“The most important thing is to help people to understand the dignity of the human person. Deportation is not an immigration policy…We really need to find a way to have immigration reform that responds to the reality of our country.”

-Archbishop José Gomez

NEW EVENT & RESOURCE – Rosary of Hope with Bishop Seitz

Join us on Wednesday, September 17 from 1-1:30pm ET for a virtual rosary led by Bishop Seitz. This is part of a new monthly rosary of hope created by Catholic Charities USA in which those who work and stand with migrants may come together around the rosary.

Register for the rosary.

Relatedly, CLINIC has just released Praying the Rosary with the Stories of Immigrants – in this prayer resource, we invite you to focus on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, featuring the mysteries of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

Download CLINIC's prayer resource.

NEW VIDEO – Deportations and Assaults on Human Dignity

Catholic bishops, academic and policy experts, and community leaders discussed how Catholic social teaching can guide responses to the current immigration situation. This panel featured USCCB Committee on Migration chairman Bishop Seitz, Archbishop Jose Gomez, Archbishop Thomas Wenski, and Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala.

Watch the recording.

RESOURCE – National Migration Week Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to support communities in observing National Migration Week (September 22–28) and the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (October 4–5). Centered on the theme “Migrants, Missionaries of Hope,” it invites the faithful to reflect on the courage and witness of migrants through prayer, pilgrimage, liturgy, and community action. Rooted in the Jubilee Year of Hope, the toolkit includes pastoral resources, historical reflections, ideas for parish engagement, and practical ways to advocate for and accompany migrants.

Check out this year’s toolkit.

ICYMI – The USCCB Writes to Congress on Migration-Related Issues in Appropriations

Every year, Congress is required to pass funding bills, otherwise known as “appropriations”, for the federal government by October 1, the start of the federal fiscal year. For the past several years, Congress has failed to enact appropriations by this deadline, instead passing “continuing resolutions”, or extensions of current funding levels, which give legislators more time to complete the process and avoid a partial shutdown of the federal government. For the current year, Congress eventually passed a full-year continuing resolution after failing to enact full appropriations, which extended funding at Fiscal Year 2024 levels through September 30, 2025. Once again, it is looking like Congress will be unable to meet the annual funding deadline for Fiscal Year 2026 and will need to pass a continuing resolution (which requires the President’s signature); otherwise, a partial shutdown of the government will occur with widespread effects.

The appropriations process has a significant impact on agencies and programs throughout the federal government, as well as the many people and communities that rely on them. This includes immigrants and refugees and the U.S. immigration system as a whole. With this in mind, Bishop Mark Seitz, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, sent an annual letter to Congress addressing migration-related issues in appropriations. In his letter, Bishop Seitz touched on a wide range of issues, while emphasizing: “In the face of deep political divisions and policy disagreements, it is important to recognize that immigration is first and foremost about the movement of human persons, each of whom is created in the image and likeness of God.”

Read the full letter.

ICYMI – Compiled Articles and Bishops' Statements

In the wake of heightened immigration enforcement, Catholic bishops nationwide have reaffirmed their solidarity with vulnerable migrant populations and urged a more humane approach. Op-eds and articles have amplified this message, while prayer services, candlelight vigils, and solidarity walks have given public witness to faith and justice, reminding society of the dignity of migrants and the call to protect the most vulnerable.

Read articles and op-eds.

Read Bishops' statements.

Missionaries of Hope

In honor of this year's theme for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees we will share hopeful articles, homilies, and videos in each newsletter. Click here to read Pope Leo's message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

U.S. bishops call for ‘conversion’ on immigration, America:

“'The most important thing is to help people to understand the dignity of the human person,' [Archbishop Gomez] said. 'Deportation is not an immigration policy…We really need to find a way to have an immigration reform that responds to the reality of our country. We need a kind of a conversion about immigration,' he said."

Bishop Pham sought refuge in U.S. Now, he supports people in immigration courts, NPR:

Listen to an interview with Bishop Pham: "When we were present at the court with the people, they were so comforted. They were so thankful and grateful that we were there for them in time like this."

Mexico-U.S. bishops: Migrants face inhumane, dangerous conditions, Vatican News:

"Following a recent meeting in Piedra Negras, Coahuila, the bishops from along the Mexico-U.S. border once again denounced the dire circumstances affecting thousands of people. They issued a strong appeal—not only to governments but also to civil society—calling for accountability of the violations against human dignity faced by those fleeing war, violence, and extreme poverty."

Reflection Procession & Mass to Commemorate the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees:

On Sunday, September 28, the Archdiocese of Washington will hold a 2:30 p.m. prayer procession from the Shrine of the Sacred Heart to the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, followed by a 5:30 p.m. Mass that invite participants to walk and pray in solidarity with migrants and refugees. If you are in or near DC, please join!

One Church, One Family: Catholic Public Witness for Immigrants:

On October 22 and November 13, 2025, Catholics across the U.S. are invited to join in a national day of public witness for our immigrant brothers and sisters. This effort builds on the binational mass at the U.S.-Mexico Border in San Luis, just 10 days earlier, in which Bishops from both countries will call attention to the urgent crisis facing migrants. Register public witness here.

Welcomer of the week:

Bishop Seitz shares a story of Jesús from Colombia who decided to self-deport. When saying goodbye to his parish, he said, "[I was a] stranger, and you took me in. There was not in that community a dry eye."

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