This Sunday, the Church in
the United States marks National Migration Week (January 6 – 12). It
usually coincides with the Feast of the Epiphany when we celebrate the time
when the three strangers from the East came to do homage to the newborn King,
Jesus. I share with you below information from the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops website about this week.
For nearly a half century,
the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration
Week, which is an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances
confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and
survivors of human trafficking. The theme for National Migration Week
2019, “Building Communities of Welcome” draws attention to the fact that each
of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past.
Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human
family and are called to live in solidarity with one another.
Unfortunately, in our contemporary culture we often fail to encounter
migrants as persons, and instead look at them as unknown others, if we even
notice them at all. We do not take the time to engage migrants in a
meaningful way, as fellow children of God, but remain aloof to their presence
and suspicious or fearful of them. During this National Migration Week,
let us all take the opportunity to engage migrants as community members,
neighbors, and friends. To do so, we will look at the important role that
foster care plays in the lives of unaccompanied immigrants and refugees,
highlight MRS’ Parishes Organized to Welcome Refugees, and examine local
initiatives that are making important contributions in this regard. For
more information, visit:
Fr. Bob
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