At the annual Mass in Honor of World Day of Migrants and Refugees Sept. 28, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge had a message and a challenge for the faithful.
As Catholics, we must continue “to recognize a brother and sister in need and to respond generously,” he said. He gave the example of the rich man in the Gospel reading (Luke 16:19–31), in which he ignored the poor, suffering Lazarus on his doorstep. “If we are to avoid the failure of the rich man, we must not be numb (or) no longer aware of … the suffering and hardships that many of our brothers and sisters — including the stranger in our midst — encounter, and treat them simply as part of the landscape,” he said.
Looking out into the crowd gathered at Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Church in Arlington, Bishop Burbidge presented a challenge. “And so, this week, ask the question, ‘Who is the Lazarus at my doorstep?’ ” he asked. “Something tells me that you will not have to look too far.”
Present at the Mass were staff from diocesan Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. “Catholic Charities serves immigrants, migrants and refugees each day from all over the world, and continues to do so, even during these troubling times with reduced federal funding and partnerships,” Bishop Burbidge said. “We will never tire of this work.”
The Mass also marked the conclusion of U.S. bishops’ National Migration Week with the theme, “Migrants, missionaries of hope.” Bishop Burbidge shared a past, hopeful encounter with two MRS clients, two brothers in their early 20s from Afghanistan. They were greeted and welcomed by Catholic Charities staff, who helped them find housing and employment, he said.
“One (of the brothers) said to me, ‘This is the first time I have met the Catholic Church, and I have met love. My brother and I were welcomed, embraced, and cared for with compassion. Our hearts are filled with gratitude,’ ” Bishop Burbidge said.
According to Stephen Carratini, president and CEO of diocesan Catholic Charities, MRS has had no small impact over the last half-century. “We’ve served 50,000 in 50 years,” he said.
But the year has also brought new challenges to MRS’ work serving migrants, refugees and newcomers, according to Jessica Estrada, director of MRS Newcomer Services. “In January, there was a pause on resettlement,” Estrada said. “We are not receiving any new clients to the airport.”
In January, the Trump administration froze federal funding for a program through which Catholic Charities provided aid to migrants, refugees and newcomers. The USCCB filed a Feb. 18 lawsuit to challenge the federal decision, but a federal judge subsequently ruled that he could not order the federal government to pay.
Diocesan Catholic Charities also felt the pinch. “We did have a little bit of reduction, and that was mostly our staff (who) worked in resettlement,” Estrada said.
MRS services range from helping clients find employment to school assistance to health programs. “The majority of our work is around employment,” Estrada said. “We work with them for up to five years to think about a career path and career advancement.” MRS also helps newcomers navigate the American health care system. Expectant or newly postpartum mothers receive care through the “Healthy Babies Program,” which provides them with pregnancy and other baby essentials. MRS also helps school-aged children register with a new school, and provides mentorship opportunities.
Estrada said one common misconception she often encounters concerns refugees’ legal status in the U.S. “Refugees in particular have a path to citizenship when they come to this country,” she said. “That’s important for people to understand.”
Despite the challenges, the reward comes from seeing MRS clients’ success, Estrada added. “We have clients now that are physicians … and we have clients who are owning their own businesses and have their own homes,” she said. “It really does show that when you give people a chance to thrive, they will.”
Several MRS clients gathered with Bishop Burbidge and Carratini after Mass to share their experiences transitioning to a new life in the U.S. Three siblings, Sharifa, Yoldash and Arefa Rahmani resettled in the U.S. in January with their family from Afghanistan. All three siblings said they’ve worked hard to succeed in school, get new jobs, and even apply to colleges, all the while learning English. “Your English is perfect,” Bishop Burbidge exclaimed.
Another client, Farah Naz Faizi also came from Afghanistan in 2022. Now a junior at Hayfield Secondary School in Fairfax, she speaks four languages — and is currently learning French — and hopes to study dentistry at George Mason University in Fairfax.
The younger newcomers had a chance to ask questions to Thu Bui, 91, who left Vietnam in 1973 and settled in the Arlington diocese. He said he encountered much discrimination. Once, someone shot at his house, breaking a window and nearly killing his daughter. “It was very hard, but I have overcome everything,” he said.
Carratini shared his own story of fleeing Iran. “I lived in Iran for seven years, and in 1978, which was my senior year in high school, the revolution happened in Iran, and so we had to leave,” he said. “I did not lose a homeland that day, but I did lose my home.”
“We don’t ever want you to think you’re alone,” Bishop Burbidge told the newcomers. “Our Catholic Church rejoices in the privilege and the gift it is to help people who are newcomers to our land and to advocate for you. We have to work with our government leaders, our elected officials, to be a voice of truth, to be a voice of justice. And we will always do that.”
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This story has been updated.
