To mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Washington Auxiliary Bishop Mario Dorsonville – the chairman of Committee on Migration for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – will celebrate a Mass on Sunday Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at St. John Neumann Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The Mass will be live streamed on St. John Neumann’s YouTube channel due to limits on the sizes of public gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

During the Mass, Bishop Dorsonville will also commemorate the feast of  El Señor de los Milagros or The Lord of Miracles, the patron saint of  the Peruvian community.

The Vatican has designated Sept. 27, 2020 as the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. The theme chosen by Pope Francis for the 106th observance of this day is “Forced Like Jesus Christ to Flee,” to focus on the plight of internally displaced persons. 

In a statement, Bishop Dorsonville said, “The World Day for Migrants and Refugees is an opportunity to reflect on the global contributions of immigrants and refugees, and highlight the work of the Church to welcome, protect and integrate them. We are reminded that regardless of our background, we are all built in the image of God and should be treated as such. In his message on the World Day for Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis has highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the forced displacement of people and the difficulties they encounter when seeking protection. This day is an opportunity to unite the world in addressing forced displacement and pray for the well-being of our immigrant and refugee brothers and sisters as we continue to work to bring solidarity, compassion and love throughout our human encounters.”

In his annual message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis noted, “To preserve our common home and make it conform more and more to God’s original plan, we must commit ourselves to ensuring international cooperation, global solidarity and local commitment, leaving no one excluded.’”

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at least 79.5 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes in 2020. Among them are nearly 26 million refugees, around half of whom are under the age of 18. Nearly 46 million people are internally displaced within the borders of their own countries due to armed conflict, violence, human rights violations or natural or man-made disasters.

For the text of Pope Francis’s message for the 2020 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, visit the USCCB’s Justice for Immigrants website.