National Migration Week 2021 takes place this week and concludes on Sept. 26 in solidarity with the Holy See’s observation of the World Day for Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) on Sept. 26.
The theme for this year’s WDMR is “Towards an Ever Wider ‘We’,” which Pope Francis drew from his encyclical Fratelli tutti. He emphasized in his annual WDMR message that such a focus calls on us to ensure that “we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those,’ but only ‘us’” (Fratelli tutti, no. 35) and this universal “us” must become a reality first of all within the Church, which is called to cultivate communion in diversity. These words are especially important now in our own diocese we are being asked to embrace refugees from Afghanistan who are fleeing serious oppression in their homeland.
National Migration Week is meant to emphasize the ways in which the migration question is important for the Catholic Church in the United States. I take this opportunity to echo the words of Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration who reminds us that, “The migration story is one of compassion, welcome and unity. It is about opening our hearts to others, and at this critical juncture, we do not have to look far to see its practical application or find those with a need to migrate.” Although we have a right to protect our borders to keep our citizens safe, we also have an obligation to those in need of our assistance.
Pope Francis calls us to embrace and express the Church’s catholicity – her universality – “according to the will and grace of the Lord who promised to be with us always, until the end of the age.” May we be moved from a culture of indifference to a culture of solidarity, helping us to embrace the poor and marginalized and those struggling to find a better life.
Photo credit: Migrants and Refugees Section/Vatican.
Educational materials and other resources for National Migration Week are available for download on the Justice for Immigrants website.