The Catholic Church observes the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on the last Sunday of September each year. In the week leading up to September 29 the Catholic Church in the United States will celebrate National Migration Week (September 22-28), calling attention to the challenges confronting migrants and refugees, from their country of origin to their destination, and how Church teaching calls on Catholics to respond with compassionate acts of love. Catholic dioceses, schools, charitable organizations, and other institutions around the country will commemorate these annual events in various ways, from special Masses and festivals to volunteer opportunities and immigration legal clinics.
The Knights of Columbus San Salvador Council 283 will be celebrating its 1st Annual Mother Cabrini National Migration Week Mass on the eve of National Migration Week 2025 (September 22–28, 2025) at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church. This mass will honor the immigrant heritage of Philadelphia and will be offered for immigrants and migrants around the world and to commemorate the work done by the Church for migrants and Christian refugees throughout the world.
Mother Cabrini, the first United States citizen to be declared a saint, worked tirelessly on behalf of her fellow Italian immigrants, opening schools, hospitals, and orphanages across the United States. It was because of her life and legacy she has been recognized as patron saint of immigrants.
The lessons we learn from Mother Cabrini are as important today as ever. In a time when too many feel divided, we must look to those things we share with each other. Among those we look to our shared immigrant heritage, and seek to honor our forbears who struggled and fought to make a life for themselves and their children in this great nation.
National Migration Week 2025
(September 22–28, 2025)
For over 40 years, the Catholic Church in the United States has celebrated National Migration Week (NMW), which has traditionally culminated with the Holy See's World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR), a day commemorated by the Universal Church since 1914.