WASHINGTON – The Catholic Church in the United States will observe National Migration Week from September 22 to 28. This year, as the Universal Church marks its jubilee year, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be observed on October 4–5, coinciding with the Jubilee of Migrants.*
For 45 years, the U.S. Catholic Church has celebrated National Migration Week by reflecting on its history as an immigrant Church and the ways in which the country has been enriched by generations of immigrants, including the many Catholics who have adopted this land as their own. It is also an opportunity to grow in appreciation of the challenges faced by migrants and refugees, both in the United States and beyond, and to express solidarity through prayer, accompaniment, and advocacy. Pope Francis had chosen “Migrants, missionaries of hope” as the theme for this year’s commemoration, underscoring a key hallmark of his pontificate and in recognition of the courage and resilience of migrants and refugees who bear daily witness to hope despite hardship.
The U.S. bishops have consistently expressed solidarity with immigrants amid the fear and anxiety prompted by current immigration enforcement efforts. The bishops have called for, and continue to press for, “a more humane system of immigration, one that protects our communities while safeguarding the dignity of all.” This includes encouraging bipartisan collaboration among policymakers.
In his message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Leo XIV has continued to emphasize the dignity of migrants, saying, “In a world darkened by war and injustice, even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope. Their courage and tenacity bear heroic testimony to a faith that sees beyond what our eyes can see and gives them the strength to defy death on the various contemporary migration routes.”
National Migration Week invites Catholics across the country to reflect on how hope can shape and inform our collective response to migration. Catholic dioceses, parishes, schools, and organizations nationwide are encouraged to mark this observance with prayer services, educational programs, community outreach, and support for migration-related ministries. The Justice for Immigrants website offers a comprehensive 2025 National Migration Week toolkit, including resources to help communities prepare spiritually and pastorally.
*Typically, NMW culminates in the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on the last Sunday in September.
What follows is a reflection by Sister Mary Jude Lazarus, SCMC, Director of the Office for Hispanic Ministry
Messengers of Hope in a Time of Division
On October 4, the Catholic Church celebrates the Jubilee of Migrants. In a time when immigration is often portrayed as a political problem, this celebration calls us to see migrants and refugees not as threats or statistics, but as messengers of hope.
The dominant narrative today is negative. Migrants are too often described as invaders, burdens, or strangers who do not belong. Yet behind every headline is a family, a child, a mother or father fleeing violence, poverty, or despair—human beings who carry the same dreams we all carry: safety, dignity, and a better future. As Christians, we cannot allow fear or prejudice to drown out the Gospel.
“You shall love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deut. 10:19)
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Mt. 25:35)
Our Scriptures remind us again and again of our duty to the stranger. Jesus makes this command personal: to welcome or to reject the migrant is, in His words, to welcome or to reject Him. This is not optional; it is at the heart of our discipleship.
As Catholics, then, our response must be clear. We are called to see migrants not as problems, but as neighbors; not as outsiders, but as brothers and sisters. The very word catholic means “universal.” Our faith is universal, and our community is incomplete when anyone is excluded. When one member of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer.
How can we change the narrative? First, by conversion of heart—choosing to see with Christ’s eyes rather than through the lens of fear. Second, by telling new stories: stories of courage, resilience, and faith. Migrants are not faceless. They are parents sacrificing for their children, young people eager to learn and contribute, and families longing for peace. These stories reveal migrants not as strangers but as people who share our same hopes.
Finally, we must act. Compassion must move us to works of mercy and advocacy. We can volunteer at organizations serving migrants, tutor children, share meals, or simply offer friendship. We can also raise our voices for policies that respect the dignity of every person. Small actions become seeds of hope in soil that desperately needs it.
The Jubilee of Migrants also reminds us that migrants themselves evangelize us. Their perseverance and hope call us to deeper faith. They remind us not to cling to comfort, but to trust in God’s promises. In their courage, they bear witness to the same hope we profess in Christ.
To be a Catholic Christian is to be a messenger of hope. We are called to resist fear with compassion, to counter division with communion, to see Christ in every stranger. The Eucharist we celebrate each Sunday sends us forth to recognize Him in the migrant at our border, in the refugee at our door, in the neighbor searching for hope.
This Jubilee is not only about them—it is about us. Will we welcome Christ when He comes as a stranger? Will we be messengers of hope in a divided world?
Sister Mary Jude Lazarus, SCMC
Director, Office for Hispanic Ministry
Diocese of Norwich