NATIONAL MIGRATION WEEK
World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2026
September 21 – 27
National Migration Week/World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2026
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) is an opportunity for global churches 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 primary theme for this year’s WDMR is “Even just one of these children,” which is a reference to Matthew 18:5: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” In a statement released by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, it notes that the theme ““With this choice, the Holy Father intends to express the Church’s concern for minors directly involved in migration, recalling the duty to welcome each one of them as the Gospel teaches us.”
National Migration Week is a uniquely U.S. observance that builds upon the themes and priorities of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) while addressing the particular realities and challenges facing immigrant communities in the United States. This year, National Migration Week will be celebrated September 21 – 27, culminating in the observance of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 27.
Pope Leo XIV states, “Even just one of these children calls each one of us, in our personal lives, to open our eye: and heart to a profound listening to his or her story, fears and dreams, overcoming that detachment which reduces the human person to a statistic that does not directly concern us. It is an invitation to recognize the dignity of each child, even before considering the condition of being a "migrant," and to safeguard his or her fundamental rights: the right to life, education and a standard of living that enables full physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development.”
Learn more here
Education
Prayer
Accompaniment
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Ideas on how to celebrate National Migration Week in your parish community Spanish
Promotion and Social Media: Save the date for National Migration Week English | Spanish
Suggest: Should you have any thoughts as to how we can more effectively celebrate National Migration Week, or to suggest resources that will be useful for your local community, please contact Raymundo Valdez at rvaldez@archchicago.org
Join National Pastoral Migratoria, allies, and collaborators in the events below in celebration of National Migration Week 2026. Please be sure to visit this page weekly to access resources and information for events that will be developed for this celebration.
Parish Events during National Migration Week 2026
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Monday, September 27 | 5:15 p.m.
Holy Name Cathedral
735 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60654Olga Anglada, ofigueroa@archchicago.org, or Belen Morales at bmorales@archchicago.org
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Sunday, September 13 | 9:15 a.m. and 1:15p.m.
St. Boniface Catholic Church
501 West Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805More information:
Alba Ramiro at aramiro@saint-boniface.org -
Monday, September 14, 2026 | 6 p.m.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph Chapel
1170 North River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 -
Sunday, September 20 | 10:30 a.m.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish (Ryan Hall Basement)
4432 North Troy Street, Chicago, IL 60625 -
Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012View online:
https://youtu.be/kXAiOkaLt1g?si=mNnmKtrMs7iA7qEN
https://youtu.be/NHLqLcqrxMo?si=kkbUPCho77eppV2F
More information: Immigration@la-archdiocese.org
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September 21 – 24, 2026
Various times: Pastoral Migratoria | saint-bonifaceSt. Boniface Catholic Church,
501 West Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805More information:
Alba Ramiro at aramiro@saint-boniface.org -
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
4432 North Troy Street, Chicago, IL 60625Monday, September 21 | 9 a.m.
For Migrants in Detention CentersTuesday, September 22 | 9 a.m.
For Migrant ChildrenWednesday, September 23 | 9 a.m.
For Deceased MigrantsThursday, September 24 | 9 a.m.
For Government Leaders and Just LawsFriday, September 25 | 9 :15 a.m.
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Thursday, September 24 to Saturday, September 26
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
205 E Jackson St. Joliet, IL 60432 -
Friday, September 25, 2026 | 6 p.m.
St. Oscar Romero, San Miguel,
1954 West 48th Street, Chicago, IL 60609 -
Saturday, September 26 | 6 p.m.
Sunday, September 27 | 11:30 a.m.St. Augustine Parish
4130 147th Street, Midlothian, IL 60445 -
Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 3:30 p.m.
Christ Cathedral
12141 Lewis Street, Garden Grove, CA 92840More information: Alba Ramiro at
aramiro@saint-boniface.org -
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Rosary Prayer: 4:35 p.m.
Mass: 5:30 p.m.Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
1725 Rhode Island Avenue. NW, Washington, DC 20036This Mass will be livestreamed here.
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Tuesday, September 29 | 6:30 p.m.
St. Antony of Padua
101-103 Myrtle Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055 -
Sunday, September 20, 2026 | 10:30 a.m.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish (Ryan Hall Basement)
4432 North Troy Street, Chicago, IL 60625 -
September 20 – 26 | After the 8:30 a.m. Mass
Our Lady of Mercy Parish (Ryan Hall)
4432 North Troy Street, Chicago, IL 60625 -
Saturday, September 26 | 3 p.m.
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (St. Martin Hall)
1170 North River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016 -
Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 8 a.m.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish
4432 North Troy Street, Chicago, IL 60625 -
Sunday, September 27
Masses at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 12 p.m.St. Rita of Cascia
6243 South Fairfield Avenue, Chicago, IL 60629 -
September 28 | 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish (Makuch Hall)
3010 48th Court, Cicero, IL 60804October 19 | 7 p.m.
Our Lady of Charity Parish
3600 S. 57th Court, Cicero, IL 60804 -
Wednesday, September 23 | 2 p.m. EST
“Even just one of these children”: A Webinar for The World Day of Migrants and Refugees
Registration: https://usccb.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wZ7Woy4KR2CbrMJ0tlPsQg#/registration
Friday, October 9 | 1 – 2 p.m. ESTFaithful Accompaniment: Supporting Those Working in Migration Ministry