Jubilee of Migrants and Refugees Celebrated in Delhi

New Delhi, September 28, 2025 – Over 250 faithful, including migrant communities, clergy, and parishioners, gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday to mark the World Day and Jubilee of Migrants and Refugees with a Eucharistic celebration led by Auxiliary Bishop Deepak Tauro of Delhi.

Bishop Deepak Tauro, Auxiliary Bishop of Delhi and newly appointed Chairman of the Diocesan Commission for Migrants, presided over the Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, he reminded the faithful that the Jubilee of Migrants is a call to walk as true “Pilgrims of Hope.” He stressed that migrants and refugees are not statistics but brothers and sisters with faces, stories, and dreams.

“Their journeys mirror Christ himself, who was once a refugee,” Bishop Tauro said. “As Christians, we cannot remain indifferent. We are called to welcome, to build bridges, and to make room for them in our hearts and communities.” He urged the faithful to turn compassion into action, noting: “Every time we welcome the stranger and share what we have, we do not just help others – we become Christ to them.”

After Mass, the community gathered in the Cathedral hall for cultural programmes, games, and fellowship. Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI, assured migrants of the Church’s unwavering presence: “You are not alone – we are with you.” He described their witness as “a living reminder of Christ who journeys with his people.”

Fr. Jaison Vadassery, Executive Secretary of the CCBI Commission for Migrants, thanked participants and reaffirmed the Commission’s mission of accompaniment and care. “Your pain is our pain, your hopes are our hopes,” he said. “The Commission is here to listen, to support, and to stand by you as a family of faith.”

Other speakers included Fr. Martin Puthussery, SJ, Director of Migrants Assistance and Information Network; Dr. T. Philip Thanglienmang of the North East Catholic Community of Delhi – Goodwill Mission; and Sr. Inigo Joachim SSA. Each expressed solidarity and encouraged migrants to hold fast to hope.

Performances by the Myanmar community, internally displaced persons from Manipur, and other migrant groups, featuring songs in their own languages, added cultural richness while celebrating unity in faith.

Jointly organised by the CCBI Commission for Migrants and the Delhi Diocesan Commission for Migrants, the event stood as a powerful witness to the Church’s mission. As Bishop Tauro reminded the faithful, and as Fr. Alathara emphasised, standing with migrants is not optional but lies at the heart of the Gospel.

By Sr. Rani Punnasseril HCM

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