JFI Members,

At the direction of the Holy Father, the Catholic Church will celebrate this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 29, 2019. The theme for this year's celebration is, "It is not just about migrants," which provides an opportunity, in his words, to recognize that "it is not only the cause of migrants that is at stake; it is not just about them, but about all of us, and about the present and future of the human family."

Pope Francis released a message in advance of the celebration that highlights the theme and provides pastoral guidance to everyone who works on this issue. Working in collaboration with the Philippine Catholic Conference, USCCB/MRS created the English-language resources that English-speaking Catholics can use to celebrate the 2019 World Day for Migrants and Refugees. Many resources are also available in Spanish. We urge you to use them in your parishes, schools, and local community.

As we approach September 29th, please share the World Day of Migrants and Refugees resources with your parishes and communities in order to celebrate and honor our heritage as a church to be inclusive of immigrants and refugees. Please share with us via email any World Day of Migrants and Refugees event you are holding so we can help publicize your event through social media.

If you are in the Washington, DC-area on September 29th, please join us for a bilingual Mass officiated by Auxiliary Bishop Mario Dorsonville of the Archdiocese of Washington in celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. The Mass will take place at 1 PM at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. More information about the Mass is in the flyer below.

You are also welcome to join us at the Catholic University of America on October 1st at 1 PM in Caldwell Auditorium for an Intercultural Dialogues presentation featuring Bishop Dorsonville as one of the speakers. Speakers will discuss Pope Francis' message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees. This event is free and lunch will be provided. Please see the event flyer to RSVP.

 

In Solidarity, 

Tony Cube