The Catholic Church is an immigrant Church with a long history of embracing diverse newcomers and providing assistance and pastoral care to immigrants, migrants, refugees, and people on the move.
Our Church has responded to Christ’s call for us to “welcome the stranger among us,” for in this encounter with the immigrant, the migrant, and the refugee in our midst, we encounter Christ.
The diocesan Welcoming the Stranger committee meets regularly to discuss, plan and implement the Church's teaching regarding immigration, migrants and refugees. Established in 2000 in response to the Bishops' document, Welcoming the Stranger, the focus of the work of this group has been in the areas of education (offering talks and workshops regarding the Church's well-grounded teaching on immigration,) advocacy (encouraging the engagement of the people in advocating for comprehensive and compassionate immigration reform which is reflective of our deep respect for the dignity of each person,) and direct assistance for those who have come to our country as immigrants, refugees, and undocumented migrants.
Members of the “Welcoming the Stranger” Committee are eager to come to your parish or parish group to do a panel presentation on immigration. This topic is of great concern to all and the reality touches our brothers and sisters who have come here as migrants and refugees seeking safety and life for their families.
For more information, please contact the Secretariat for Parish Life and Development at (216) 696-6525 or (800) 869-6525 ext. 3500.
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