National Migration Week & 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees:
In a world marked by immense suffering, the plight of migrants and refugees stands out as a pressing global issue. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) is an opportunity for the global church and the Catholic faithful to engage in prayer, reflection, and action on behalf of our brothers and sisters who are forced to flee their homes. National Migration Week (NMW) is a uniquely U.S. based celebration that builds on the ideas put forth in WDMR and shaped accordingly to the American public. In 2025 we will celebrate National Migration Week from Sept. 22 - 28, and WDMR on Oct. 4 - 5. This year, the theme for both WDMR and NMW is “Migrants, missionaries of hope.” According to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development, this theme “considers the courage and tenacity of migrants and refugees in the light of the current Jubilee.” They bear witness to hope for the future despite difficulties. It is the hope of happiness beyond borders that leads them to entrust themselves totally to God. Migrants and refugees become “missionaries of hope” in their host communities, often helping to revitalize the faith of local communities and promoting inter-religious dialogues based on common values. They also remind the Church of the ultimate purpose of the earthly pilgrimage leading to the future homeland.” As Catholics, we are commanded by Jesus (MT 25) to provide support and care for the most vulnerable among us, including the naked, the hungry, the imprisoned, and the stranger. Through this outreach, we are called to accompany migrants at all stages of their journey: from the point of origin, through transit, and to their final destination.
