The Archdiocese of Chicago to Observe National Migration Week, Sept. 23-29, 2024
Chicago, (Sept. 20, 2024) – In observance of National Migration Week, Sept. 23-29, 2024, the parishes and Immigration Ministry of the Archdiocese of Chicago will host events throughout the week celebrating Chicagoland’s diverse communities. For more than 40 years, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which has traditionally been linked to the Vatican’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, as an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants. In solidarity with the Vatican, National Migration Week will use the theme chosen by Pope Francis of “God walks with his people.”
National Migration Week culminates on Sunday, Sept. 29 with a 5:15 p.m. Mass at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 N. State St., Chicago. Bishop Robert Casey, vicar general of the archdiocese, will preside over the Mass that will begin with a procession of nations representing 15 countries and feature readings and prayers in 10 languages including English, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Chinese, Hindi, Filipino, Bahasa (a language spoken in Indonesia), Luganda (a language spoken in central Uganda) and Vietnamese. Sister of Mercy JoAnn Persch, RSM, will share testimony on her religious community’s work in providing housing and resource assistance to recently arrived migrants and asylum seekers.
“The Holy Father’s theme of ‘God walks with His people’ reminds us that throughout history, God has consistently accompanied His people, guiding and providing for them,” said Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago. “Migrants often escape from oppression, abuse, insecurity, discrimination and limited opportunities for development. They also face numerous challenges along the way, such as thirst, hunger, fatigue, illness and the temptation to lose hope. But as newcomers to our country, they also enrich our lives with their many gifts and talents, traditions and customs. Thus, every encounter with these, our sisters and brothers, is a blessing, and provides an opportunity to meet and serve our Lord.”
In his message for the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2024, Pope Francis said in part, “Many migrants experience God as their traveling companion, guide and anchor of salvation. They entrust themselves to him before setting out and seek him in times of need. In him, they find consolation in moments of discouragement. Thanks to him, there are good Samaritans along the way. In prayer, they confide their hopes to him. How many Bibles, copies of the Gospels, prayer books and rosaries accompany migrants on their journeys across deserts, rivers, seas and the borders of every continent!
He added, “God not only walks with his people, but also within them, in the sense that he identifies himself with men and women on their journey through history, particularly with the least, the poor and the marginalized. In this we see an extension of the mystery of the Incarnation.”
The Archdiocese of Chicago’s National Pastoral Migratoria (Immigrant Social Ministry) has coordinated a comprehensive effort with other U.S. dioceses which have Pastoral Migratoria to raise awareness about National Migration Week.
Pastoral Migratoria leaders in these dioceses, that include New York, Baltimore, Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., and Stockton, Calif., are coordinating rosaries, legal clinics, health fairs, holy hours, forums and other events in their local areas to support the immigrant community. Masses in observance of National Migration Week will also be celebrated in the archdioceses of Los Angeles, Newark and Washington, D.C.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops encourages Catholic communities to come together as a universal Church to welcome immigrants and refugees in local parishes, dioceses and broader communities to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants and to pray for and act on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims and survivors of human trafficking and to stand in solidarity with them.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), at the end of 2023, 117.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order. This represents one in 69 people globally or 1.5 percent of the entire world’s population was forcibly displaced, nearly double the one in 125 people a decade ago. The number of displaced people has increased every year for 12 years.
More information about events in the archdiocese and other dioceses observing National Migration Week, as well as resources to organize an event at your parish, can be found here: National Migration Week 2024 - Parish Vitality and Mission (archchicago.org)
