August 7, 2026 —Fr. Arthur Gramaje, CMF, Accompanies Immigrant Family
“The way he wailed and dropped to his knees,” Fr. Art said. “That sound still haunts me.”
For many, immigration is a headline or a political debate. For Fr. Arthur Gramaje, CMF, it has the face of a child, the tears of a family, and the Gospel call to stand beside those who are suffering.
It is also a powerful example of the Claretian missionary motto: to go where people are most in need.
Fr. Art resides at St. Anthony Mary Claret Parish in Fresno, California, where he assists with parish ministry when he is needed. But he discovered that his greatest gift lies beyond the church walls, accompanying immigrant families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
When looking for a place to serve, Fr. Art was asked a simple question by Provincial Superior Fr. Paul Keller, CMF: “What’s your gift?” He credits Fr. Paul with encouraging Claretians to serve where their individual passions and talents can best meet the needs of God’s people.
Initially, Fr. Art proposed a role to the Archdiocese that would allow him to serve as a Catholic community organizer. While the idea reflected his desire to accompany marginalized communities, the position was too broad to take shape. Yet God’s plan was unfolding in another way. Through Faith in the Valley, Fr. Art was offered a part-time position as a community organizer, allowing him to fulfill that same mission in a new setting.
Through that ministry, Fr. Art became involved with the Valley Watch Network, a rapid-response community project coordinated by Faith in the Valley. The network protects immigrant rights throughout California’s Central Valley by operating a hotline for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, providing trained legal observers, and connecting families with resources and support. The mission is straightforward but powerful: help keep migrant families together.
The work often places Fr. Art and volunteers in deeply emotional situations.
He recalls accompanying a family during an immigration appointment where the father was unexpectedly detained. As officers took him away, the family broke down in grief. The son broke down in a way that was heartbreaking to anyone that witnessed it.
“If people knew the stories, if these were their neighbors or their own family members, it would touch their hearts,” Fr. Art said. “When immigration is only a social issue or something on the news, people don’t see the humanity of the situation. That’s why there’s so much indifference.”
For Fr. Art, this ministry is not simply community organizing. It is a living expression of the Claretian commitment to peace, integrity, and justice.
“Peace, integrity, and justice is where the rubber meets the road,” he said. “For me, that’s through community organizing.”
Whether serving at St. Anthony Parish or standing beside families facing uncertainty and loss, Fr. Arthur Gramaje continues to live the Claretian vocation, bringing Christ’s presence to those who need it most and going where others often cannot.
When families face uncertainty, they need more than reassurance; they need to know someone cares. Your gift helps sustain ministries that welcome immigrant families with compassion, bring hope in moments of fear, and remind communities facing hardship that they are not alone. Together, we can be a source of comfort, dignity, and hope when it is needed most.
Dear Fr Art,
Thank you sincerely for sharing your story. I have spent 40 years in the Valley, coming here at 22 as a young teacher hired to teach in Orange Cove. It was my first introduction to migrant families. I remain grateful that there are compassionate individuals like you who care because I have not been surrounded by many of them throughout my tenure in this Valley. May God continue to bless you. My prayers remain with you and the many immigrant families throughout the US who suffer needlessly and rely on the kindness and caring you display here.
When Fr Art was the pastor at Sacred Heart in Prescott, AZ, he did his best to bring the Anglo and Hispanic parishioners together, sometimes holding a communal Mass at our rodeo grounds. He also spent a lot of time at a day center for the homeless which the parish supported, sometimes celebrating Mass there. I’ve alerted anyone I think knew or remembers him to read about what he’s doing now. Some of us are still trying to support the Hispanic ministry in the parish, which works with people at the border.