Migrants and refugees Mass in Canada celebrates universality, vibrancy of the Church

Vancouver, Canada, Oct 7, 2023 / 07:00 am

Eastern European floral prints were resplendent next to elaborate Asian headdresses at this year’s Mass celebrating the annual World Day for Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 23 in Richmond, British Columbia.

The event’s attendance was back to pre-COVID numbers, and St. Paul’s Church in Richmond was packed to capacity. An African choir provided music during Communion, and several hundred people attended a post-Mass reception with ethnic food served from many of the cultures present and performances by cultural choirs and dancers. 

In his homily, Father Richard Zanotti said it’s essential that migrants and refugees don’t get blamed for seeking a life of dignity.

“The universality of the Church is made visible by all of you gathered for this Eucharist, many cultures around one table to celebrate God’s love for us all,” said the Scalabrinian pastor of St. Ann’s, where he works with migrant workers in the Fraser Valley.

The Church teaches us that we all have a right to a life of dignity, replete with basic human needs like food, shelter, medical attention, and dignified work, he said.

In his address for this year’s Day for Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis said: “Since the world’s resources are not unlimited, the development of the economically poorer countries depends on the capacity for sharing that we can manage to generate among all countries.”

Until that happens, “many people will still have to emigrate in order to seek a better life, a life worthy of dignity,” the pope said.

Reflecting on the pope’s message, Zanotti said it’s important not to blame migrants and refugees but to look at the world’s responsibility for supporting poor countries so their people don’t feel compelled to leave.

“We pray for the political will to do this in a safe and orderly way,” Zanotti said.

‘If I was caught, it could mean death’: a refugee’s testimony

As is the custom after the Mass, the audience heard from a Catholic refugee who shared her story of coming to Canada.

This year’s testimony came from an Eritrean woman who shared how she escaped the injustice of her home country. She asked that her name not be published.

“Thirteen years ago, I decided to leave Eritrea, the country that I grew up in and I loved.

“Under dictatorship, soldiers had put us forever in slavery. Life was unbearable, and we were working unpaid for the government.” One day she went with a friend to a shoe store to buy plastic sandals, she said, “the kind our freedom fighters wore during the 30-year war for independence in my country. I was ready for my journey to freedom in my freedom shoes.”

This article originally appeared in The B.C. Catholic on Oct. 5, 2023, and has been adapted and reprinted here with permission.