Archdiocese of Chicago to Host the Keep Hope Alive Fundraiser Benefitting its Immigration Justice Ministry on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 7 p.m.
Chicago, IL (April 2, 2018) – The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Human Dignity & Solidarity-Immigration Ministry will host the Keep Hope Alive Benefit Concert on Monday, April 9, 2018 at 7 p.m. at Holy Family Church, 1080 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago. Keep Hope Alive is the Archdiocese’s annual fundraiser to support education, advocacy and empowerment efforts for the local immigrant community. Hernán Fratto, reporter for Telemundo Chicago, will emcee the event.
“The proceeds of this event fund the important work of our immigration ministry, which has been pivotal in helping refugees and migrants feel integrated into the Chicago community,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. “As these newcomers face growing concerns for their safely and security, we must redouble our efforts to serve them.”
Cardinal Cupich will present awards to community leaders for their dedication to immigrants and immigration reform. Award recipients include:
- Sr. Patricia Crowley, OSB, Benedictine Sisters of Chicago – St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Award
- Mark G. Kuczewski, Ph.D., Loyola University of Chicago Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics – Strangers No Longer Award
- Mary Lou Matheke, St. Michael Parish (Orland Park) – Journey to Emmaus Award
- Pastoral Migratoria, St. Rita of Cascia Parish (Chicago) – St. Toribio Romo Award
- Temple Jeremiah (Northfield) – Special Honor Award
The City Lights Orchestra, led by Conductor Rich Daniels, will perform with six guest vocalists at the concert. Jorge Ramirez, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor; Susan Fortino-Brown, principal of the Law Offices of Susan Fortino-Brown; and Jeffrey Grant Brown, principal attorney at Jeffrey Grant Brown, P.C., are co-chairs of the event.
The Immigration Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago serves as a national model for supporting undocumented and documented immigrants and promotes the Gospel imperative for communion between all persons, including immigrant and non-immigrant communities.
Since May 2005, the Archdiocese of Chicago, its bishops, priests and religious congregations have been a voice for immigrants through the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform. The Campaign was established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to educate Catholics and the public about the need for comprehensive immigration reform and to influence legislation for a permanent and fair solution to immigration issues in this country.
For tickets and more information about the event and other immigration efforts of the Archdiocese of Chicago, please visit catholicsandimmigrants.org.
