Twenty-three years ago, the Novaliches Diocese launched its migrant ministry – becoming among the very first diocese to do so. Today it has almost 30 parishes actively involved in this ministry.
The celebration began with a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Rev. Msgr. Jesus Romulo C. Rañada, Novaliches Diocese Vicar General for Administration. In his key message that followed, Msgr. Rañada observed that while the ministry has grown, it seems to be lagging behind other more “popular” ministries. “Perhaps this is because we send our people to other countries, but do not in turn receive migrants from other countries. So if there are no migrants to take care of in our country, who do we minister?”
He reflected: “Our service needs to take another form. We need to refocus our service to the families of our OFWs, and work to strengthen family life because they are who are most affected by the wave of migration.
“Migration is connected to human search for happiness, and happiness is connected to hope,” he concluded. ‘’People leave the county because they’re searching for a better future. As such they are pilgrims of hope. They embody resilience, trust in God, and are witnesses to hope.”
The event was organized by PAMINOVA in solidarity with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines – Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI). It coincided with the global observance of the 111TH World Day of Migrants and Refugees (October 4-5), as declared by Pope Leo XIV.
The PAMINOVA ministry is led by Fr. Leo Laguilles as Priest Coordinator and MA-MIGRANTI coordinator and Diocesan Lay Coordinator Bro Eugine Galvo.
In his inspirational message, Fr. Leo related, “Ang migrants ministry ay nag-umpisa sa isang pagkabahala.” He explained the ministry was formed after Pope Leo XIII took notice of how millions of Catholic migrants who had emigrated to the Americas and other regions to flee poverty were often isolated, exploited or were losing their faith.
“The ministry has since expanded to many parts of the Christian world, proving that service is not limited by territory,” he said. “Migration is a worldwide phenomenon but while it is a blessing to many, it can also be a curse because of its detrimental effect on family life. That’s why the Migrants ministry is so important.”
Also present was Bro. Edmund Ruga, CBCP-ECMI Luzon coordinator, who encouraged the participants who still did not have a migrants desk in their parish to set up the ministry, explaining that the process consists of 1) appointing parish migrants coordinators, 2) running a survey among at least 100 respondents who have an overseas in their family, 3) attending Parish Seminar Awareness on the Life of Migrants Overseas (PSALMO), 4) organizing and forming the parish migrants desk, and 5) ensuring sustaining activity.
An interesting portion of the celebration was the video showing some of the 11 songs originally composed and sung by Fr. Leo, focusing on the joys and sacrifices of migrants and the families left behind.
