Members of St. Viator Parish, accompanied by Fr. Thomas Long, CSV, and Br. Daniel Lydon, CSV, attended a prayer service led by Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich during National Migration Week. Archbishop Cupich

The bilingual service accentuated the importance of family in our daily lives and highlighted the central role that it has with respect to migration.

A highlight of the service came when Archbishop Cupich blessed the adult leaders from 40 Chicago churches — including St. Viator  parishioners — who play important roles in the immigrant-to-immigrant ministry, Pastoral Migratoria.

In this ministry, these adult leaders are engaged in service and justice actions in their parish communities, and help families access legal and social services

National Migration Week was established more than 25 years ago by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as a way to focus the Church’s teaching on migration. It is a prelude to World Day of Migrants and Refugees, celebrated by the Catholic Church on Jan. 18.