As we begin a New Year, 2014, with all the hopes and expectations that come with our new year's resolutions for new birth in targeted areas of our lives, let us remember those less fortunate than ourselves, particularly migrants, itinerant people, those forcibly displaced, uprooted and on the move in abject fear for their safety or abused and forced into armed combat.
In his address to the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, in May 2013, Pope Francis, reiterating the role of the Church as "mother", renewed the call for the dignity and centrality of each person to "be always protected, in respect of fundamental rights … rights that she asks be concretely extended to the millions of men and women in every continent whose rights are not recognized. In a world where there is so much talk of rights it seems that the only one to have rights is money. … We are living in a world ruled by money..."
In his address to the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, in May 2013, Pope Francis, reiterating the role of the Church as "mother", renewed the call for the dignity and centrality of each person to "be always protected, in respect of fundamental rights … rights that she asks be concretely extended to the millions of men and women in every continent whose rights are not recognized. In a world where there is so much talk of rights it seems that the only one to have rights is money. … We are living in a world ruled by money..."
With National Migration Week under way in the U.S., 5-11 January 2014, let us see what we can do here in Canada and elsewhere in the world, with Christian compassion (con-passione/suffering with) to recognize, cherish and nurture these people's hopes for a better life in their adopted countries. Let us join them during this time by reciting daily The Prayer for Migrants, composed by the US Catholic Council of Bishops.:
The Justice for Immigrants site lists the actions that will take place during National Migration Week and is a great resource for people who want to debunk myths about immigrants, need resources to help them improve the situation for migrants or want to learn how to help the bishops pass comprehensive immigration reform.
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