Dozens of workers arrested in a federal immigration raid at the Janco Composites Plant in Mishawaka returned to their spiritual home Sunday, seeking guidance after bonding out of jail. Bishop John D'Arcy listened to their stories and offered the Church's support.

Alma Leticia Sandoval Lozano remembers the cold handcuffs, the bus ride to Chicago, and the fear.

"All the people are afraid," she said. "But I know there's a just God. I was marked with the number 12," she continued to tell Bishop D'Arcy. "That's the number I asked for, because our Lady of Guadalupe is the 12th day of the 12th month. I have a lot of faith in my Lord. I'm sure he'll help me."

But it's become clear to church leaders, that faith has been shaken for many in the Hispanic community.

"The people I saw this morning were very frightened and scared and hurt," said Bishop D'Arcy. "I respect the government for trying to do what is right, but there is a great fear here now. No question about it, because this has affected all of them."

Diocese leaders worked to re-create trust during a special mass Sunday, reading letters of solidarity from other parishes, singing hymns of strength, and telling a standing room only congregation of more than 1,000 that those who call illegal immigrants lawbreakers aren't the enemy.

"The hurt for these families and the hurt that other people feel are two sides of the same coin," said Father Christopher Cox of St. Adalbert Church, where many local Hispanics attend mass. "Our immigration system is broken."

Still, that brings little comfort to Alma. While she says she'll fight to stay in this country, she believes she'll probably be deported along with others arrested in the Janco raid.

Even so, she has no regrets.

Her three daughters are all American citizens, grown, and starting their own families.

"We came here for a purpose," she said. "To find a better life."

For a while, many had it. Church leaders hope one day they will again, by taking the right path to citizenship.

"You get a chance here. We hope they get a chance here later."

Father Cox says 31 of the 36 arrested workers have bonded out of jail and returned to South Bend. Two more have already been deported.
The rest await final deportation hearings expected within the next three months.