Published: July 25, 2008 08:00 pm      

Immigration is focus of diocese discussions

Presentations led by migrant rights advocate

GAYLORD -- The Rev. Wayne Dziekan, secretariat for Justice and Peace for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord, will offer discussions on "The Catholic Perspective on Immigration" at various venues throughout the diocese.

Dziekan's presentations will begin Aug. 6 at Holy Family Parish in East Tawas following a 6 p.m. Mass. A second discussion will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 16 at St. Joseph Parish Hall in Manistee.

Other programs will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 19 at St. Francis in Petoskey; 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 20 at St. Francis in Traverse City and 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Gaylord.

Dziekan and Gladys Munoz have been co-directing fact finding trips to the U.S./Mexican border for the last nine years. The trips included intense exposure to border issues, including causes of poverty, issues that pull people to the United States and border protection.

Dzieken has traveled and lived among Latin America's poor. In his current position he serves as a migrant rights and immigrant rights advocate in the area.