By Rani Punnasseril
Bengaluru, March 15, 2025: A renewed commitment to migrants’ dignity, rights, and well-being was the highlight of two-day training program of the Karnataka Regional Migrant Commission that ended March 14 in Bengaluru.
The event brought together 21 participants from the state’s 11 Larin rite dioceses, who pledged to walk alongside migrants with greater solidarity and purpose.
The training on “Discerning Synodal Pathways for the Ministry of Migrants” was organized by Father Franklin Minj, secretary of the regional commission, in collaboration with its national counterpart under the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.
The March 13–14 training held at Paalana Bhavana, the archdiocesan pastoral center, was facilitated by CCBI Commission executive secretary Father Jaison Vadassery and his team. It focused on pastoral care, migrant leadership, Church advocacy in social struggles, legal rights, and mental health support for migrants.
Father Charles Leon, executive secretary of the CCBI Commission for Vocation, Seminaries, Clergy, and Religious, challenged the participants to focus on building up migrant leadership and movements, drawing lessons from the Church’s involvement in the struggles of the people.
On the occasion, the Catholic Connect media team guided participants on publishing news and enhancing the Church’s visibility in India. They emphasized strategic media outreach, digital storytelling, and leveraging social platforms to bring migrant issues to the forefront.
The participants developed an action plan to strengthen the Church’s commitment to migrant communities:
• Migrant Ministry Cells – Each diocese will establish dedicated teams to provide pastoral care, legal assistance, and social support to migrant families.
• Empowering Migrant Leaders – Training programs will equip migrants to lead community associations, advocate for rights, and build self-reliant networks.
• Strengthening Collaborations – The Church will actively engage government agencies, NGOs, and labour organizations to enhance access to essential services.
• Leveraging Social Media – Digital platforms will be utilized for outreach, awareness campaigns, and resource sharing to better connect with migrants.
• Mental Health and Well-Being – Special programs will focus on psychological support, counselling, and trauma healing to ensure migrants’ holistic well-being.
The participants left the program reaffirming their commitment to fostering an inclusive, compassionate Church that stands with migrants and displaced persons.
In his inaugural address, Father Siby, a provincial councillor the Claretians, urged the Church to listen to migrants with compassion and urgency. “The cry of the migrant must not go unheard. It is our duty to offer healing, hope, and a home wherever they are.”
The program highlighted the emotional struggles of migrants, including loneliness, isolation, discrimination, and poor living conditions. The participants acknowledged the post-migration trauma many endure, from separation from families to challenges in legal documentation.
Karnataka, especially its capital Bengaluru, draws thousands people from other Indian states seeking jobs and education.
Recognizing migration as both a challenge and an opportunity, the meeting emphasized community-based support, capacity-building initiatives, and education for migrants to ensure a safer, more dignified migration journey.