ARCORES Message for the 109th Wolrd Day of Migrants and Refugees

This year’s theme is “Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay” for the 109^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, with Pope Francis inviting us with a prayer for our communities and wherever we are in spaces of encounters:

God, Father Almighty,
grant us the grace to work tirelessly
for justice, solidarity and peace,
so that all your children may enjoy
the freedom to choose whether to migrate or to stay.

Grant us the courage to denounce
all the horrors of our world,
and to combat every injustice
that mars the beauty of your children
and the harmony of our common home.

Sustain us by the power of your Spirit,
so that we can reflect your tender love
to every migrant whom you place in our path,
and to spread in hearts and in every situation
the culture of encounter and of care.

Human crisis

The migrant and refugee crisis has a human face, too often of families or of women and children. They were either found across shores or their dead bodies plastered on the news.

We always have a dream to make the world a better place for those who suffer… it will always remain a dream if we continue doing nothing. This human crisis of migratory and refugee crisis must be addressed and we must participate in the work of pursuing a better future for others—”accompanying and managing waves of migration as best we can, constructing bridges and not walls, expanding channels for a safe and regular migration. In whatever place we decide to build our future, in the country of our birth or elsewhere, the important thing is that there always be a community ready to welcome, protect, promote and integrate everyone, without distinctions and without excluding anyone.” (Pope Francis, Message on The 109^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees).

ARCORES Argentina project “Entrepreneurs with impact”. Photo by ARCORES Argentina

Projects

In our ARCORES network, notable projects on migrants and refugees are being carried out in ARCORES Argentina, ARCORES Venezuela, ARCORES Colombia, among others.

ARCORES Spain participates together with other church entities (Caritas, CONFER, Department of Migration Episcopal Conference, REDES) in the promotion of legislative campaigns in favor of migrants’ rights, and throughout our network, we have collectively contributed to these projects. We hope that our welcoming attitude will provide better social projects for migrants and refugees.

We have seen, heard and felt the sacrifices of our brothers and sisters on the other side of the borders—”Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay” .With open arms, we welcome them, as Pope Francis encourages “The synodal path that we have undertaken as a Church leads us to see in those who are most vulnerable – among whom are many migrants and refugees – special companions on our way, to be loved and cared for as brothers and sisters.”