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“Promoting a Church and a World for All” – National Migration Week 2020 January 7th, 2020
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This week the U.S Catholic Church is celebrating National Migration Week, an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the conditions confronting migrants, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) holders, Refugees, migrant children, recipients of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and victims and survivors of Human Trafficking.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Promoting a Church and a World for All,” which reflects the need for Catholics to be inclusive and welcoming to all our brothers and sisters. During this National Migration Week, we are all invited to celebrate the immigrant heritage story of the Church and continue to show solidarity with immigrants and refugees as our brothers and sisters.
- Learn more about how you can join and stand in solidarity and support vulnerable migrant and refugees in need: https://justiceforimmigrants.org/take-action/national-migration-week/
National Migration Week ends on January 11th, which happens to be Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Migrants are particularly vulnerable to being taken advantage of by traffickers.
Learn about the connection between migration and trafficking through this education module developed by US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking.
Stand With Refugees on June 20 June 14th, 2019
According to the United Nations (UN), more than 68.5 MILLION people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Since 2000 the UN has recognized June 20th as World Refugee Day to honor the courage and resilience of those forced to flee threats of persecution, conflict, and violence.
According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is one who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
For many years the Catholic Church, through its various agencies has actively raised awareness about the plight of refugees through education and advocacy, and directly provided services for them.
These efforts take place on the national and international level through organizations like Catholic Relief Services, Jesuit Relief Service, Catholic Charities and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Justice for Immigrants).
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ website to read more about the U.S. Bishops’ campaign to support immigrants and refugees and download their 2019 World Refugee Day toolkitto learn more about the observance and for community engagement ideas.
2018 World Refugee Day: Take Action & Pray for Refugees June 18th, 2018
The United Nations General Assembly in 2000, designated June 20 as World Refugee Day. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is one who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”
For many years the Catholic Church, through its various agencies has actively raised awareness about the plight of refugees through education and advocacy, and directly provided services for them.
These efforts take place on the international level through organizations like Catholic Relief Services and Jesuit Relief Service, and domestically, through Catholic Charities and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Here are some ways to become involved:
Download a 2018 World Refugee Day Resource.
Visit Justice for Immigrants’ website to read more about the U.S. Bishops’ campaign to support immigrants and refugees.
Missionary Oblates Join Catholic Leaders Expressing Concern About Refugee Resettlement March 27th, 2018
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has joined the U.S. Catholic Bishops and Catholic Organizations in issuing a joint letter expressing deep concerns about historically low refugee resettlement to the United States during this time of global humanitarian need.
The letter by the U.S. Catholic Bishops, Catholic Organizations and Religious leaders letter reads;
“We are deeply concerned about both the historically low target that the Administration has set for refugee admissions for Fiscal Year 2018, as well as by the extraordinarily low number of refugees that the United States is on pace to resettle during the current fiscal year. ”
“For 37 years, the U.S. has been a world leader in welcoming and resettling refugees, and the U.S. Catholic Church has been a committed partner in this work. As Christians, our concern for refugees is integral to our life of faith.”
The Provincial of the U.S. Missionary Oblates, Fr. Louis Studer, OMI, recommended Oblates sign on to the letter, also signed by 1600 Catholic organizations, women and men religious, and lay leaders. all concerned about the current state of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
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.
