas, Bishop of Tucson
• Most Reverend John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City
• Most Reverend Mark Seitz, Bishop of El Paso
• Most Reverend Oscar Cantu, Bishop of Las Cruces, NM
• Most Reverend Ricardo Ramirez, Bishop Emeritus of Las Cruces, NM
• Most Reverend Luis Zarama, Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta

I believe that it is greatly significant that the USCCB is pulling out all the social media stops to share this mission with us. Along with the Mass (to be broadcast today beginning at 11:30 am ET here), they are encouraging the faithful to get involved in other ways, including:

• Tweeting using hashtag #Bordermass on Twitter. Per the USCCB website: “Take part in the Twitter conversation! We’ll be using the hashtag #bordermass live from the border. Our voice for humane immigration reform can be heard by many more people if we work together!”
• Sharing videos and photos on the USCCB Facebook page. These can easily be shared to your own Facebook friends or on parish Facebook pages.
• Sending an electronic postcard to your member of Congress. Or use this toll free number: 1-855-589-5698. Ask them to “Support a path to citizenship and oppose the SAFE Act.”

A question for you: Are you planning to watch today’s Mass? Will you use social media to discuss this mission with friends?