Archbishop Gomez’s Cesar Chavez mass 50 years to the day after historic UFW march
Veterans of ’66 Delano-to-Sacramento march, 50 Central Valley farm workers, UFW Pres. Arturo S. Rodriguez & Paul F. Chavez, Cesar’s son
This Sunday’s annual Cesar Chavez Memorial Mass officiated by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez at the downtown Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels also marks 50 years to the day since the end of the United Farm Workers’ 25-day, 340-mile penitential march from Delano to Sacramento. Among those joining the Archbishop at the mass will be veterans of that 1966 march, 50 Central Valley farm workers, UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez, and Paul F. Chavez, Chavez’s son and president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation.
Shortly after 12 noon the ‘66 marchers, or peregrinos, will walk in a procession down the cathedral’s main isle carrying large photos of the historic trek and the key to the city of Sacramento they were presented 50 years ago. They will also bear a blown up image of Cesar Chavez, placing it near the altar as the choir sings “De Colores,” the anthem of the UFW. At 12:30 p.m., the archbishop leads a procession into the cathedral to begin mass.
Arturo S. Rodriguez and Paul F. Chavez will deliver brief remarks about the ’66 march at the close of mass. The Central Valley contingent includes workers from Gerawan Farming Inc. in the third year of their campaign to convince the giant tree fruit grower to implement a union contract issued by a neutral state mediator.
Who: Archbishop Jose Gomez; farm worker veterans from the 1966 Delano-to-Sacramento march; the UFW’s Arturo S. Rodriguez; Paul F. Chavez, Cesar Chavez’s son; 50 Central Valley farm workers.
What: Annual Cesar Chavez Memorial Mass also honoring the 50th anniversary of the end of the grape strikers’ historic march from Delano to Sacramento.
When: 12 noon, Sunday, April 10, 2016.
Where: Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles 90012.