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National Migration Week 2021 September 20th, 2021
Join the U.S Catholic Church in celebrating National Migration Week which takes place from September 20-26: https://catholiccurrent.org/popular-topics/migration/
World Day of Migrants and Refugees
- Read Pope Francis’ message for the 107th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, under the theme Towards an ever wider “We.”
Oblate Mission with Migrants & Refugees
- With the support of U.S Missionary Oblate, a Pakistani family finds a new home. Click here to read the story.
Breaking: U.S. Provincial Issues Statement on Border Wall’s Impact on La Lomita November 29th, 2018
Fr. Louis Studer, OMI, U.S.Provincial
November 29: The Very Rev. Louis Studer, OMI, has issued a statement regarding the proposed border wall’s encroachment on an historic, sacred space in Texas.
This is in response to a story which originally appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller Times which was re-posted on OMIUSA.ORG. Click here to read that story.
Read Fr. Lou Studer’s statement.
Read the story in the Brownsville Herald.
Fr. Scott Hill, OMI, Attends Local ‘Families Belong Together’ Rally July 9th, 2018
On the last Saturday of June, the morning began with coffee and quiche. The 
early sun warmed the morning promising a bright and sunny day as over 2000 demonstrators gathered along the shore of Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA for the Families Belong Together rally. Local geese, families with their children and adults, gathered with the thousands of Americans, across the country, demanding the reunification of immigrant families seeking refuge from the tyranny of physical and emotional violence. Many speakers and musicians addressed the injustice encountered by immigrant families at the southern border of the United States.
However, as I sat with my mother who gladly joined me at the rally, I felt a growing gloom as I considered the anguish of parents and children forcibly separated by the cruel and in-inhumane policies of the government that represents this country. A country once called “a city on the hill.” As I walked to the gathering site for the demonstration, I encountered another aging man who shared my gloomy feelings, asking, “how many times do we have to meet like this?” Indeed, how many times? As the families and adults gathered, I heard in the speeches and music the answer to our common question: “as many times as the vulnerable and powerless are harmed and treated unjustly.” As the crowd swelled my spirits began to rise, there was a spirit of compassion weaving its thread throughout the crowd. Many signs, in one way or another, spoke of “building bridges, not walls.”
(l to r) Fr.Scott Hill, OMI and his mother, Nancy, at the rally
While with this crowd, and standing in solidarity with the many children and parents being denied their intrinsic right of being family, I was reminded that my participation in this rally was my solidarity with the nameless children and parents, as well as my solidarity with my Oblate brothers and their parishioners who know the names and their humanity.
Together, compassion has taken to the streets and the national demonstrations and the presence of my Oblate brothers and the many volunteers, echoed the words of St. Augustine: “an unjust law is no law at all.”
 Crowds gathered for Families Belong Together rally |
Creating a Culture of Encounter: National Migration Week 2017 December 20th, 2016
National Migration Week is January 8 -14, 2017
The US Bishops have designated January 8 through January 14, 2017 as National Migration Week. This observance calls people of faith to join in solidarity with immigrants, migrants, refugees and victims of human trafficking.
The theme for the 2017 National Migration Week is Creating a Culture of Encounter. It focuses on developing awareness of newcomers within our faith communities and celebrating our diversity and richness together as a family of God. This observance is an initiative of the US Bishops and provides Catholics an opportunity to take stock of the wide diversity within the Church and work for justice for immigrants and refugees.
The Missionary Oblates JPIC Office invites you to use this opportunity to pray, raise awareness and educate your communities on the issue of immigration and Catholic Social Teaching.
The following liturgical resources and a National Migration Week 2017 Toolkit can be downloaded at the US Bishops’ website:
- A digital copy of the National Migration Week 2017 Prayer Card.
- A collection of prayers for use in your National Migration Week celebrations.
- A homily can be used to help frame a message to parishioners on migration.
- Petitions at your National Migration Week mass, or other gatherings that reflect on the situation confronting migrants.
Pentecost and Immigration: Ecumenism and Dialogue Essential May 13th, 2016
Written by Fr. Harry Winter, OMI, Coordinator, Ministry of Mission, Unity and Dialogue, USA Province
The celebration of Pentecost reminds many Christians of our disunity, and how the Holy Spirit is reuniting the Christian Churches. We also credit the Holy Spirit for helping us work with people of other Faiths, and People of Good Will, for Justice.
Only if Christians are united, following the lead of the Holy Spirit, can we hope to effectively assist immigrants, especially in the promotion of family life for those whose families have been torn apart. In his Apostolic Letter “The Joy of Love,” Pope Francis begs clergy to work with skilled laity to address the fragmentation of the family today (204). Let us not reinvent the wheel by thinking that vowed Oblates should address the challenge of migrants by ourselves. Our Oblate Associates, our Oblate Partners, our Honorary Oblates all possess resources that we need to bring together. The Holy Spirit is ready to help clergy and laity minister to migrants, each in their own sphere.
Don’t the gifts of the Holy Spirit help us to work with so many others who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior and share the grace of one baptism? Evangelical Protestant groups such as World Vision are eager to work with Catholics. The Eastern Orthodox, led by Patriarchs Bartholomew and Kirill are begging us to cooperate. The Joint Declaration of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill, signed in Cuba on Feb. 12, 2016, begs us to work together to lessen the suffering of migrants and refugees in the Middle East (8-13, 17-21).
Strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit, let us not be afraid to make coalitions with groups we may not usually work with. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) disagrees with Catholicism on many issues, but every so often, there arises an issue where we find common ground. May Pentecost open our eyes to these allies for assisting migrants.
When our superior general spoke to us from Rome for our convocation (April 26, 2016), he gave two examples, in Turkmenistan, and Western Sahara, where moderate Muslims and Christians are working together. Also many of our Jewish elder brothers and sisters are skilled in working with migrants.
Yes, at first it will require a little more time and energy to seek our allies. But in the long run, we will be much more effective if we work with others rather than attempting to do everything by ourselves. As Oblates celebrate the 200th anniversary of our founding, during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, let us beg the Holy Spirit of unity, of daring, and of courage, to lead us. Only by working with others, can Oblates significantly lessen the suffering of immigrants.
