Madrid, Spain, Sep 19, 2019 / 05:50 pm (CNA).- The head of the migration commission for the Spanish Bishops’ Conference emphasized that love of neighbor is essential for Christians, and this includes a care for migrants and refugees.
“We don’t love God if we don’t love our brothers,” stressed Bishop Luis Quinteiro of Tuy-Vigo in a presentation on the bishops’ preparations for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
Observed in the Church since 1914 as an opportunity for prayer and awareness, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be held Sept. 29. Pope Francis has chosen as this year’s theme, “It’s not just about migrants.”
Normally observed in January, the day will instead by marked on the last Sunday of September this year.
Quinteiro called migration “a decisive issue” and said he hopes that this World Day of Migrants and Refugees will help remind people that foreigners are “not a danger, but help to enrich us.”
In a message, the Spanish bishops called for the most vulnerable to be protected and for human rights of migrants to be respected regardless of their legal status.
They also called for the closure of detention centers where migrants who cross the border illegally are held. The detention centers have drawn significant criticism for poor living conditions.
“It’s not just about migrants, it’s about humanity,” said Fr. José Luis Pinilla, secretary general of the Spanish Conference of Religious.
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Over 10,000 pilgrims joined together at the national Marian shrine in Knock, Ireland, to mark the 40th anniversary of the All Ireland Rosary Rally on June 8, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of All Ireland Rosary Rally
Dublin, Ireland, Jun 9, 2025 / 14:00 pm (CNA).
This past weekend, over 10,000 pilgrims joined together at the national Marian shrine in Knock, Ireland, to mark the 40th anniversary of the All Ireland Rosary Rally.
Since the rally began in 1985, it has attracted increasingly larger crowds. This year’s rally included a youth conference and a prayer vigil in the basilica to welcome the feast of Pentecost. Hundreds of rally-goers joined together to create a huge human rosary outside. On Sunday morning, attendees climbed Croagh Patrick holy mountain where Mass was celebrated at noon at the summit.
“We are inspired in our efforts by the rallies of Father Patrick Peyton, a [County] Mayo native who inspired millions around the globe,” event organizer Father Marius O’Reilly told CNA. “We aim to spread Father Peyton’s timeless message that a world at prayer is a world at peace.”
An aerial shot of a “human rosary” formed on the grounds of the national Marian shrine in Knock, Ireland, to mark the 40th anniversary of the All Ireland Rosary Rally on June 8, 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of All Ireland Rosary Rally
He added: “In today’s climate of conflict, people increasingly recognize the importance of this simple yet powerful message.”
Monsignor Steve Rossetti, an exorcist and priest from Syracuse, New York, was in Ireland for the rally and echoed O’Reilly’s message, warning the thousands of faithful gathered in Knock that the battle against evil and the forces of darkness in our world has never been clearer.
“I believe that the holy gathering at Knock will be a powerful force for good in Ireland and indeed the entire world,” he said.
Monsignor Steve Rosetti, an exorcist and priest from Syracuse, New York, was in Ireland for the rally and said: “I believe that the holy gathering at Knock will be a powerful force for good in Ireland and indeed the entire world.” Credit: Photo courtesy of All Ireland Rosary Rally
Stressing how prayer can help us to overcome evil in the world, he added: “God is by nature merciful; God cannot not be merciful; even hell is a mercy.”
Rosetti went on to explain: “We see this in an exorcism. When we simply sprinkle a little holy water or hold up a crucifix, the demons scream in agony. Could you imagine the incredible torment it would be for demons or the unclean damned to be thrust into the direct all-presence of our infinite holy God? The radiance of God’s holiness would be beyond suffering for them. Hell is the only place they can exist, and they have willingly chosen it.”
In his homily during a Mass of healing at the rally, Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry highlighted the rosary as a transformative tool for profound spiritual renewal and missionary engagement in the modern world. He reflected on the challenges of contemporary life.
In his homily during a Mass of healing at the rally, Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry highlighted the rosary as a transformative tool for profound spiritual renewal and missionary engagement in the modern world. Credit: Photo courtesy of All Ireland Rosary Rally
“We live in a frenetic age. Speed is of the essence. Attention spans are increasingly brief. Listening is in short supply.” He urged the faithful to embrace the rosary as an antidote to this cultural haste, describing it as “rooted in the wisdom of the ages that can free us to be, like Mary, open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”
Christine O’Hara, a teacher from County Cork, shared her experience at the rally with CNA.
“I attended the rosary rally the past two years with a group of students from Coláiste Chríost Rí,” she explained. “Students felt the presence of Christ at holy Mass in the basilica and in the Apparition Chapel. All the students got confession. The atmosphere was amazing. It was wonderful to see thousands of people in Knock.”
Since the rally began in 1985, it has attracted increasingly larger crowds. This year’s rally included a youth conference and a prayer vigil in the basilica to welcome the feast of Pentecost on June 8, 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of the All Ireland Rosary Rally
O’Reilly reflected on the success of the rally. “There is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty in the world, and we believe this event and events like it can help people as they join together in solidarity and prayer and ultimately in hope,” he said.
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We are all migrants and refugees privileged to be walking on God’s Holy Ground and living in God’s Time.
We are all migrants and refugees privileged to be walking on God’s Holy Ground and living in God’s Time.