Originally published at Southern Cross
SAN DIEGO — Father Efrain Bautista, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Bonita, recently got a firsthand look at “the hard work it takes to put cherries on our table.”
Father Bautista was one of 14 participants in a Pastor Mission Immersion Trip sponsored by Catholic Extension Society. It was held from July 9 to 11 in Yakima, Washington.
The Diocese of Yakima is home to an ever-increasing migrant population, both temporary and permanent, who are attracted to the agricultural region and are mostly Catholic. Temporary migrant workers arrive in June for cherry-picking season. The work is labor intensive, with some of the workers showing up at 4 a.m. to the fields.
Funded through the Lilly Endowment Inc., the Mission Immersion program aims to broaden Church leaders’ awareness of the Church’s missionary activities.
Father Bautista participated in the trip alongside fellow priests from the Archdioceses of Newark, Chicago and New Orleans.
They participated in the Literacy Wagon Ministry serving teachers, students and children, talked with migrant families and read to the children. They also met and participated in Mass at the migrant camps. The Literacy Wagon and Mass in the Fields are part of a broad effort to reach out to migrant workers
