The 24th National Migrants Sunday (NMS) celebration which carries the theme “Sustainable Economic Development: Key to an Effective Migrant Family Reunification” will also be an occasion for people to realize how the Church responds to the growing concern of labor migration.

Poor economic policy promotes migration

According to the Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People (ECMI) of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the decline of socio-economic and political environment at home had encouraged Filipinos to leave the country and seek better paying jobs abroad.

Many Filipinos, especially the poor are quick to consider migration as the only option to combat economic poverty and social injustice.

But the government, even after four decades of labor migration, has shown insufficient economic development for its own people.

Many OFWs observed that a lot depends on good governance to create a sustainable economic environment that would entice investments.

“Job creation that would not only afford their basic daily needs but offers hope to upgrade the ordinary people’s economic and social standards are key elements that would discourage them to abandon the homeland,” an accountant who had been working in the Middle East has opined.

Election

The migrants sector regards the upcoming election as a critical time to assess the stance of political candidates on the issue of migration.

According to ECMI, the OFWs have expressed their opinions that the next set of political leaders should seriously address the plight of migrants.

Both Church and migrants’ sector believe that a strong political will is needed for good governance to take effect in the country’s leadership.

NMS celebration in Dioceses

Several dioceses that have active migrants’ ministry have lined up program of activities to honor the unsung heroes of their areas.

Seven parishes at the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro City will join the first diocesan celebration of NMS with a Eucharistic celebration to be presided by Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, SJ. He will be assisted by Msgr. Tex Legitimas, according to Sr. Alice Arreglo, DC of the Apostleship of the Sea-CDO.

In Davao, Archbishop Fernando Capalla will lead the migrants and their families in a mass and fellowship in Davao City, together with his newly-appointed diocesan minister for migrants.

The Diocese of Tagbilaran will host the major celebration of NMS in the Visayas. Bishop Leonardo Medroso will lead about 1,500 migrants and their families at the Eucharistic celebration to be celebrated at Wisdom School Gym, according to Gerry Gonzales, ECMI-Visayas Coordinator. Similar activities will also be held in the diocese of Maasin, Jaro and Bacolod.

Bayombong diocese will host the biggest celebration of the NMS in Luzon at the Nueva Viscaya State University (NVSU). Bishop Ramon Villena will preside a mass to be attended by a large number of vacationing OFWs and their families.

At St. William Cathedral in San Fernando, La Union, Bishop Artemio Rillera will hold a fellowship for OFW families after the Eucharistic celebration where members of La Union Inter-Agency for Migrants Council (LUIMCO) will equally participate.

In Pampanga, Archbishop Paciano Aniceto and Bishop Pablo David will lead the Kapampangans in celebrating the Eucharist at the Holy Rosary Parish in Angeles City.

In Southern Luzon, Archbishop Ramon Arguelles will also lead the mass and fellowship with OFW families at St. Francis Major Seminary in Lipa City. At St. Gregory Academy in Indang, Cavite, Bishop Antonio Tagle will preside over the Eucharist, where the Sons and Daughters of Overseas Filipinos (SDO) assembly will segue.

In Manila, Antipolo Auxiliary Bishop Francis de Leon will lead the celebration of the mass at 9:00 a.m. at the Nuestra Señora de Guia in Ermita organized by the archdiocesan migrant minister Fr. Tem Fabros.

Meanwhile, Bishop Gabriel Reyes will also preside a 9:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Good Voyage in Antipolo, a favorite destination of OFW pilgrims before going abroad. The mass will be immediately followed by a fellowship organized by Fr. Joey Bautista, the diocesan minister for migrants.

Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez will preside over a mass at the Sacred Heart Parish in Malabon for a diocesan post migrants’ celebration on February 28.

Other dioceses that had signified to conduct various activities for migrants and their families are Abra, Vigan, Baguio, Ilagan, Cabanatuan, San Jose-Nueva Ecija, Novaliches, Palo, Cebu, Bacolod, and Malaybalay.