On this #WorldRefugeeDay, we are called to remember and stand with millions around the globe who have been forcibly displaced from their homes. This is not merely a humanitarian crisis; it is a profound spiritual and moral challenge for all of humanity.
It’s important to know refugees are not just numbers – they are sacred lives uprooted by war, persecution, poverty and so much more. They are mothers longing to provide safety for their children, fathers searching for work to restore dignity, and young people yearning for a future beyond conflict. Each of them bears the image of God, each one a living testament to the human capacity for hope amid despair.
As followers of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, we are compelled by the Gospel to act. That call includes welcoming the stranger, binding the wounds of the afflicted and walking alongside the marginalized. It’s not optional. It’s central to our Christian witness. Jesus himself was a refugee, forced to flee with Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape violence. In His face, we see the face of every displaced person today.
For decades, your CNEWA Canada team has responded to this Gospel imperative by accompanying refugees and migrants with unconditional commitment. In partnership with local churches, religious sisters and brothers and workers across the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India, and Eastern Europe (Ukraine), we are present on the ground and in the heart of crisis.
In particular, and utilizing 2025 data, 4.5 million Ukrainians have fled their home and become internally displaced. The majority of the displaced are from the East and South of Ukraine. Our partners, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) and its network of parishes and religious communities, are standing strong, offering relief, comfort, and hope.
On this World Refugee Day and everyday, we invite you to join us in our life-giving mission. Pray with us for peace. Advocate for those who do not have a voice. Support the Church’s work among the displaced. In a world where so many are forced to flee, let us be the ones who stay – with open hands, hearts and joy-filled compassion.