Washington DC Mass and Procession Urges Solidarity with Migrants

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Nearly 1,000 people joined a peaceful Mass and procession through the nation’s capital on September 28, 2025, urging solidarity with migrants as part of the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Organized by the Archdiocese of Washington and Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, the two-and-a-half-hour walk began at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart and ended at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. Cardinal Robert McElroy celebrated Mass and delivered a pointed homily condemning mass deportation efforts and the fear they create in immigrant communities.

The event carried the theme “Migrants, Missionaries of Hope,” a message that framed migrants and refugees not as burdens but as bearers of courage and renewal. Participants came from across Washington’s parishes and schools, alongside immigrants from Gabon, Burkina Faso, South Korea, Nicaragua, Cameroon, and Guatemala. Families with strollers walked beside students and clergy. Community leaders held microphones so voices could be heard over traffic and passing sirens.

The tone was prayerful, but the purpose was plain: to stand with neighbors who feel at risk and to call for humane treatment across the United States ??.

Cardinal McElroy’s homily: moral urgency and compassion

Cardinal McElroy did not mince words. In his homily, he described the current mass deportation push as an “unprecedented assault” that produces fear, terror, and separation for millions of undocumented people.

He turned to the Parable of the Good Samaritan to press a moral question: Will society walk past those left wounded by policy and politics, or stop to help? He urged Catholics to approach undocumented immigrants as neighbors, not strangers, and to respond with compassion, not judgment.

He called for “sustained, unwavering, prophetic and compassionate” action by the Church:
– Ministries of consolation for those who are anxious
– Ministries of justice that push for fair laws
– Advocacy that keeps families together

He praised migrants’ contributions as workers, parents, and parish leaders, and warned against the normalization of fear, noting that constant dread is corrosive to children, schools, and neighborhoods.

Procession, symbols, and testimonies

The Mass and procession wove faith symbols into public streets. Participants carried the San Damiano Cross, an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and bright paper monarch butterflies—chosen because the butterfly’s long, risky journey mirrors the path of many migrants.

Sacred images mixed with hand-painted signs, and Spanish, English, and French hymns rose between stops.

Along the route, the crowd paused at seven points for short reflections. Each stop highlighted a different part of the migrant experience:
– Seeking welcome
– Facing legal struggles
– Discerning whether to move
– Living in refugee camps
– Being detained
– Advocating at the border
– Special challenges of youth (including DREAMers and unaccompanied children)

Speakers offered prayers and short testimonies:
– A Catholic school student described helping new classmates learn English.
– A parish volunteer spoke about visiting detention centers.
– A young mother said she feared taking her child to the doctor because she worried about an arrest that could split her family.

At the cathedral, ushers guided families into pews while the choir began the Gloria. During the homily, Cardinal McElroy named the pain of separation and the weight of uncertainty. Parish staff collected written petitions—names of detained loved ones, prayers for safe passage, and hopes for reunification.

“Will society walk past those left wounded by policy and politics, or stop to help?” — Cardinal Robert McElroy (paraphrase of homily)

Policy backdrop and faith-based response

The event unfolded amid heightened enforcement and public anxiety. Faith leaders, legal advocates, and community groups say increased deportation actions have sown instability, with families changing daily routines and parents drafting emergency plans for their children.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, national conversations about border enforcement and removals have intensified in recent months, raising the stakes for mixed-status families and for humanitarian groups trying to provide practical help.

Organizers framed the Mass and procession as both a public witness and a pastoral response. By walking together, they sought to show that fear does not need to lead to isolation. They invited local residents to:
– Accompany migrants to court hearings
– Volunteer at parish legal clinics
– Help newcomers find schools, health care, and work where permitted

Priests and deacons encouraged families to meet with trusted counselors to:
1. Gather important documents
2. Know their rights
3. Prepare safety plans so children are protected if a parent is detained

Speakers also pointed people to lawful options where available, including humanitarian pathways. For general information on protections such as asylum, Temporary Protected Status, certain parole programs, and relief for victims of crime or trafficking, organizers referenced official resources like the USCIS humanitarian programs page.

Legal experts at the event reminded attendees that each case is different and urged anyone seeking help to consult qualified attorneys or accredited representatives rather than relying on rumors or social media posts.

Acts of hope and community follow-through

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees, first observed in 1914, has long invited Catholics to reflect on root causes of forced movement and to take practical steps in support of people on the move. This year’s theme, centered on hope, was visible in small details:
– A grandmother passing water bottles down the line
– A teenager carrying a banner in the midday sun
– A group of students translating on the fly so older newcomers could follow prayers

These simple acts echoed the organizers’ larger claim: that migrants embody resilience and can renew communities when given a fair chance.

Public safety officials kept traffic moving as the procession crossed major avenues. Volunteers directed marchers to sidewalks, and medical teams stood by, though the event remained calm.

During the Prayers of the Faithful, readers lifted intentions alongside calls for wise leadership and laws that protect family unity. For many attendees, the final blessing sealed a message they plan to carry home: that faith communities can be steady companions in uncertain times.

Several parish groups announced concrete follow-ups:
– Voter education initiatives
– Legal screening clinics
– Accompaniment teams for upcoming court dates
– Bilingual worship services
– Mentorship programs for newly arrived families

Civic witness and the larger claim

While the event remained rooted in prayer, its civic edge was clear. The homily’s critique of mass deportations challenged Catholics to weigh policy through the lens of human dignity. Faith leaders emphasized that disagreement over borders and processing rules should not translate into indifference toward people living in fear.

Their call was to hold both truths together:
– The right of nations to manage migration
– The duty of communities to protect the vulnerable

As people filtered into the late afternoon light, the monarch butterflies made one last appearance, taped to stroller handles and pinned to backpacks. Their message—of long travel, fragile wings, and steady flight—fit the day.

The Mass and procession closed with a reminder to keep showing up: at clinics and kitchens, in classrooms and courtrooms, and at Sunday pews where newcomers and longtime residents share the sign of peace. Organizers said the work continues tomorrow, in small acts that add up to belonging.