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Lent reminds Catholics to focus on three areas: fasting, almsgiving and prayer. This year, many are choosing to make their Lenten commitments shine a light on social injustices within our country and beyond, fasting with organizations advocating for change.

As Lent began March 5, more than two dozen presidents of Catholic colleges and universities fasted for 24 hours to bring attention to the ongoing campaign Fast for Families. On Feb. 22, more than 150 students from various Midwestern Catholic colleges and universities gathered at Loyola University Chicago for "Lighting the Pathway: Student Summit on Immigration Reform." I sat with three Loyola University Chicago sophomores to discuss their commitment to immigration reform and their experience at the summit.

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Why does immigration reform matter to you?

Claire O'Halloran: I was one of the students who went in November to the Ignatian Solidarity Network teach-in to advocate for increasing the minimum wage. There were students who were also there to advocate on immigration reform, and I learned how much these issues factor into each other.

Flavio Bravo: This is definitely a personal issue and a passion of mine. Coming from Arizona, I thought it was the norm to talk regularly about immigration reform. I thought in Chicago, everyone would want to talk about this issue, but many have never seen the border. They don't know about it.

Growing up, we would go on shrimp runs [to Mexico], and at the border, they would say, "Welcome, Flavio" and say the same to my brother, but my sister, the only one who has dark skin, would be asked questions.

It all goes back to my uncle, who was Cesar Chavez's right-hand man; my uncle's coffin was built by Chavez's brother. Labor rights have a direct tie to immigration reform.

Hannah Coley: I thought about immigration reform seeing people my age struggling when I don't have to worry about going to college. I had never thought about that before and this changed to being an issue present for people I know. It was a huge shock.

How has the need for immigration reform impacted you personally?

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A Lenten commitment to immigration reform

'Esther, Ahasuerus, and Haman', oil on canvas painting by Jan Steen, c. 1668

While many devout Jews across the United States and elsewhere observed the pre-Purim tradition of fasting on Thursday, March 13, more than 200 Jewish women and men are going without food today for a different cause: immigration reform.

This year, members and supporters of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) have recast the Fast of Esther, a minor fast day named for the Purim storys heroine, as part of a month-long campaign to urge the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year.

The Fast for Families, a nationwide campaign that began on March 8 and will culminate with an event in Washington, D.C., on April 9, is being led by a coalition of faith groups, labor unions and other organizations pushing for immigration reform legislation. While the broader campaign mentions Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez as models for their current action -- all three men fasted to draw attention to their causes NCJW is looking to Esther for inspiration.

We hope to draw on Queen Esthers courage as we fast to call attention to the importance of just, humane, and comprehensive immigration reform that is sensitive to the needs of women, children, and families, NCJW CEO Nancy K. Kaufman said in a statement.

For the estimated 11 million immigrants believed to be living in the U.S. without legal status, 2013 saw the Senate pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that included a path to citizenship. But any hope for immigration reform in 2014 would require that bill to be taken up by the House, which has not yet happened.

Indeed, House Republicans passed a bill on March 12 that was an implicit rejection of President Obamas 2012 executive action that offers immigrants brought to the US as very young children the so-called Dreamers the chance to remain in the country and seek employment, despite not having legalized status.

Despite what appear to be long odds, NCJW and other cosponsors of the Fast for Families are trying to draw attention to the need for immigration reform. That includes the 18 people in Los Angeles who signed up for NCJWs fast on March 13.

I usually only fast once a year, and thats for Yom Kippur, Maya Paley, director of Community Engagement and Special Programs at the National Council of Jewish Women, Los Angeles, said.I felt like this was an important reason for me to join in and fast, because I feel really saddened by the fact that immigration reform hasnt moved forward in our Congress.

NCJW, as a progressive organization that focuses on improving the quality of life for women, children and families, sees the failure to pass immigration reform as affecting women in uniquely challenging ways. Paley used to work with teenage girls in South and East Los Angeles, including some whose parents are living here illegally, or who are themselves illegal immigrants. Having helped many of these young women gain admission to two- and four-year colleges, Paley watched with dismay as their legal status threw up roadblocks that prevented many from enrolling in those schools.

