Pray for migrants and refugees
Pray with us for refugees and migrants.
This World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we keep our neighbours like Sarah and her family in our prayers by sharing three inspiring stories from South Sudan, Lebanon and Venezuela. Across the Catholic community, this day is a time to raise awareness of those who have been displaced, to reflect, to share, and to pray for our sisters and brothers.
Since 1914, the Church has marked this day as a time to pause and listen to stories like Sarah’s, making sure their voices are heard. This year, Pope Leo has aligned it with Jubilee celebrations, choosing the theme of 'Migrants, missionaries of hope'. And despite the hardship many refugees and migrants are living through, we still see signs of hope.
Sarah, South Sudan
South Sudan
“I used to run a small business which was destroyed. I ran with nothing. Life has been very difficult, and sometimes I have no food to feed my child.” Sarah, South Sudan
When fighting broke out in her hometown in Sudan, Sarah and her child were forced to flee. She left behind her neighbours, her business, her home – everything she knew.
Now living in a camp in South Sudan, close to the border of Sudan, Sarah has reached out to our local experts for help. They supplied her with cash assistance to buy essentials like food for her child. Her hope is simple: for the war to end, so that she can reunite with her family still in Sudan. You can read more about Sudan and stories from people living there.
Sadly, Sarah is just one of millions forced to leave their homes due to violence and conflict. According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), at the end of 2024 123.2 million people around the world had been displaced because of conflict, human rights violations, persecution or events seriously disturbing public order. That’s 1 in every 67 people on Earth.
Help displaced people like Sarah
Lebanon
Jannette, Lebanon
In Lebanon, Jannette also experienced displacement when her village was evacuated. But losing her own home didn’t stop her from assisting others. As a trained nurse, she joined our local experts in providing essential healthcare to vulnerable people. She says, “I pray that God gives us strength to continue standing by our displaced brothers and sisters, despite our own displacement, and to provide healthcare services to the fullest.” Janette’s courage is a reminder of how hope can shine even in the darkest moments. Though she no longer has a permanent home, she has not stopped caring for others.
Help more people like Jannette
Guatemala
Migrants travelling from South and Central America up to United States of America.
On the other side of the world in Guatemala, our local experts are also responding to urgent needs. Miriam, a local expert who works with migrant families from Venezuela and across Latin America, talks of providing people with shelter and support. She says, “Here they find a place of hope, a new beginning, a new opportunity to rebuild their lives in the face of the difficulties they have encountered.”
With support from our partners like Miriam, families receive shelter and food, legal guidance, and access to justice for human rights violations. One family is Leydi’s. She fled Venezuela with her children because she could no longer feed them: “I couldn't feed my daughter, she was under weight, so we decided to leave our county.”
After a harrowing five days lost in the jungle without food, Leydi and her children arrived in Guatemala. There, our local partners welcomed them into shared housing with other migrants. Her children were able to attend school and receive meals – a first step towards safety and dignity.
A better world needs all of us. This World Day of Migrants and Refugees, we recognise both the hardship and the hope of families across the world. We invite you to keep Sarah, Jannette, Miriam, Leydi and so many others in your prayers. Together, we can continue to stand alongside our sisters and brothers forced to flee their homes.
Refugee and Conflict Fund
Your donations will help reach vulnerable people fleeing war, poverty and natural disasters.