‘Bless each act of welcome and outreach that draws those in exile into the “we” of community and of the Church,
Pope Francis
so that our earth may truly become what you yourself created it to be:
the common home of all our brothers and sisters.’
Upcoming Events
ONE CHURCH ONE FAMILY
There are multiple ways to observe the Nov. 13th Feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in the Philadelphia area and virtually.
- Wednesday November 12 from 7:30-8:30PM (with Adoration until 9PM) – Taizé prayer with Eucharistic Adoration for Immigrants at Saint Raphaela Center in Haverford. See this webpage and flyer.
- Thursday November 13 from 12-1PM outside the Philadelphia ICE field office at 114 N 8th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107- Prayer Vigil for immigrants. Flyer is here. Registration is here. All are welcome.
- Thursday November 13 from 1-2PM – Virtual Prayer hosted by the Federation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Click here for Virtual Vigil flyer. Click here for Registration link. All are welcome.
- Thursday November 13 from 2:15-3PM – Villanova University Public Witness for Immigrants – Vigil and Solidarity Walk – meet near the Peace Pole at St. Rita’s. The website is here. This event is followed by a lecture immediately after the walk. Reply to this email if you plan to attend to help Villanova estimate #s for parking. [note – This event is open to parish communities, religious communities, and those who attended the last vigil + friends; please do not advertise widely to the general public].
- Thursday November 13 at 3PM at the Villanova University Law School Commons – Pilgrims of Hope: Augustine, Cabrini and the Journey of the Migrant. Panelists are listed on the website linked here (scroll down). Flyer is here. All are welcome.
- Other schools and ministries are having prayer and education on November 13th for their own school communities.
- Sunday November 16 at 5:30PM at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Holy Hour for Immigrants (followed by the 6:30PM Mass). Flyer is here.
- Holy Innocents Parish – See the film Cabrini on Wednesday December 3rd at 6 pm in the parish meeting room. There will be a reflection/ discussion immediately following the film.
African Catholic Women
Sister-to-Sister Weekend Retreat
Friday Dec. 5 – Sunday Dec. 7 2025
Latest News
The Filipino Student/Young Adults Ministry at St. Agatha-James Parish welcome the new school Year 2025-2026 with a Mass by Bishop Efren Esmilla, Auxilliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on October 4, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV faces a difficult challenge on migration. He might be up to the task.
About Us
The Office for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees (PCMR) facilitates the ecclesial integration and full participation of immigrants, refugees, migrants, and other ethnic groups in the life of the Church. The Archdiocese provides pastoral care to Catholics of diverse ethnic backgrounds through ethnic or personal parishes and through apostolates, which provide liturgical services and care to Catholics of various languages, cultures, and rites. In particular the office ministers to Asian, African, European, Caribbean, Brazilian, and Native American Catholics.
In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, we have mass in 17 languages other than English or Spanish. The office currently supports Catholic immigrant and ethnic Church communities made up of people who come from the following countries: Brazil, Haiti, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, France, Italy, Ireland, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Francophone Africa, Liberia, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, China, Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines. In addition the Office supports Native American Catholics and seafarers who temporarily stop in our shipping ports for their work. The Office is happy to collaborate with Priests, Religious, and lay people to address needs of communities who are newly arriving and may not currently not be supported by any ministerial outreach.
The main ministerial responsibilities for the Director are:
1. To make sure that each PCMR community has a priest that speaks their language and knows their culture and that each community has a parish to call home
2. To serve as a link between the Archdiocese and the PCMR communities to ensure that the communities are invited to, welcomed, and able to participate in any activity or ministry of the Archdiocese
3. To develop relationships with the PCMR priests, Religious Sisters, Deacons, lay leaders and community as a whole to know better their ideas, desires, and needs and how we can collaborate to bring them to reality
4. To create opportunities and space where the PCMR communities can share their talents, goodness, and gifts of faith and culture to build up the entire Church of Philadelphia
5. To act as a reference person for other social needs, linking people to needed services including immigration support and English and citizenship classes.
Latest News
- Through the 'Support for U' program, Ukrainian newcomers receive help with applying for Social Security cards, finding housing, and obtaining an employment authorization cards among other assistance. The post CSS Bucks County Office Supports Ukrainian Refugees appeared first on CatholicPhilly.
- Under the new rules, Venezuelans who cross the border illegally are being be deported to Mexico, a move that will have "an immediate impact" on border communities, said Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso. The post Bishop Seitz criticizes expansion of Title 42 to ‘vulnerable’ Venezuelans appeared first on CatholicPhilly.
- Welcoming those fleeing their nations due to war, poverty, natural disasters and other risks is essential to loving God and neighbor, said retired Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop Edward Deliman at an annual Mass honoring migrants and refugees. The post Migrants, refugees key to building the kingdom of God, says bishop appeared first on CatholicPhilly.
- Sending migrants to out-of-state cities, as two governors have so far done, "destroys society and shows how low individuals can (stoop) for personal gains," said San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. The post Bishops speak against transport of migrants; it ‘offends God,’ says one appeared first on CatholicPhilly.