“For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees)
I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife.
In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome.
In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.
Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying.
While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity.
Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others.
This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone.
In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life.
A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this.
For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself.
Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another.
The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace.
What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts.
Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable.
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