LIVONIA, MICH. – Each year, on the last Sunday in September, the Catholic Church commemorates “World Day for Migrants and Refugees.” This commemoration reminds us that the Holy Family was forced to leave Israel and flee to Egypt to protect the life of the infant Jesus. For this year’s 110th observance, Pope Francis selected the theme “God walks with his people.”
“Pope Francis calls for solidarity with migrants, reminding us that their journeys mirror the biblical Exodus, with God as their guide and companion,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration. “He emphasizes that every encounter with migrants is an encounter with Christ, urging us to respond with compassion, recognizing their struggles as a reflection of our shared journey toward the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Our Catholic faith inspires us to stand with the vulnerable and “protect the dignity of each person.” As a Felician-sponsored ministry, Madonna University has a special connection to the people of Haiti. The Felician Sisters have a ministry in Jacmel, Haiti and the University, offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration for Haitian students. The Bible asks us to “show hospitality to strangers.” [Hebrews 13: 2] Our support for the people of Haiti extends to Haitian people in the United States as well.
The Felician Sisters, in their September 2024 Solidarity Statement, stress the time is now for us to stand up for the dignity of Haitian Americans:
“The negative media these past weeks concerning our Haitian brothers and sisters has been very painful for us. We have lived and worked with Haitians in Haiti for 10 years, and Haitian immigrants in North Miami these past two years. We know them well.
Haitians take great pride in family and community – they are survivors, talented, hardworking and are seeking the American dream like many of our families did when they arrived in America.
The lies being spread have been verified to be false and demean the human dignity of Haitian Americans.
This is not what America was built upon. We are to be one nation under God, where all should be respected and not be disparaged. We can do better.”1
We reaffirm the Mission and Core Values of Madonna University on behalf of Haitian migrants:
These values, grounded in Gospel teachings and experienced through a Felician-Franciscan lens, reflect the constitutive element of radical inclusion.
Therefore, we stand in solidarity with our Haitian Brothers and Sisters as well as all migrants and refugees who flee oppression, violence, or climate change. Our hope is that we may embrace, welcome, and show kindness to all migrants and refugees who are hurt by false statements and the threat of violence. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and strive to live in a society where all are encouraged to reach their full potential.
Please join Madonna University students and staff this Sunday, September 29, at 2:30 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, in Detroit, as they participate in the march to commemorate the “World Day for Migrants and Refugees.” May we as a Catholic institution, live fully our values to protect life and to stand with the most vulnerable in our world.
