Los Angeles Catholic Church disseminates warm meals and medication to immigrants apprehensive about venturing outside
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has launched a new initiative, the Family Assistance Program, to support parishioners and immigrant families impacted by recent immigration enforcement activities. The program aims to provide essential daily needs such as hot meals, groceries, and prescription medicines to those in crisis [1][3][5].
Announcement and Scope
Archbishop José H. Gomez announced the program on July 23-24, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in South Los Angeles. The program covers parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, assisting families who are anxious and fearful due to immigration raids [1].
Funding and Goal
The Family Assistance Program began with an initial $50,000 donation from developer Rick Caruso, with plans for matching funds to expand aid. All funds are managed through the Archdiocese’s Cardinal McIntyre Fund for distribution. The goal is to help prevent vulnerable immigrant families from becoming homeless by providing essential daily needs and health-related support [3].
Access and Collaboration
Families in need can contact their local parish or use the Archdiocese website to find nearby participating parishes by zip code. The Archdiocese is also collaborating with city officials and calling for broader immigration reform [1][3].
Community Response
San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas issued a dispensation Tuesday evening, offering members of his diocese’s roughly one million parishioners in danger of being deported the option to stay home Sundays. Other contributions have come from the Catholic Assn. for Latino Leadership ($10,000), Vallarta Supermarkets ($10,000 in gift cards), the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company (undisclosed amount, including stuffed animals for children coping with raids), and businessman Rick Caruso, who donated $50,000 and offered to match another $50,000 in contributions [3].
Impact on the Community
ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has conducted widespread raids in Los Angeles since early June, resulting in approximately 2,800 undocumented immigrant arrests. The Greater Los Angeles Catholic community, which includes many immigrants and those with family members born outside of the United States, is particularly affected by these raids' impacts [3].
According to findings from the Pew Research Center, approximately 58% of people living in the United States who were born abroad consider themselves Christian. In Los Angeles, 28% of all Christians consider themselves Catholic, the highest of any denomination by 12 percentage points [3].
The Family Assistance Program is currently active, funded, and operational across Los Angeles Archdiocesan parishes, providing crucial support to immigrant families affected by enforcement policies through food, groceries, and medicine distribution [1][3][5].
- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is supporting parishioners and immigrant families impacted by recent immigration enforcement activities through the Family Assistance Program.
- Archbishop José H. Gomez announced the program at St. Patrick Catholic Church in South Los Angeles on July 23-24, 2025.
- The program covers parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, providing essential daily needs and health-related support to vulnerable families affected by immigration raids.
- Initially, the program received a $50,000 donation from developer Rick Caruso, with plans for matching funds to expand aid.
- All funds are managed through the Archdiocese’s Cardinal McIntyre Fund for distribution.
- Families in need can contact their local parish or use the Archdiocese website to find nearby participating parishes by zip code.
- The Archdiocese is collaborating with city officials and calling for broader immigration reform.
- Implementing the Family Assistance Program has gained support from various sources, including the Catholic Assn. for Latino Leadership, Vallarta Supermarkets, the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company, and Rick Caruso, who donated $50,000 and offered to match another $50,000 in contributions.
- As a result of ICE raids in Los Angeles since early June, approximately 2,800 undocumented immigrants have been arrested.
- The Greater Los Angeles Catholic community, which includes many immigrants and those with family members born outside of the United States, is particularly affected by these raids' impacts.
- Approximately 58% of people living in the United States who were born abroad consider themselves Christian.
- In Los Angeles, 28% of all Christians consider themselves Catholic, the highest of any denomination by 12 percentage points.
- While addressing critical needs, the Family Assistance Program also aims to help prevent immigrant families from becoming homeless.
- Beyond essential daily needs, the program also offers mental health support, nutrition guidance, cooking lessons, and resources for health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, and food-and-drink.
- To support mental health, the program offers resources for coping with migration, war-and-conflicts, and general-news-related stressors, as well as relationships, family-dynamics, and crime-and-justice issues.
- The Family Assistance Program's scope extends further, providing support for those affected by car-accidents, sports injuries, and other incidents covered under the umbrella of policy-and-legislation.
- The NFL, American Football, sports-betting, and weather-forecasting sectors have not been directly addressed in the Family Assistance Program's services, but the initiative demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive community support.
