In anticipation of the World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees later this year, the Diocese of Birmingham will hold a Migrant and Refugee Mass on June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Bishop Raica will be the celebrant.

In a letter to the faithful of the diocese regarding the Mass, Bishop Raica wrote, “The Catholic Church globally, including the Diocese of Birmingham locally, has consistently urged all nations to protect the lives and dignities of all migrants as well as to work towards establishing orderly and just immigration systems. We know that here in our own diocese, the effects of migrants from various nations having to flee because of dire poverty and/or astonishing degrees of violence have directly impacted many of our own communities.”

The bishop urged the faithful to pray for progress within the immigration system and for hearts to be changed and policies to be enacted. He concluded, “The Diocese of Birmingham is both blessed and honored by the presence of so many migrants and refugees from around the world. It is my hope that many from these various communities will be represented among other members of the faithful at this special Mass as we pray that our desire to be a unified Body of Christ may soon be realized.”