By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Seojin Kwon, 6, looks up at her aunt, Elizabeth Cho, while waiting to bring up the offertory gifts. Both are members of the Korean Apostolate.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Halina Elliott, a member of Polish Apostolate, offers roses to Archbishop Thomas Wenski during the offertory.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Nanehemi Bernard, a Haitian-American, and Cristina Franco, a Filippino-American, hold hands during The Lord's Prayer.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Haitian-Americans sing during the Mass.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Oby Okany, a Nigerian-American, plays the Udu at the conclusion of the Mass.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Myriam Mezadieu, administrator, and Randy McGrorty, supervising attorney of Catholic Legal Services, far left, pose for a photo with Archbishop Thomas Wenski, Father Jets Medina, newly appointed director of the Ministry to Cultural Groups, and Father Richard Vigoa, the archbishop's priest-secretary, at the reception which followed the Mass.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Maria and Krzysctof Poprawski hold the Polish flag as their grandchildren, Madeline Poprawski, 4, and Oscar Poprawski, 3, sing along with a group performing the Polish national anthem.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Anjana Deepu, 15, performs along with other members of Our Lady of Health dance group during the reception that followed the Mass.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual Migration Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on the feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, Jan. 3.
Photography: MARLENE QUARONI | FC
MIAMI | Speaking many tongues and attired in a rainbow of colors, members of the dozen or so non-Hispanic cultural groups in the archdiocese gathered Jan. 3 at St. Mary Cathedral for the annual Mass kicking off National Migration Week.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski was the main celebrant at the Mass. He was accompanied by Father Jets Medina, a Filipino-born archdiocesan priest who was recently named director of the Ministry to Cultural Groups. Also concelebrating were the priest-chaplains of the various ethnic and language groups, among them Koreans, Vietnamese, Chinese, Brazilians, Poles, Indians, Nigerians and Filipinos.
"Today’s feast of the Epiphany celebrates God’s utter inclusivity," Archbishop Wenski said in his homily. "God who becomes our flesh in the child born in Bethlehem is Lord of the chosen people; he is also Lord of all peoples, Jewish and gentile."
He added that "in the Church there are no borders � for all peoples find a home in her bosom," and noted Miami's own history of welcoming immigrants. "Today we celebrate the how the presence of immigrants and their children has enriched our parishes and our communities."
"A Stranger and You Welcomed Me" is the theme for this year's National Migration Week, which began with the celebration of the feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 3, and continues through Jan. 9.
The celebration provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the hardships faced by migrants, including children, refugees, and victims of human trafficking.
According to the U.S. bishops, the call to welcome the stranger plays an important role in the lives of faithful Christians and has a particularly central place in the Year of Mercy.
"People often forget that the Holy Family themselves were refugees fleeing into Egypt," said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary bishop of Seattle and chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Migration. "Likewise, refugees around the world, all of whom are extremely vulnerable, are fleeing for their lives. As Catholics, we are called to welcome and support these families who also need our help."
The U.S. bishops began the observance of National Migration Week over 25 years ago, to give Catholics an opportunity to take stock of the wide diversity of peoples in the Church and the ministries serving them. The week serves as both a time for prayer and action to try and ease the struggles of immigrants, migrants and vulnerable populations coming to the United States.
