All Diocesan Articles

 

 

 

World Day for Migrants and Refugees 2021: Toward an Ever Wider “We”   

Posted on September 21, 2021 in: Events, Hispanic Ministry

World Day for Migrants and Refugees 2021: Toward an Ever Wider “We”   

Can you imagine being 14 years old and having the courage to make the life-threatening decision to cross the borders of two countries, with complete strangers, traveling part of the way on foot, at times in an over-crowded van? 

When Maria was two months old her father disappeared.  Her mother, left with a toddler and a two-month-old, often went without food in order to feed her children.  Hunger was a constant companion to Maria.  There must be a better life, she thought.  So she decided to try to go to the United States, even though she knew she just might not make it alive.  Both her mother and sister were afraid to make the journey.  They tried to talk her out of it but she was determined.  She had heard how difficult it was, but she thought: there is no life here.  No future.  I want to be a doctor. I want to help people, especially poor people. The night she left home,  tears flowed from everyone – especially Maria.  Her mother blessed her, embraced her and entrusted her to Our Blessed Mother.  It’s been two years since Maria came here.  Many groups and individuals are helping her realize her dream.  They have taken Maria into their hearts and, for some, into their homes – the embrace of an “ever wider ‘we.’”      

On Sept. 26, 2021 the Catholic Church will celebrate the 107th World Day for Migrants and Refugees, the climax of the United States’ celebration of National Migration Week. This year’s theme announced by Pope Francis – “Towards an ever wider ‘we’” - comes from “Fratelli Tutti,” one of his most recent encyclicals. The Pope tells us:  “In this encyclical I expressed a concern and a hope that remain uppermost in my thoughts:  Once this health crisis passes, our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation. God willing, after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those’, but only ‘us’ (No. 35). For this reason, I have wished to devote the Message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees to the theme, Towards An Ever Wider ‘We’ in order to indicate a clear horizon for our common journey in this world.  And this universal ‘us’ must become a reality first of all within the Church, which is called to cultivate communion in diversity.”

 

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 

National Migration Week is an opportunity for us as Catholics to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants and refugees, to pray for them, but also to put our faith into action.  Too often, we fail to see migrants and refugees as persons, and instead, look at them as unknown others, if we notice them at all.  Migration is not only about statistics; it’s about real people like Maria, people trying to find a better life and a new beginning.  It’s about people just like you and me, who, but for the grace of God, could very easily have been born into a similar situation.  It’s about families torn apart; it’s about children left to fend for themselves; it’s about the vulnerable.  “Each migrant has a name, a face and a story,” says Pope Francis.

Our Catholic Faith calls us to stand in solidarity with them, to see them truly as our brothers and sisters, to embrace them in an ever wider “we” – a “we,” as the Pope says, that embraces all of humanity. This is who the Catholic Church is. This is what we as Catholics do. 

Regardless of where we came from or how we got here, we are all part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another.  Welcoming immigrants is part of Catholic Social Teaching and reflects the Biblical tradition to welcome the stranger.  

Let us take some time during the upcoming National Migration Week (Sept. 20-26) to reflect on how we can better welcome, protect, promote and integrate migrants living in our midst; how can we counter the globalization of indifference that affects us all; what we can do in our small part of the world to move towards a wider “we.”  For more information connect to the Justice for Immigrants Campaign, an initiative of the USCCB:   https://justiceforimmigrants.org/

Sister Mary Jude, SCMC

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER


Most Viewed Articles of the Last 30 Days

RSVP: Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti Annual Fundraiser
Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti will host its 15th annual For the Love of a Child Charity Gala, Saturday, April 29, 2023 at A Villa Louisa, 60 Villa Louisa Rd., Bolton, CT.  The Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, invites you to join him. Cocktails are at 6:30, followed by dinner.  The price is $100 per person.  Please RSVP on-line www.outreachtohaiti.org or call the Outreach office at 860-800-3601.    For nearly 40 years, Outreach has been helping our Haitian brothers and sisters throughout the Ar...

Read More

Come Pray For Vocations

Posted on March 20, 2023 in: Events, Vocations

895

Come Pray For Vocations
Join us each month to pray a Eucharistic Holy Hour for vocations led by Bishop Cote. These hours of adoration are a wonderful opportunity to pray for vocations to priesthood and religious life, to pray for our seminarians, and for our priests and religious already serving our diocese. The first Holy Hour of 2023 is Thursday, January 19 at 6 PM.  See the schedule below.  January 19, SS. Peter & Paul, Norwich February 16, St. John, Montville March 16, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Quaker Hill April 20, St. Philip, Ashford May 11, St. Andrew, Colc...

Read More

Catholic

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA DONATE

English

 

Español

 

 
Signup for Weekly Newsletter


    Recently Added Galleries
    Click to view album: Rite of Election
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination  for Fr. Jacob Ramos
    Click to view album: Mass of Ordination for Father Lawrence Barile
    Click to view album: Palm Sunday
    Latest Articles
    31 Chances for 31 Prizes - Help Those Facing Food Insecurity
    Monthly Pro-Life Mass to be Held April 1
    Watch: Full Remarks from the 2023 CT March for Life
    With Much Gratitude, 2022 Annual Catholic Appeal Surpasses Goal for Second Year
    Love of the Eucharist - Hope & Faith Video Series
    Forgive them-The Video
    With A Father's Heart: Celebrating the Feast of Saint Joseph
    Come Pray For Vocations

    Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
    201 Broadway
    Norwich, CT 06360-4328
    Phone: 860-887-9294