US Catholics Join with Pope Francis in Campaign to “Share the Journey” of Migrants and Refugees
WASHINGTON— Followinglast week's kick-off of the "Share the Journey" Migration Campaign, launched byPope Francis on Sept. 27, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops incollaboration with Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities USA arecalling for a Week of Prayer and Actionfrom October 7-13
WASHINGTON— Followinglast week's kick-off of the "Share the Journey" Migration Campaign, launched byPope Francis on Sept. 27, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops incollaboration with Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities USA arecalling for a Week of Prayer and Actionfrom October 7-13, 2017. Diocesesacross the country are encouraged to participate by hosting different eventsduring this week and throughout the two-year campaign.
"During the week ofprayer and action we need to show our support and compassion for those inneed," said Bishop Joe Vásquez, Chair of USCCB's Committee on Migration. "It isimportant that we also highlight the positive contributions that migrants andrefugees have made to our society."
"The Holy Father has repeatedly called on usto support migrants and refugees forcibly displaced from their homes," saidJoan Rosenhauer, CRS Vice President for US Operations. "We're called by theGospel to love our neighbor, and amid a global refugee crisis not seen sinceWorld War II, we have to do more to welcome and support those whose lives arethreatened by violence and poverty. In the U.S. we can do that by admitting themost vulnerable refugees for resettlement and of course assist them and thecountries hosting them around the world."
Resources andinformation about the campaign and week of prayer and action are available onthe campaign's website, www.sharejourney.org. Included amongst the information is atoolkit for Catholic leaders that offers ideas on how to show their support andsolidarity with migrants and refugees in schools, at mass and in the community.
Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD, president and CEO ofCatholic Charities USA (CCUSA) said, "When we encounter people who have had toflee to the U.S. in order to save their lives, we do not have to guess at howto help. We pray for them and we extend ourselves in compassion to assistin whatever ways we can."
The "Share theJourney" campaign kicked off globally last week by the Caritas network. TheUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services(CRS) and Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) are sponsoring the campaign in theU.S. Both CRS, working in more than 100 countries around the world, and CCUSA,the Catholic Church's domestic agency, are members of Caritas Internationalis,the Church's worldwide charity organization that is the overall sponsor of thecampaign.
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About Catholic Charities USA
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), a member of CaritasInternationalis, is the national office for the Catholic Charities ministrynationwide. CCUSA's members provide help and create hope to more than 8 millionpeople a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. Tolearn more, please visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org and follow CCUSA on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the official internationalhumanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agencyalleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS' relief and development work is accomplishedthrough programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education,microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, visit www.crs.org orwww.crsespanol.org andfollow Catholic Relief Services on social media: Facebook, Twitter at @CatholicRelief,@CRSnews and @CRSnoticias, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
About the U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops
TheUnited States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of thehierarchy of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands who jointly exercisecertain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the UnitedStates. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good which theChurch offers humankind, especially through forms and programs of theapostolate fittingly adapted to the circumstances of time and place. Thispurpose is drawn from the universal law of the Church and applies to theepiscopal conferences which are established all over the world for the samepurpose. For more information, visit www.usccb.org and www.justiceforimmigrants.org Followthe USCCB on Facebook, Twitter @USCCB, Instagram.###
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