By Rani Punnasseril
New Delhi, Oct 1, 2023: The Church in India has celebrated the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees in the national capital with more than 300 Burmese Catholic refugees and People who have fled the ethnic violence in Manipur.
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated on the last Sunday of September. This year it fell on September 24.
The program in New Delhi was jointly organized by the Commission for Migrants, the Delhi Catholic Archdiocesan Migrants Commission and Sacred Heart Cathedral.
The migrants and their supporters gathered around the Sacred Heart Cathedral, New Delhi.
Cathedral parish priest Father Swami Nathan welcomed the migrants and refugees to the church and requested the parish community to pray for them and assist them in their need. Most migrants came in their traditional attire holding on to their culture and practice.
The Church has celebrated the World Day of Migrants and Refugees since 1914. The commission said the day was an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move and survivors of human trafficking.
The commission also urged the gathering to pray for the migrants so that they can face many challenges. The program also aimed at increasing awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.
Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur, the commission chairman, and Father Jaison Vadassery, its executive secretary, had sent a circular regarding the spread of the Message of Pope Francis on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
The theme chosen by the Pope is “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay.” The message was translated into ten regional languages.
Father Alphonse Shah, the chancellor of the Delhi Archdiocese, said the Pope’s message urges people to promote the right not to have to migrate or the right to be able to remain in one’s own land.
After the Mass, all gathered in the Convent of Jesus and Mary School, where some Burmese migrants shared their ordeal of migration to India amid violence in their homeland.
Augustin, the catechist of Burmese Catholic Community, said majority of them have only the proof of asylum seekers. Since the UNHCR has not given them the refugee status they are running from pillar to post to obtain it.
Maria from Myanmar said she fled New Delhi 12 years ago because of war and violence in her country. She said her people struggle to survive because they have no jobs.
The Archdiocese of Delhi has assured all possible help regarding health and education.
Many migrants said they found the celebration meaningful and it helped them to experience their belongingness to the Catholic Church.
Migrants and Refugees – they are ambassadors of the Good News. They awaken sentiments of goodwill, welcome, hospitality, concern, care, and love in the hearts and minds of their doubly blessed hosts.
Wonderful initiative. Let’s hope the displaced migrants get some solace from sharing and caring. Unfortunately Pope’s theme “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay” is a mirage today in the current international and also the Manipur scenario.