Migrants and Seafarers: Missionaries of Hope

As the Church in the Philippines commemorates the 39th National Migrants’ Sunday and the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 28, 2025, the Archdiocese of Davao joins the universal Church in honoring the lives and sacrifices of our migrant workers and seafarers. With the theme “Migrants and Seafarers, Missionaries of Hope,” the celebration takes place on the Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Bangkal, on deeper meaning as it coincides with the Jubilee Year of Hope, a time when the Church invites all the faithful to become witnesses of God’s enduring promise of love and salvation.

The day’s program will be filled with prayers, talks, and fellowship, that reflect the richness of the migrants’ journey. It starts with the Holy Rosary and offering of flowers to Mama Mary, setting a prayerful atmosphere of gratitude and trust. Sharing of insights by social workers, talks from Church leaders, and testimonies from labor representatives highlight not only the struggles of migrants and seafarers but also their strength, faith, and resilience. Input of Bro. Glien T. Norbe, BFCC, RSW, MAT, MSW, Social Work Faculty Holy Cross of Davao College and Archdiocese of Davao ECMI Social Worker will give an input followed by a raffle and games that fostered joy and unity, reminding everyone that migrants are not just economic contributors but vital members of the Church and society. After the games, Msgr. Julius C. Rodulfa, Pastoral Director and Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy will give a talk about “The Shining Beauty of Hope” followed by the lunch break.

Migrant-Seafarers Ministry and HCDC Social Work continued partnership for the trauma and psychological assessment.

For the afternoon session, it will begin with the talk of Marie Rose C. Escalada, Ph.D., OIC – Department of Migrant Workers XI Asst. Regional Director about “Hope and Action Plan for Labor Attache II” followed by the awarding of prizes for the winners of the raffle and games. Before the program ends, a celebration of the Holy Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Fr. Dexter Veloso, DCD, Director of the Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People.

At the heart of this celebration lies the important role of the Migrants and Seafarers Ministry. More than providing assistance, this ministry serves as a spiritual home for those far away from their families and homeland. By offering pastoral care, accompaniment, and advocacy, it ensures that migrants and seafarers experience the nearness of Christ and the solidarity of the Church. In this way, they are not only recipients of pastoral work but also missionaries themselves—bearers of faith, love, and hope wherever they go. Their daily sacrifices, resilience in hardships, and courage in facing the unknown become living testimonies of the Gospel in action.

Pastoral Care to our Overseas workers and ther families, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish, Indangan.

Fr. Dexter Veloso also shared that the Migrants and Seafarers Office and Counseling Space is tentatively at the Our Lady of Fatima Parish wherein the office already helped various clients and patients of different parishes. He encouraged the parish priests to endorse to their office if they have any cases of parishioners who encounter problems as an OFW. Their office is privileged to serve them and this is in partnership with the different agencies (Church, Government, Schools, NGOs).

This year’s Jubilee of Hope amplifies their witness. Just as the Jubilee calls all faithful to rediscover hope rooted in Christ, migrants and seafarers embody this hope in their lives. They remind us that even in distance, uncertainty, and separation, faith can flourish and bring light to others. They are missionaries in their workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities abroad, silently preaching through their example of perseverance, compassion, and trust in God.

As the Church celebrates this special Sunday, it looks at migrants and seafarers not only as workers but as missionaries of hope, as true partners in the Church’s mission of evangelization. Their lives echo the Jubilee call: to be living witnesses that hope never fails when anchored in Christ.