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Channeling Purims Esther, Jewish women fast for immigration reform

Tonko Urges House to Pass Immigration Reform Now
Joined by members of law enforcement, religious, businesses, tech, and community interest groups, Congressman Paul Tonko continues his push to urge Speaker J...

By: reppaultonko

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Tonko Urges House to Pass Immigration Reform Now - Video

WASHINGTON, March 12 (UPI) -- A group of House Republicans said theyre eager to get cracking on immigration reform, and that a deal could be ready in early 2015 before the presidential campaign season kicks into gear.

Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said in an interview Wednesday that many Republican are willing to work on a deal with Democrats after the midterm elections. However, he said, it all depends on President Barack Obama proving his trustworthiness to the congressmen.

"I actually think if the president understands the message that he needs to work with us and we need to trust him, I think we could do it early next year, said Labrador.

Thats a task easier said than done. One month after Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters his party doesnt trust the president to implement an immigration reform bill, Republican congressmen are still calling on Obama to prove his allegiance to the Constitution and commitment to securing the border.

"I don't know how you negotiate with a president who either will not follow the law or enforce the law, said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas.

Hensarling, Labrador and a slew of other Republican lawmakers criticized Obamas imperial presidency at Conversations with Conservatives, a panel hosted by The Heritage Foundation. Almost every participant highlighted Obamas adjustment of Affordable Care Act enrollment and implementation deadlines as evidence of his overreach.

But Labrador said Republicans are willing to move on smaller pieces reforms after Novembers congressional elections if Democrats will moderate their all or nothing approach. Delaying work on a blockbuster deal until early next year gives both parties a chance to regroup after the midterm election and before the 2016 presidential campaign season gets going.

Labrador said the window between the two election cycles is the best chance for a bill to get the approval of both parties.

But Rep. Louie Gohmert said at the panel that he doesnt even want to touch the issue of immigration reform until the president secures the border.

You secure the border as confirmed by the border statesand we will work out a deal very quickly," The Texas Republican said.

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House Republicans ready to push for immigration reform in 2015

Sergio Lara speaks at the Fast for Families Across America Tour's stop at Casa Hogar in Yakima, Wash. on March 5, 2014. The tour is promoting immigration reform in the United States. (KAITLYN BERNAUER/Yakima Herald-Republic)

YAKIMA, Wash. With federal immigration reform seemingly going nowhere this year, a national advocacy group stopped in Yakima on Wednesday as part of its coast-to-coast trek to convince lawmakers otherwise.

Outside of La Casa Hogar, a support center for immigrant women, members from Fast for Families urged residents to ask U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings and other lawmakers to allow a vote on comprehensive immigration reform. Speakers stood in front of a giant bus emblazoned with the groups logo the same bus transporting them to their final stop of Washington, D.C., next month.

We will join communities and together empower the voices and rights of constituents ... and continue to underscore the moral crisis of our broken immigration system, said Sergio Lara, one of the supporters embarking on the weekslong drive.

With the Republican-controlled House leadership saying it likely will not pursue immigration reform in 2014, Fast for Families decided to schedule a bus tour and hold rallies in some of the lawmakers districts.

Two buses left Los Angeles on Feb. 24, each taking different routes. The one that stopped in Yakima will be in Spokane today. By the time the two buses arrive in D.C. in April, they will have covered 18 states and more than 14,000 miles.

Yakima was selected as a stop because of its growing immigrant community and because Hastings is serving his final term, said Los Angeles resident Dae Joong Yoon, one of Fast for Families members and also an executive director of a Korean American rights group.

Yoon, who emigrated from South Korea as a teen more than 20 years ago, is no stranger to activism. In November he made headlines as one of several who fasted for 22 days on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness for immigration.

We believe that (Hastings) supports immigration reform, he said, but we wish him to play more leadership, talk within his own caucus and then order the Republican leaders to put a bill on the floor to vote because we believe there is a majority of Congress members who support immigration reform.

Hastings was not in Yakima on Wednesday. In a February interview with the Yakima Herald-Republic, Hastings said he supports stronger borders and an improved guest worker program, but doesnt know if immigration reform is coming in 2014.

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Group presses for immigration reform during Yakima stop in national bus tour