Today we are going to reflect on and pray for one of the major crises in our world today: refugees. In fact, some historians predict that this current century will go down in history as “The Century of Refugees.” We will begin with a few facts, then listen to a song with lyrics, then pause in silence for a few moments, then listen to a second version of the same song with film clips of refugees. Then we will close with a short prayer.
First a few facts about refugees in our world today. Most of these statistics are from the United Nations:
+ In 2024 there were an estimated 43.7 million refugees in the world…
+ Most are fleeing extreme poverty, persecution, war and violence, natural disasters, and the effects of climate change…
+ 40%-60% of refugees are children under 18. That’s about 22.5 million children…
+ Low and middle income countries host 76% of the world’s refugees. The three countries hosting the most refugees are Iran, Turkey, and Colombia…
+ The largest refugee camp is Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh which hosts more than 880,000 refugees. Most of them have fled Myanmar in 2017 due to ethnic and religious persecution.
+ The greatest challenges for refugee camps are providing food, shelter, and education for the children…
+ The average time spent in a refugee camp is between 10-17 years…
+ “Seeking asylum is a human right”…from the United Nations “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights” adopted in 1948.
Our first video is the song “A Safe Place to Land” sung by Sara Bareillis and John Legend. This lyric video allows us to focus on the words of the song, a song written to raise awareness of our global refugee crisis…
Pause for a few moments to recall some of the words of the song:
… when you can’t hide by closing your eyes… when home is the belly of the beast…
when hope is all you have…
surely someone will reach out a hand and show you a safe place to land…
Be the hand of a hopeful stranger… be the light in the dark of this day…
till the sun comes up… till the sun comes up.
Shortly after becoming Pope, Francis made his first pastoral visit to the small Sicilian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterrainian Sea. It was where thousands of refugees from North African came ashore in small boats, many of them drowning in the attempt. Pope Francis put the refugee crisis at the heart of his pontificate. At Lampedusa he lamented “the globalization of indifference” to this crisis and the causes of it. After his visit, Francis brought 12 Syrian refugees to Rome, housing them in the Vatican where they could begin to be processed.
Here is the same song–only this time we will see boatloads of refugees landing on what I believe is Lampedusa.
Let us pray: Loving God, we pray for all those who have had to flee their homes for whatever reason… And we pray for those who reach out their hands to them when they come ashore or cross a border or beg asylum… We pray for those people forced to live in refugee camps all over the world. And we pray for those who work tirelessly to provide them with food and shelter and help them to find asylum in various countries. We pray especially for the children that they might be cared for with tenderness and be given the opportunity to go to school again and to smile and play again.
We pray for those working to eradicate the causes of our global refugee crisis. Bless them with compassion, knowledge, courage, persistance, and hope. And finally, we ask you to show us how we too may reach out to these refugees, our brothers and sisters–whether through our prayer, our donations, our advocacy, our volunteering. We ask these things through Jesus, our brother, who calls us to “welcome the stranger.” And we ask these things through the power of your amazing Holy Spirit. Amen.
For reflection: Did anything in today’s reflection move you–the facts, the videos, the prayer, the pictures?
Please share a comment below… even if it’s only a few words or a couple of sentences… We love hearing from you.
26 Responses
Good morning, Sr. Melannie…
Good morning, all…
Thank you for this morning’s heart-rendering blog. The facts you provide, the song, the images, and finally your prayer are all searing reminders of the tragedy happening right now, all around us, here and abroad. In your prayer, you ask that children are given the opportunity to go “to school again and to smile and to play again.” Those words broke my heart. “Whatsoever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.” Words every government should put first, should follow, should live by. Let the children be children!
What a timely reflection Sr. Melannie as our own country builds cages for immigrants and masked ICE agents grab folks off the streets! Let us follow the lead of our beloved Pope Francis who came from an immigrant family himself as he called the world’s attention to this crisis. Lord hear out prayer.
There are no words I can say as I see this heart breaking truth. God I pray you show me what actions I can take to help. Amen.
Yes, there are no words. Seeing these images tore my heart. As tears flow, I also pray that the Holy Spirit will show me how I can help, and that government leaders see these people and children as human beings and not a problem to be solved. Lord, help us all!
Thank you, Sr. Melanie – for highlighting these forgotten souls and pointing a spotlight on easy it is to neglect more of our Lord’s children. God bless!
Good morning Sr. Melannie and all. Today’s blog had tears flowing down my face. The facts that you included just broke my heart. I can’t even imagine living in a refugee camp for ten to seventeen years let alone one day. I feel sad that the United States of America is turning our back on God’s precious people especially the little children. We are a country made up of immigrants- our ancestors came looking for a better way of life just a a few generations ago. How quickly we forget. I am amazed that people continue to come with hope in their hearts even when they see the way they will be treated. I guess I feel a bit hopeless because I don’t know what to do but pray. I guess that’s a starting point. I trust our good God will hear the cries of his people. Thank you for today’s blog. May God bless you and each of us.
