Chicago, IL (January 4, 2017) – Cardinal Blase J. Cupich will preside over an opening Mass for National Migration Week 2017 at 3 p.m., on January 8, 2017, at Holy Name Cathedral, State and Superior Streets in Chicago.
Hundreds of Archdiocese of Chicago parishioners representing more than 40 countries are expected to take part in this Mass, answering Pope Francis’ call for a culture of encounter with all immigrants and refugees.
The multicultural Mass will highlight the ethnic diversity of the Archdiocese through multilingual readings, intercessions of the liturgy and music in languages including Spanish, Polish, Vietnamese and Tagalog. Immigrants from across the world will participate in the celebration which will also feature testimonials from a Syrian refugee and a student-recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Cardinal Cupich has asked all pastors to pray for immigrants and refugees in their liturgies during National Migration Week 2017. In addition, dozens of parishes within the Archdiocese of Chicago will hold Masses and prayer vigils from January 8 through January 14 as expressions of the Church’s solidarity with immigrants throughout the world.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has celebrated National Migration Week in conjunction with the Feast of the Epiphany for more than 50 years. For more information, please visit www.justiceforimmigrants.org.
About the Archdiocese of Chicago
The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 347 parishes in Cook and Lake Counties, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 15,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region’s largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country’s largest seminaries. The Archdiocese’s 217 elementary and secondary schools comprise the largest U.S. private school system and have garnered more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards than any system of any type.