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‘Promoting a Church and a World for All’
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January 2, 2020‘Promoting a Church and a World for All’
A message from Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.,
for National Migration Week, Jan. 5-11, 2020
For nearly a half century, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week, which is an opportunity for the Church community to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children and victims and survivors of human trafficking.
The theme for National Migration Week 2020, “Promoting a Church and a World for All” draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another.
In his 2019 Message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Holy Father reiterates the Gospel command to avoid despising “one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father” (Mt 18:10).
It is not just about migrants; it is a question of seeing that no one is excluded. A globalization of indifference has led to many of us to ignore the cries of the poor, turn our backs on the marginalized, and remain indifferent to those struggling to cope with the circumstances of their lives. We are called to help create the conditions that will lead to a better life for everyone on the planet.
Welcoming the newcomer and promoting a Church for all counters what Pope Francis has referred to as “a globalization of indifference.” We are called to be an active Church in support of all of God’s children, for “the Church which ‘goes forth’... can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others, seek those who have fallen away, stand at the crossroads and welcome the outcast” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 24).
For more information, please refer to the link “National Migration Week, January 5-11” on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website www.usccb.org.
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