Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

Pope Francis has highlighted the importance of migrants and refugees in his message for the 2024 World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), which will be observed on September 29, 2024. The issue of immigration is a significant topic in the 2024 US elections, affecting not just border states but also communities across the nation. Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration, discussed this focus in light of Pope Francis' message.

Bishop Seitz released a five-minute video discussing his experiences with migrants and refugees in his diocese on the Mexico-US Border. He noted that many parishes and diocesan centers have opened their facilities to shelter and accommodate migrants, discovering profound insights through this process.

Pope Francis invited Bishop Seitz to Rome in September 2024 to share these experiences with newly appointed bishops from around the world, emphasizing that migrants are a pastoral priority for the Catholic Church. According to Bishop Seitz, "The theme is vital to understanding the shared responsibility to be a synodal church."

A two-minute WDMR 2024 video from the Vatican features Pope Francis calling everyone to action: “We are called to open our eyes and heart, to accompany one another, especially the most vulnerable." The Pope encourages acts such as praying, reflecting on our collective journey as migrants, donating resources, volunteering, or offering kindness and hospitality to newcomers.

In Hawaii, parishioners can support migrants through various initiatives like parish food pantries and feeding programs involving migrant participants. Schools within the diocese often have students from migrant families. Some parishes have hosted citizenship workshops and legal aid services for migrants and refugees while others support migrant workers striving for better wages and working conditions.

For more information on how to support migrants and refugees worldwide during WDMR 2024, visit www.migrants-refugees.va.