PASTORAL MESSAGE
“The MIGRATION SUNDAY”
August
09, 1981
The second chapter of the Gospel
according to Matthew (vv. 13-15) describes the flight into Egypt of Joseph,
Mary and Jesus. It depicts the Holy Family as fleeing from their native land
in order to escape persecution.
The modern-day counterparts
of the Holy Family, the refugees of today, have increased in numbers. There
are Indo-chinese refugees in Southeast Asia, refugees from Afghanistan, refugees in Africa.
On the one hand, non-Communist
countries of Southeast Asia are bracing themselves for a possible new wave
of Vietnamese refugees, while, on the other hand, interest in Indo-chinese refugees, according to the regional coordinator for
Asia of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is dwindling, because
there are other problems, in Africa and Afghanistan, for example, and because
the biggest intaker — the United States of America,
— has been “going through a period of controversy.”
We therefore appeal to our
people for help, by prayers and alms, in the work being done by Catholic agencies
for refugees while in the Philippines.
The Center of Assistance to Displaced Persons (CADP) with office in the Sta. Isabel College compound, provides a variety
of social services to Vietnamese dependents of Filipinos who used to work
in Vietnam before the fall of Saigon. It also
maintains a center in Puerto Princesa, Palawan where “boat cases” are given temporary shelter and care
before they are brought to the Philippine Refugee Processing Center in Morong, Bataan. The CADP likewise provides pastoral care to the refugees
who stay at the Fabella Center in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila,
while they wait for passage to the receiving countries.
CARITAS-MANILA helps at the
Morong Processing Center by taking care of the children and by providing for
the spiritual care of all the refugees.
We would like to conclude by
echoing the appeal made by Pope John Paul II, when he visited the Morong Refugee Center last February 21st: “I appeal... on
behalf of all displaced persons throughout the world. I appeal for increased
aid for them, so that present efforts may be sustained, strengthened and reinforced.
I appeal for continued prayers for all the refugees throughout the world,
and for the warmth of human concern and fraternal love towards every brother
and sister who needs our solidarity and support.”
(SGD.) + JAIME L. CARDINAL SIN, D.D.
Archbishop of Manila
