By Fr Stephan Alexander, General Manager, CCSJ and AMMR
On September 24, 2023, the Church celebrated the 109th occasion of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, a celebration that began in 1914 to express concerns for different vulnerable persons on the move, to pray for them as they face many challenges, and to increase awareness about issues surrounding migrant and refugee rights. In his message to mark this occasion, Pope Francis sought to remind us of the plight of migrants and refugees, the current realities that have converted most modern migration into forced migration, our responsibilities in preventing, eradicating and mitigating the causes of forced migration and importantly, the fact that Jesus, the Holy Family and the people of Israel were all forced into migration at differing times during the history of salvation.
The first of these scriptural reminders can be found in Matthew 2:13-14 where the evangelist details the story of how Joseph was told in a dream to flee with his family to Egypt because Herod sought to kill Jesus. The second instance cited by the Holy Father highlights the movement of the people of Israel during the Genesis account when they sought refuge in Egypt to escape a grave famine. We are told that Jacob took his entire family, their livestock and all their possessions to Egypt (Gen 46:6).
These accounts of biblical history are used by Papa Francisco to highlight the forced context of modern day causes of migration. The Pope states that the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt was not the result of a free decision, nor were many of the migrations that marked the history of the people of Israel. “The decision to migrate should always be free, yet in many cases, even in our day, it is not. Conflicts, natural disasters, or more simply the impossibility of living a dignified and prosperous life in one’s native land is forcing millions of persons to leave.” “Persecutions, wars, atmospheric phenomena and dire poverty are among the most visible causes of forced migrations today. “Migrants also flee because of poverty, fear or desperation. Hence, the Pope stated that “eliminating these causes and thus putting an end to forced migration calls for shared commitment on the part of all, in accordance with the responsibilities of each. This commitment begins with asking what we can do, but also what we need to stop doing. We need to make every effort to halt the arms race, economic colonialism, the plundering of other people’s resources and the devastation of our common home.”
Friends, each of us has a responsibility as regards migrants and refugees. This begins by building conditions of peace. That is, creating spaces where those forced to flee their homes are not further robbed of their humanity. Additionally, St Pope John Paul II in his Message for the 90th World Day of Migrants and Refugees noted that building conditions of peace also means “being seriously committed to safeguarding first of all the right not to emigrate, that is, the right to live in peace and dignity in one’s own country”. Like the first Christians, (Acts 2:44-45) we need to provide for each other.
As part of our commitment to this cause the CCSJ/AMMR and its network of Parish Ministries for Migrants and Refugees (PMMR) has worked assiduously to help educate and provide assistance to migrants and refugees in various ways. In pursuing greater collaboration with Venezuela and other countries to amplify the ways that we are able to assist, I attended the VI General Assembly of the Red CLAMOR (September 11-15, 2023). This is the institution within the Bishops’ Conference for Latin American and Caribbean (CELAM) with responsibility for matters concerning migration, refugees and human trafficking. Accordingly, the CCSJ is now officially recognised by the Red CLAMOR as a partner institution, a reality that has already led to increased collaboration with our Venezuelan, Latin American and Caribbean counterparts.
As collaboration continues, we hope to work towards establishing a place of accommodation where the most vulnerable migrants and refugees can seek temporary shelter as a means of avoiding persons falling victim to “perilous illusions or unscrupulous traffickers”. As always, we desire your assistance in our endeavours and continue to seek your contributions both in terms of monetary support and your availability to assist with the physical work of caring for others. Financial contributions can be made via account number below. Those willing to donate their time can email us at socialjustice@catholictt.org or admin.ccsj@catholictt.org
As we continue our efforts to care for God’s people and for our common home, let us recall that “to make migration a choice that is truly free, efforts must be made to ensure to everyone an equal share in the common good, respect for his or her fundamental rights, and access to an integral human development. Only in this way will we be able to offer to each person the possibility of a dignified and fulfilling life, whether individually or within families” – Pope Francis.
