This year we celebrate the 112th World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees on September 27th, with the theme “Even Just One of these Children”. Columbans will mark this annual day in a variety of ways, including on the occasion of the opening of an international gathering of Columban leaders in Manila, Philippines.
To understand the significance of this day and why it is important to Columbans, let’s look at a brief history of this important day in the Church and how it has evolved over the decades. Beginning in 1914 and on the eve of WWI, Pope Pius X in his concern for the plight of large Italian emigration, urged Christians to pray for these migrants. Not long after, Pope Benedict XV formalized this day of prayer and added the appeal for pastoral, social, and financial support of the Italian diaspora. Later in 1952, Pope Pius XII expanded the scope of this day for all migrants and invited local churches to designate a meaningful date that fits their calendar for the celebration. The tradition continued this way for three decades, largely local and national in focus.
Then in 1985, Pope John Paul II, established a new tradition of issuing an annual message highlighting a particular theme for the occasion. Following this in 2004 he decided to include refugees in the title, making it the World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees. Finally, and most recently in 2018, Pope Francis formalized the last Sunday in September as the date for the universal church to mark the celebration.
Recalling this history does two things. One, it reminds us that the Church is always evolving in its response to the signs of the times. Two, it reminds us that the Church in addition to its pastoral care, has a long history of being a public voice and advocate for people who have been forced to leave their homes for a myriad of reasons including: war, conflict, social and religious persecution, and economics. Today, increasingly we see that people are forced to leave their lands due to environmental conditions such as climate change, drought, wildfires, degraded agricultural lands, and extractive industries like logging and other forms of mining. Some people are forced to leave their countries while others are internally displaced, but just as vulnerable.
Columbans continue to evolve the scope of our commitments to walking with our sisters and brothers, forced to move both within their national borders and beyond. For at least forty years, we have offered pastoral care along with social and legal services as well as local, national, and international public advocacy. We have accompanied economic and seasonal migrants, trafficked women and children, refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people, seafarers, and unaccompanied minors.
One common thread that runs throughout our experience is the gift of bearing witness to the strength, hope, and faith that people on the move bring with them.
