National Migrants Sunday

We remember the millions of Filipinos working abroad and the tens of millions they have left behind. The fruits of their labor have benefited not only their families and loved ones economically, but also have provided countless jobs in the domestic industries that cater to the consumption appetite of these family beneficiaries. Stories of Filipinos spreading their faith also abound. We have much to rejoice.

However, we must not overlook the downside of this phenomenon. To name a few, all too common from their lips are stories of abuse by their employers, broken families, and from the Middle East, spiritual deprivation, spiritual indifference from the highly secular countries, materialistic tendencies due to the new found wealth, etc.

The Church, ever like a mother is alarmed and has been stepping up its efforts through various apostolates to comfort and help them. The call is upon us for we are the Church. We must help them. More than ever, we need to pray and remember what our beloved Pope Francis says, “to walk with them,” they who may be experiencing a crisis of relationships within their families and with God brought about by the distance of their workplace.

Let us turn to our Blessed Mother who also “walked with her Son” from birth up to the cross to always be with us in this journey called life.