Providence Bishop Bruce Lewandowski leads Capitol Hill pilgrimage urging Congress to advance immigration reform proposals

Pilgrimage departs Rhode Island for meetings and prayer in Washington

Bishop Bruce Lewandowski of Providence traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 5, 2026, leading a bus pilgrimage intended to combine public prayer with direct advocacy for changes to U.S. immigration policy. The group—described as more than 30 priests, deacons, religious and lay participants—departed from Holy Apostles Parish in Cranston, Rhode Island.

Organizers said the day’s schedule includes a midday prayer service and meetings with members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation. A Rosary was planned for 1 p.m. outside the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center as the public-facing centerpiece of the visit.

Focus on family unity and legal pathways

In remarks made ahead of departure, Lewandowski framed the trip around two recurring themes in immigration debates: recognizing the dignity of immigrants and maintaining family unity. The pilgrimage’s stated purpose was to urge legislative action on immigration reform, a term that typically encompasses changes to the legal immigration system and the status of long-term residents without legal authorization.

Lewandowski has previously led public prayer efforts connected to immigration enforcement, including gatherings near the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island. The Washington trip was presented as a continuation of that approach—pairing religious observance with requests for policy engagement from federal lawmakers.

Part of wider faith-based organizing

The Rhode Island delegation was expected to meet with groups from other dioceses undertaking similar visits to Capitol Hill. In late February 2026, a group of Catholic bishops publicly issued a set of recommendations aimed at reforming immigration enforcement practices, including support for legal avenues that would allow certain immigrants and their families to seek lawful status and, in some cases, citizenship. Lewandowski was among the signatories to that statement.

More broadly, Catholic leaders in Washington have held public processions and Masses focused on migrants and refugees in recent months, reflecting a continuing pattern of faith-based organizing in response to immigration enforcement and legislative debates.

What the delegation is asking Congress to do

While no single bill was identified in the event details, the delegation’s stated objectives align with frequently cited legislative priorities in immigration reform discussions:

• measures intended to keep families together in immigration proceedings;
• expanded or improved access to legal immigration processes;
• policy changes affecting long-term residents living in the United States without lawful status.

The day’s public prayer component was scheduled for 1 p.m. outside the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.

The pilgrimage concludes with advocacy meetings intended to translate the day’s religious observance into concrete discussions with elected officials about immigration policy options now before Congress.