It started when one man walked from his church in south Orange County to the Catholic cathedral in downtown Los Angeles.

It took three days. He slept in parks. And, all along the way, he prayed for immigrants.

That pilgrimage, seven years ago, by a congregant from the Santiago de Compostela parish in Lake Forest, has grown every year since. Early Thursday, some 15 parishioners set off to retrace the 52-mile walk to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles.

As they walk and pray, the pilgrimage is expected to grow.

Last year, about 100 people finished the trek into Los Angeles. And this year, when they get to Our Lady of Angels, on Saturday, Sept. 7, the pilgrims are expected to be joined by more than 3,000 Catholics from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties for a special 3 p.m. Mass In Recognition of All Immigrants. The sermon will be led by Archbishop José H. Gomez.

For the pilgrims, the walk is a long continuous prayer to God.

“(The walk) is hard. And it’s hot. But it’s nothing when you compare it to the suffering our brothers are facing on the border,” said Emiliano Leonides, 37, who this week marked his sixth pilgrimage from Orange County to Los Angeles.

“With our prayers, we hope to touch the hearts of our leaders for a just immigration reform for all,” he added.

The bilingual mass on Saturday will be at the end of a novena – nine days of prayer and reflection. This novena was aimed at uniting Catholics during a time that many in the immigrant community feel is critical.

“In light of the tensions in our country and the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, recently, we pray, especially this year, for the grace to help our society see our common humanity,” Archbishop Gomez wrote in a news release.

“We are all children of God, meant to live together as brothers and sisters, no matter the color of our skin, the language we speak, or the place we were born.”

The special Mass for immigrants was started eight years ago. At the time, the focus was immigration reform. Since then, proposals for a pathway to citizenship for millions of unauthorized immigrants in the United States have given way to a different political conversation. Now, the debate is dominated by President Trump’s plans to revamp immigration policies in ways that would favor educated, affluent migrants over asylum-seekers, refugees and other immigrants. Also in that time, migrants at the border have been held in conditions deemed by many to be inhumane and the government policy of splitting some migrant families has drawn widespread condemnation.

Still, Catholic leaders would like to see immigration reform. This year, the Mass also will recognize community leaders and volunteers who have served the immigrant community.

“We are going to pray and celebrate the immigrant spirit of the United States,” said Pastor Arturo Corral, of Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish, known as La Placita Church.

Isaac Cuevas, director of the Archdiocese’s Office of Immigration and Public Affairs, said that the Mass holds special meaning.

“As Catholics, this Mass is really important to us,” Cuevas said.

“The message is simple. We want to make sure that people recognize the importance immigrants have in this country. We want to make sure that, as a community of faith, people understand the belief we have in prayer and the power of prayer, especially when it comes to doing what’s best for our country, and for the people who need the help.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published various statements over the years regarding immigration and the Catholic social teaching that espouses the doctrine of welcoming the stranger. And while the bishops want to see immigration reform, they also acknowledge the government’s role and duty in securing the country’s borders.

“The Catholic Church has always seen the topic of immigration as a topic of human dignity,” Cuevas said. “That’s not saying there aren’t politics involved.

“The Catholic Church understands people are in need when they come to this country. Many times they are fleeing persecution. They are looking for a better life. Many don’t want to leave their homes,” he added.

“As people of faith, it’s not our place to judge. But it’s our place to be with people at their most critical time of need.”

That’s how Lily Nguyen-Ellis sees it.

She’s a Lake Forest resident walking the 52 miles to the L.A. cathedral for the fourth year in a row.

“I believe nobody can do everything but everybody can do something. We have to be a voice for the voiceless. We cannot just live by disappointment and say there’s nothing we can do,” she said.

Unlike the first year, when one Santiago de Compostela Church member set off to walk by himself and slept alone in parks, Nguyen-Ellis and her fellow parishioners are helped by churches, who offer them places to pray, eat and sleep. Also, a church member drives the route, taking sleeping bags and other belongings for the pilgrims.

The pilgrims also take turns carrying a large American flag as they walk, and they display a sign that calls for immigration reform. It reads “Siempre Adelante,” which is part of St. Junípero Serra’s motto, “always forward” or “ever onward.”

The path walked by the pilgrims follows part of the route that Serra followed when he helped to create California’s missions. Nguyen-Ellis, 52, wearing a rosary and a couple of crosses, said she prays all along the way.

“We ask God to open the hearts of our lawmakers or the people who can make a difference, to have compassion, but really for justice — to see people as people. To give them dignity and respect. And to keep families together.”

As for the man who started the pilgrimage. He’s still there. He prefers not to be public.

But he’s walking. And praying.