Feb. 2, 2017
The Catholic University community will offer their prayers for world refugees and exiles at the 5:10 p.m. daily Mass on Friday, Feb. 3, in the University's Caldwell Chapel. Following President Donald Trump's Jan. 27 executive order on immigration and travel, University President John Garvey informed the University community that: "At this time we cannot know with certainty how recent executive orders will affect people seeking education, refuge, and citizenship in our country. Nor do we know yet how they might affect our University community over the long term. ...We can say with certainty that we will operate the University by welcoming all people 'in search of the security and the means of livelihood which they cannot find in their country of origin' (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2241)."In response to that statement and requests from students seeking communal prayer, the University planned this Mass to support students and their family members affected by the executive order. "Obviously, the most effective support our community can offer is to come to the Eucharist," says Rev. Jude DeAngelo, chaplain. "But the Eucharist is not just for our own community; it is offered for all refugees and exiles who are fleeing from danger and are seeking safer shores."MEDIA: To cover the Mass, members of the media MUST contact the Office of Marketing and Communications by 3 p.m. on Friday at communications@cua.edu or 202-319-5600.