As communities around the world unite to celebrate Migration Week, we are reminded that every journey tells a story of hope, resilience, and culture. Since 2022, the United Nations Network of Migrations has hosted Migration Week every year to promote migration-related issues. The celebration has attracted over 3,000 participants in more than 20 events on all continents. 

Migration Week aims to raise awareness about the importance of migration as well as foster conversation. According to the United Nations Network of Migrations, Migration Week facilitates “meaningful discussions and exchanges among policymakers, experts, civil society organizations, and migrants themselves to address migration challenges and explore innovative solutions.”

As explained in an article by Justice for Immigrants, Migration Week is an “opportunity for the global church and the Catholic faithful to engage in prayer, reflection, and action on behalf of our brothers and sisters who are forced to flee their homes.” The event serves as a reminder that God is with us in all of our lives just was we should be with our fellow brothers and sisters. 

Joseph Horejs, the Director of Service Learning who led Migration Week on campus, shared that the “Catholic church contemplates the issues of migrants and refugees…helping those who are in need because of war, poverty, and natural disasters.” 

After sharing the theme of this year’s Migration Week as “God walks with his people,” Pope Francis explained, “Like the people of Israel in the time of Moses, migrants often flee from oppression, abuse, insecurity, discrimination, and lack of opportunities for development.” Migrants face countless struggles and it is important for individuals to help them throughout their journey. 

When asked about the specific events on campus to celebrate migration, Mr. Horejs explained, “Working with religion classes, we held a migration gallery walk…students watched a few videos and heard a few short stories of immigrants…students took a look at pictures of immigrants fleeing their country.” Through the help of Mission and Ministry faculty, CCHS students were able to learn more about unique migration stories and people who are working to help them in their travels.

Mr. Horejs additionally shared why it is critical for students to learn about migration, saying, “As a Catholic school, it is important for us to be aware of the many suffering throughout the world.” He added, “It is important for us to have empathy for those that may have more struggles…we can learn to be more grateful and more sensitive to their needs.”

“I learned about various people’s stories of migration to different parts of America,” said Julia Sindici, a CCHS student who shared what she learned during Migration Week on campus. When asked why it is important for students to learn about migration week, Sincidi shared, “It shows that people in America come from all different backgrounds.”

When interviewing junior CCHS student Keira Tichbon on her experiences during migration week, Keira shared, “I think Migration Week is important because it educates students about migrants who came to a new country and their own individual experiences.”