By Rani Punnaserril

New Delhi, Sept 25, 2022: About 200 migrants and 20 refugees September 25 celebrated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees with a get-together and Mass.

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

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

The Mass and the gathering highlighted the importance of caring for migrants and refugees in the Church. The day also honored the contribution of migrants to the economy of the country. It encouraged the public to become aware of the problems of migrants and refugees and support them as they battle various challenges.

Daisy Panna, secretary of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, in her opening address explained the importance of the day and the message of Pope Francis that called for excluding no one.

The Pope said: “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 the migrants make in different ways in different areas.”

Archbishop Anil J T Couto of Delhi described the archdiocese as a migrant diocese as the national capital has the second largest migrant population in India and the diocese welcomes all migrants and refugees for their spiritual nourishment. The archbishop expressed concern over those poor and needy who find it hard to make both ends meet. He recalled the plight of migrants during pandemic and said the Church stood with them and helped them meet their immediate needs.

The prelate also said it is the duty of every Christian to help the poor and needy and to be generous to them.

As a community from Myanmar was present to celebrate the day Archbishop Couto welcomed them and offered them every possible support.

The organizers pointed out that the interstate migrants in Delhi have come to the city for better livelihood and life. But many land up in unsafe migration because of the recruiting agents. They have become victims of human trafficking and bonded labor.

The commission for migrants has intervened in many cases to rescue the victims especially during the pandemic. The commission’s national secretariat has helped families with livelihood support as many had lost their jobs during the pandemic.

The archdiocese through its commission for migrants has reached out to migrants and refugees in distress or in need of immediate assistance of food and medication.

The commission noted an increase in wage theft, labor exploitation and harassment since pandemic started. The archdiocese has set up an advisory committee with the commission to study the matter and help the migrants and refugees.

The 20 refugees who attended the program now face problems related to work, house rent education and health.

However, the program provided a platform for the community to mingle with the archbishop, clergy, religious and the laity of the archdiocese.

Archbishop Couto in his address to the gathering stressed inclusiveness.

The prelate reiterated the Pope’s message and urged the community to welcome the refugees and migrants as brothers and sisters. He assured the refugees of his support and welcomed them to the archdiocese.

Their issues will be addressed through the migrants’ commission that will try to help them the best way possible, he added.

The celebration of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees has ignited the minds of the participants of the Mass where the Pope’s message was conveyed to them in the presence of the refugee community.

Pope Francis’ message on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, “Building the future with migrants and refugees” calls for recognizing and valuing the contribution of these communities to the countries of their settlement.