I feel the same way-all everyone thinks about is their wallet and 401k. It baffles me that our country and world are so cold and callus and only think about what will benefit them personally. God help us and Jesus come back soon!
Thank you Sister Melanie for this extremely thought provoking video. There’s so much turmoil in our world today that it’s easy for some problems to take a back seat. However, this is one humanity crisis that can’t be ignored. Thank you for bringing it back into focus with this heart rendering sing and video. So much suffering and we as human beings cannot stand by and watch this continue. We need to all reach out in any way we can to keep families safe. That’s all they want. Let’s not forget Jesus, Mary and Joseph were refugees and someone reached out a hand to help them in a strange country. TJTM
Thank you, Sister Melannie. I pray for all refugees. I am ashamed of our government for its policies regarding immigrants. I sobbed through your presentation.
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Gut wrenching! I’m sure God will ask why we ignored his pain and hunger and misery. We have to be agents of the kingdom.
Thank you, Sister, for your beautiful blog regarding refugees. I guess two things hit me strongly. One was ,”hold your babies tight”. I think all people want the same things for their children: a safe home, enough food, the basic necessities of life, peace and joy. The other image that struck me was the repetition of the words , “til the sun comes up”. The sun rises on us all but it is so different depending on your circumstances.
The song is absolutely beautiful. The second time that it was sung along with the video was so heart wrenching. It brought tears and touched my heart. I will be praying for all the refugees.
Thank you for sharing. Your blogs are amazing and I look forward to them every Monday.:)
God Bless You.
Beautiful message in song. Continued prayers each day for all refugees.
Thank you for sharing.
Sister, your reflection went so deep into my heart and soul. The pictures are stronger
than a thousand words. Losing everything including hope is unforgivable and a sin
against Gods wish for our world. . Peace be with them !
It all just takes my breath away. It’s ALL heart wrenching. I had a hard time this year for July 4th, wondering what really does our country stand for anymore?! I know we have to have hope, but I’m finding it difficult as each week & month goes by. I pray a lot.
Thank you Sister once again.
Today the refugees I’m praying for are the families who are lost and families who have lost children in the Central.Tx flood, nearly a 100 now and they are not through searching yet. Sometimes we forget we have refugees WITHIN our own country – fire, flood, tornadoes, shootings, homelessness, and more that need our attention and our prayers
Suzanne, they were first among my thoughts of refugees, also. So many have lost everything material and even more sadly, the lives of loved ones. I too, have been praying for them every time they come to my mind. I have family in Texas (they are safe and in a place where water didn’t affect them) but it makes it even more personal since I have visited Kerrville. May God grant the victims and the rescue folks, and those who will be left to clean up for years to come, all they need – today and in the future as they see more needs that will arise.
Echoing comments made by all who shared today. The suffering for so many people just wanting to be free is indeed unforgivable and heart breaking. I pray every day for all. Your prayer says all we can petition God for. The music and images will haunt me fir a long time.
Sister:
Have been missing your blog and so grateful you are back to keep us all on track and to bless us……Thank you for being a beacon of love and joy for all.
Thank you.
Melannie: I don’t know if I can say anything. I’m overwhelmed. My last thought was if I feel this way and can’t see for my tears, how must our loving Creator feel? Thank you. Very creative way to get through…S. Mary Ann Flannery, SC
This was so beautiful and sad. Thank you for all you do to bring awareness to the world.
Dear Sister Melanie,
This problem is heart- wrenching and I feel so helpless. This video presentation is beautifully heart-wrenching. It will be with me during my prayer times. Thank you for your compassion. May Gid grant us peace.
Mary Lou
Sr. Melanie, thank you for this reflection. I have been praying for all refugees for years, but didn’t have any idea of the enormity of people suffering. These are human beings who deserve to be treated like God’s creatures. Our pastor was a refugee from Vietnam. He is a wonderful human being and an inspirational leader of our parish. Thank God that Amerca welcomed refugees when he and his companions were rescued from a pontoon boat by American military. Sadly, it wouldn’t happen today. It’s time for me to contribute to CRS and Catholic Chsrities refugee program. Our Lady of Hope, pray for all refugees.
Dear Sisters and friends
After watching and reading this blog I was very sad and it reminded me of the sad and terrible videos I also see of abused and neglected animals, abused women , trafficked children, the list goes on.
We have to do our best to help . One way I’d like to see us help,is to show the “good news” articles and miraculous things that happen every day all around us. I believe the Holy Spirit wants us to practice his gifts of love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. In other words, let’s start spreading all the good things happening in this world! Yes do our best to speak out, but also spread Christs love.
Thank you for this thoughtful and informative information. I can’t do much, but I can spread the word by sharing this information. My experience with refugees and immigrants has been that most people who reject the need to care for our brothers and sisters are simply uninformed or afraid. Information is power.