Delhi Archdiocese celebrates World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The Archdiocese of Delhi, India celebrated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 25.

The program was held in collaboration with the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India’s Commission for Migrants at the Community Centre, Archbishop’s House, Delhi. 

About 200 migrants and 20 refugees participated in the Holy Eucharist.

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on the last Sunday of September every year. This year it was on September 25. 

It was organized to show the day’s importance of caring for migrants and refugees in the church.

The day honors the contribution of migrant workers to the economy of the country. It reminded and encouraged public awareness and the need to support refugees and migrants, their strength and courage in battling against all odds of life. 

The Diocesan Pastoral Council, Secretary Dr. Daisy Panna, addressed the gathering, stating the importance of the day and the message of Pope Francis.

Quoting Francis, Panna said, "No one must be excluded. God's plan is essentially inclusive and gives priority to those living on the existential peripheries, like migrants, refugees, displaced persons, and victims of trafficking."

"The Kingdom of God is to be built with them, for without them it would not be the Kingdom that God wants. Building the future with migrants and refugees also means recognizing and valuing the contributions that migrants make in different ways in different areas," Panna added. 

In his talk, Archbishop Anil T Couto said Delhi has the second largest migrant population in the country and the Archdiocese of Delhi has a share of it. 

He said all the migrants and refugees are welcomed for their spiritual nourishment in the archdiocese.

The prelate expressed his concern for those poor and needy who find it hard to make ends meet. He recalled the plight of migrants during the pandemic. 

Couto said the church stood with the migrants and helped them with their immediate needs. 

The prelate said every Christian must help the poor and needy and be generous towards them.

On the occasion of World Migrants and Refugees Day, Pope Francis sent a thought-provoking message.

"Building the future with migrants and refugees means recognizing and valuing how much each of them can contribute to the process of construction, because only in this way will it be possible to build a world that ensures the conditions for the wholeness of their lives," reads the Pope’s message.

In his remarks, Couto reiterated the words of the Pope and exhorted the community to welcome refugees and migrants as their brothers and sisters. He assured the refugees of his support and welcomed them to the archdiocese. 

The Migrants’ Commission addresses the issues of migrants and assists them in the best way possible.

The commemoration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees ignited the minds of those participating in the Holy Eucharist as the message of the Pope was conveyed to them in the presence of the refugee community. 

As the Burmese community was present to celebrate the day with the Archdiocese, he welcomed them and offered them every possible support. 

It must be noted that the interstate migrants who are in Delhi have come here for a better livelihood and life. However, due to the agents' bad intentions, many people end up in dangerous situations. 

They have become victims of human trafficking and bonded labor. The Archdiocesan commission for migrants intervened in many cases to rescue the victims, especially during the pandemic. 

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India’s Commission for Migrants helped some families with livelihood support as many of them had lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The Archdiocese of Delhi, through its Migrants’ Commission, has been reaching out to those migrants and refugees who are in distress or need of immediate assistance with food and medication. 

Wage theft, labor exploitation, and harassment have been on the rise since the pandemic started. 

The Archdiocese has constituted an advisory committee with the commission to study the matter and help the migrant and refugee populations. 

This Sunday’s being together was special to the refugee community as 20 of them came together for the program. They are facing problems related to work, house rent, education, and health. 

It was a happy moment for them to join the community and mingle with the archbishop, clergy, nuns, and Catholics. Their presence added joy to the celebration. It was felt that the Pope's dream of an inclusive church was visible. - Rani Punnaserril