September 27, 2017 // Bishop

Bishop Rhoades joins with Pope Francis in campaign to “Share the Journey” of migrants and refugees

Stephanie Patka Mahoney

Author

Today, the Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades visited several Burmese refugee families in solidarity of Pope Francis’ call to “Share the Journey” with migrants and refugees. The Holy Father’s worldwide two-year campaign started today to raise awareness about the plight of displaced persons across the globe.

Pope Francis kicked off “Share the Journey” at the Vatican today with a symbolic gesture of reaching out to those displaced from their homes, who now number some 65 million around the world, the biggest such crisis since World War II. That will be followed by a week of prayer and action for migrants and refugees in Catholic churches and parishes around the world from Oct. 7 to Oct. 14. The campaign is sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) in the United States.

Bishop Rhoades first announced the campaign in his column, “Love Your Neighbor: Share the Journey.” It was originally published on September 19, 2017 and can be found online at https://todayscatholic.org/love-neighbor-share-journey/. Photos of Bishop Rhoades and the families that he visited are attached to this email. More information about “Share the Journey” is available on sharejourney.org.

During a visit with two Burmese refugee families on Sept. 27, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades poses for a formal picture with the family of Thang Sian Suan, better know as Jerome, sitting next to Bishop Rhoades. They are (left to right) Jerome’s cousin, Mang Sian Tol (Raymond); his wife, Nian Huai Cing (Mary); their 3-year-old daughter, Niag Deih, Siam (Dianna); and Jerome’s parents, Hau Lian Mang and Yung Nian No. — Vince LaBarbara

Jerome’s parents open a gift from Bishop Rhoades. When Jerome’s mother, Yung Nian No, sees that it’s a Statue of the Sacred of Jesus, she kisses the statue’s feet. — Vince LaBarbera