National Migration Week Mass & Video Series
National Migration Week
Creating a world where immigrants, refugees, migrants, and people on the move are treated with dignity, respect, welcome and belonging.
National Migration Week is September 20-26
The Miraculous Medal Shrine’s Beyond Sunday program is responding to the U.S. Catholic bishops’ call for immigrant dignity and recognition by hosting the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees Mass on Monday, September 20, and presenting weeklong reflection videos beginning Sept. 20 through Sept. 26.
World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees Mass
Monday, Sept. 20, 2021
6:30 p.m. Mass following the Miraculous Medal Novena and Reception in the Lower Shrine from 7:30-8:30 p.m.
The Miraculous Medal Shrine (Hours & Directions)
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will be hosting its annual World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees celebration as a Mass at the Shrine. The event will be sponsored by the Shrine, as well as the Office for the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees, The Office for Black Catholics, and the Office of Hispanic Catholics, with Bishop Edward Deliman presiding. Following Mass, all are welcome to the Shrine’s lower level for fellowship and prayer.
National Migration Week: Video Series
September 20 – 26
The Miraculous Medal Shrine will host a weeklong video series, which will focus on first-hand inspiring and informative personal stories of those who have immigrated or the lessons learned from serving and working with immigrant populations.
The videos can also be viewing via our Facebook page each day.
Fr. Vince Finnerty
Pastor, St. Mary of the Mission, in Opelika, Alabama
Fr. Vince has served Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States and abroad since the beginning of his Vincentian vocation.
Carolina Soares Nemo
Assoc. Dir. of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of The Miraculous Medal Shrine
Carolina Domingos (Soares) Nemo was born in Braga, Portugal, and immigrated to the United States with her family as a baby.
Maria Turcios
Community Organizer at the New Sanctuary Movement
Originally from Honduras, Maria enjoys her life of faith, her family, and service to the community. Maria began her role at NSM as a volunteer (seven years) and eventually joined the staff five years ago.
Bassang Lazare Atoulelou
4th year Mechanical Engineering Major at Temple University
Lazare was born in Togo, West Africa, and moved to the United States in 2009. Lazare believes that God works through us and others in order to better ourselves, even if it’s sometimes difficult to see.
Sr. Michelle Nguyen, DC
Pastoral Assistant at St. Helena Church
Sr. Michelle Nguyen is a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. She was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and currently serves as the pastoral assistant at St. Helena Church working with the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth. Like millions of Vietnamese in 1975, she fled her native country seeking freedom.
Mary Jo Timlin-Hoag
CEO, Central Association of the Miraculous Medal’s (CAMM)
Mary Jo is the first female CEO to lead CAMM, a 105-year-old organization. Her parents immigrated from Ireland and she remains in contact with her relatives still living there.
Sr. Meggie Flores, DC
Sr. Meggie was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in St. Vincent’s Hospital. She has been a Daughter of Charity for 38 years, mostly in the U.S. Province of Puerto Rico and St. Louise Province. She has been a teacher and financial administrator, but lately has discovered a passion to work with and serve the migrant population, who she feels constantly teach and evangelize her.