AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Week of Migrants and Refugees: appeal to the commitment of Christians

Wednesday, 25 September 2019 migrants refugees reception pope francis local churches

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Bogotà (Agenzia Fides) - In the context of the Week of Migrants and Refugees, which is celebrated from September 23 to 29, the Catholic Church of Colombia reiterates its call to "respond generously and wisely to this situation in which many people live". Recalling the four verbs of Pope Francis on the reality that thousands of migrants and refugees live in the world, the Bishops recall the Christian commitment to "welcome them, protect them, promote them and integrate them". The theme of the Week is taken from the Pope's Message for this Day: "It is not just about migrants".
The note of the Bishops' Conference sent to Fides recalled that in Colombia the National Migrant Week has been celebrated for over 30 years in order to make visible the realities that people live and must face. The main issues addressed were reception, forced displacement, victims of trafficking and Colombians abroad.
The National Secretariat of Social Pastoral this year has produced a series of materials to support the celebration of the Week in the various ecclesiastical jurisdictions and regions of the country. Among these are audio files with migrant stories; images and phrases for various social networks; a guide with statistical charts, reflections on the theme of migration and commonplaces that do not correspond to reality, indications for group work ... It is advisable to use each of the inputs and always publish with the hashtags #SomosMigrantes and #SemanaDelMigrante.
The Archdiocese of Bogotà is also experiencing this week with a series of initiatives taking place in different areas: laboratories on migrant rights, celebrations led by migrants, demonstrations to enhance cultural interchange, a forum on the commitment of the Colombian Catholic Church for migrants, sharing experiences of displaced and migrant people. On Saturday 28 September, the communities welcomed in the various migrant centers of the archdiocese will be the protagonists of a gesture of gratitude to the communities that welcomed them. On Sunday 29, Migrant Day, the collection will be held throughout the archdiocese to support activities in support of the most vulnerable population. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 25/9/2019)