Congratulations to the International Catholic Migration Commission for having been in existence for seventy-five years! Among the donors of the National Catholic Community Foundation are supporters of international organizations like ICMC. It is a privilege to highlight it here.
Since our expulsion from the Garden of Eden migration and its boons and banes have been persistent realities in our long history. Whether voluntary or forced, migration has been caused by both natural and manmade disasters including floods, droughts, famine, wars, persecution, etc. In recent centuries some migratory movements have been inter-national such as the Irish escaping the potato famine in the 19th century, the Vietnamese ‘boat people’ coming to the United States in 1979, and refugees of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Other movements have been intra-national, such as the relocation of millions within Russia during the Stalin era, or the voluntary move of thousands of African Americans from the South to the North in the early 20th century. Certainly, foremost on the minds of North Americans is the influx of millions of immigrants across our southern border these past few years.
Whether voluntary or coerced, migration can lead to a better life for those involved. However, more typically it results in situations that affront human dignity. Human trafficking, persecution, ghettoization, loss of cultural identity, poverty, family disruption are more common than not. All of these dehumanizing circumstances are addressed by the International Catholic Migration Commission.
Headquartered in Geneva and with staff and programs in over forty countries, the ICMC was founded in 1951. Its principal promoters were the American James Norris and Archbishop Giovanni Montini (the future pope). What prompted its creation was the great displacement of people caused by World War II when thousands were forced to leave their homes in Eastern Europe and find refuge in Western countries.
As its website states (www.icmc.net) “ICMC’s expertise and core programming consists of refugee resettlement, humanitarian assistance and preventions ‘shelter, health, non-food items, cans assistance, disaster risk reduction, assistance and prevention for victims of sexual and gender-based violence, anti-trafficking’ advocacy on migration and development”.
In the name of the Catholic Church, in concert with the Church’s social teachings and in collaboration with the world-wide network of Catholic Bishops Conferences and Catholic-inspired organizations, ICMC has over the past seven decades extended its aid to South America, Africa, Asia and the Near East. In recent years, with the political instability in the Middle East and Eastern Europe ICMC is now very much involved in resettlement activity.
The funding sources for ICMC’s work has grown through the years and is now in varying degrees is provided by government agencies, the Vatican, episcopal conferences and private philanthropy.
The arms of ICMC embrace both the migrants and those who aid them. It is a relationship that benefits all involved. This ennobling apostolate reminds us of the admonition in the Letter to the Hebrews: “For we are all strangers before you and sojourners”. As the Kingdom advances, are we not all migrants journeying forward with the support of the grace of God?
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