Capuchin Friars Urge a Strategic Pastoral Plan for the Rights of the Migrants, To be with the migrants and share their lot is part of our charism, Br. Mauro Jöhri

Karachi, Pakistan: May 07, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)



Bangkok: May 2, 2010. A week long conference of Capuchins on migration began on April 26 at St. Gabriel’s Building, Bangkok, Thailand. In the inaugural session, Br. Mathew Parinthirickal, the President of the Justice Peace and Ecology Commission, said that following Jesus in the foot steps of St. Francis, the Capuchin Friars are called to promote the values of Justice and peace and respect for creation. In order to be faithful to our Charism of being at the service of the poor and the marginalized, the focus of our attention this year has been directed to a very important and urgent issue, namely, migration because it is one of the defining issues of the 21st century. According to a global estimate there are over two hundred million international migrants in the world today. Most of the migrants are exposed to various kinds of suffering and they are often been deprived of their most basic human rights. We as the followers of St. Francis, the universal brother, cannot be insensitive to such situations which affect our brothers and sisters.

       Archbishop Francis Xavier, in his presidential address expressed his joy to be with the Capuchins in this meeting on migration. He was very happy with the very tittle of the conference, namely, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me in” (Mt. 25:35). The Archbishop shared with the participants that Thailand is a country that has been open to people coming in from other neighboring countries. Thailand has experienced two waves of migration during the last quarter of the 20th Century. The first was in the year 1974-75, when people from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos reached Thailand. About 20 years ago, the second wave of migration arrived from Burma. “It was the Catholic Church”, the Archbishop recalled, “which first extend a helping hand to these people. Why? Because of their faith in Jesus Christ.” The Archbishop himself narrated his experience in the camp which he visited. He could not express himself because he did not know their language. But the only  language that he could speak was the language of the heart.

The Minister General of the Capuchins, Br. Mauro Jöhri, in his address said that the Capuchin friars have always been close to the poor. “We cannot be indifferent to the sufferings of migrants who are the poor of the modern world”, he reminded his friars, “being with the poor and sharing their lot is part of our charism”. As he had just returned from USA, he mentioned about the changing patterns of poverty. He motivated the participants to be at the service of the migrants and the poor wherever they are. We are making an attempt to promote awareness in various continents that the migrants are human beings and that they should be welcomed, respected and loved.

The resource persons, invited from various parts of the world, gave input on the following themes:

The Situation of the Asia Pacific Region with Regards to Migration (Buddhi Acharya BWI., Thailand and Br. Bernd Beermann OFM Cap., Germany).

The stranger in the Bible (Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Asi, Pakistan).

Migration in the Franciscan Tradition (Br. Niklaus Kuster OFM Cap., Switzerland).

Ecclesiastical Foundation For Serving the Migrants (Msgr. Bishop Paul Hinder, UAE).

Human Rights of Migrants (Br. Nithia Sagaram OFM Cap., India).

The Sociology of Migration (Rev. Fr. Bernard Aputhasamy SJ., Malaysia).

The Participants, after each session of input, broke into small groups for interactive group work. Each group had its facilitator and a secretary who presented the report of group work to the larger group. This was also an opportunity for the friars to share their experiences and concerns for the migrants.

The participants were provided with an opportunity to visit a Refugees Centre located in the diocese of Ratchaburi near the border of Burma. The migrants at this Centre are mainly from Burma and Vietnam. Some of the young refugees shared their problems, hopes and dreams with the visitors. They voiced their problems such as unemployment and legal documents. They expressly said that they are striving for social identity, education and human dignity. Msgr. John Bosco Panja Viritcharoen, the bishop of Ratchaburi, informed the friars about the living conditions of the migrants and explained some of the projects of his diocese for the migrants in his diocese.          

Br. Bernd Beermann, the Secretary of the JPE Office, highlighted the purpose of input, given by various resource persons as he said, “You are here to think of the migrants in your own country and make a strategic plan of action.” Besides various  group dynamics, Br. Bernd Beerman a Mapping Exercise. A group of twelve performed a role play to throw light on the issues and problems of the migrants.

In the last two days of the meetings, Br. Bernd Beermann facilitated the participants to write a plan of action. The participants worked through their action plans on the 1st of May, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and the World Labour Day, showing solidarity with the workers. Finally, each group made a presentation of its action plan to work with and for the rights of the migrants in Asia Pacific. 

Report by Fr. Qaisar Feroz OFM Cap.