World Day of Migrants and Refugees, 29th September 2019

The Council for Immigrants of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has prepared a Parish Resource Pack for use on the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 

Parish Resource Pack

Click here to download the resource pack.

Message of Pope Francis for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

The theme of the Pope’s message for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is ‘It is not just about migrants’.

In his message, Pope Francis says, “In a word, it is not only the cause of migrants that is at stake; it is not just about them, but about all of us, and about the present and future of the human family. Migrants, especially those who are most vulnerable, help us to read the “signs of the times”. Through them, the Lord is calling us to conversion, to be set free from exclusivity, indifference and the throw-away culture. Through them, the Lord invites us to embrace fully our Christian life and to contribute, each according to his or her proper vocation, to the building up of a world that is more and more in accord with God’s plan.

Download the message in full here.

Prayers

An Immigrant Prayer

Dear Jesus, our journey through life is long and hard. We cannot make this trip alone; we must walk
together on the journey. You promised to send us a helper, your Spirit. Help us to see your Spirit
in those you send to journey with us. In the refugee family, seeking safety from violence, let us see
your Spirit. In the migrant worker, bringing food to our tables, let us see your Spirit. In the asylum seeker, seeking justice for himself and his family, let us see your Spirit. In the unaccompanied child,
traveling in a dangerous world, let us see your Spirit. Teach us to recognise that as we walk with
each other, you are present. Teach us to welcome not only the strangers in our midst but the gifts
they bring as well: the invitation to conversion, communion, and solidarity. This is the help you have
sent: we are not alone. We are together on the journey, and for this we give you thanks.

Amen.
 

Irish Blessing for those Who are Forced to Leave Home

The love and affection of the angels be to you,
The love and affection of the saints be to you,
The love and affection of heaven be to you,
To guard and to cherish you.
May God shield you on every step,
May he aid you on every path,
And may he hold you safe on every slope,
On every hill and on every plain;
On earth and on sea until it is safe to go home again.
 

Prayer of the Faithful

We pray that we may accept the gifts of our migrants and refugees with open hands and hearts
showing them that we are brothers and sisters. Lord hear us.

We pray that we may live our baptismal commitment by helping refugees and migrants in our
dioceses and parishes. Lord hear us.

We pray that we may listen to the Word of God and live it out fully by our hospitality to all in our
parish. Lord hear us.

We pray that we may hear and answer ‘here I am’ to the Gospel values of being welcoming to one
another, especially our immigrant brothers and sisters. Lord hear us.

We pray that we may reach out to touch others as Jesus did. Lord hear us.

We pray that we are willing to help others who are in need of basic necessities, such as food, and are
also able to listen to those in need. Lord hear us.

We pray that we may find ways of following Jesus by seeking ways to help refugees, migrants and
their families. Lord hear us.

God of Unity and Hope, we pray that our country may be transformed with love. May we hear the
cries of migrant and refugee families and be ready to help them in any ways we can. Lord hear us.
All immigrants are our brothers and sisters and all children are gifts of God to us. May we grow in
caring for others and be sensitive to their needs. May we welcome those who come to our diocese
and parish.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Litany –  It is not just about migrants

It is not just about migrants:
it is also about our fears and hurts.
It is not just about migrants:
it is about charity and compassion.
It is not just about migrants:
it is about our humanity.
It is not just about migrants:
it is a question of seeing that no one is abandoned or excluded.
It is not just about migrants:
it is about putting the last in first place.
It is not just about migrants:
it is about the whole person, about all people.
It is not just about migrants:
it is about building the city of God.

Litany based on the message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees 2019.