The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington will join the Universal Church in celebrating the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees with a reflection procession and Mass on Sunday, Sept. 28.
The observance will begin with a procession at 2:30 p.m. from the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, 3211 Sacred Heart Way, NW, Washington, D.C. The faithful will walk in prayer to the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., where a 5:30 p.m. Mass will follow.
Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, will be the principal celebrant of the liturgy, which will bring together Catholic communities from across the archdiocese in solidarity and prayer. The Mass will be live streamed on the archdiocese of Washington's YouTube Channel.
The World Day of Migrants and Refugees was instituted by Pope (now Saint) Pius X in 1914 and has been observed annually as a reminder of the Church’s call to accompany migrants and refugees. The Sept. 28 procession and Mass will highlight the archdiocese’s multicultural character and its mission of synodal renewal.
The event is sponsored by the Secretariat of Evangelization and Synodal Renewal. For more information, call 301-853-5335 or email culturaldiversity@adw.org.
What to know
When and where
The Reflection Procession begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart.
Mass will follow at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle.
Route and stops
The procession will walk along 16th Street NW, with each stop spaced about three-tenths of a mile apart:
Welcoming the Stranger – 16th and Irving streets NW
For Those Facing Legal Struggles – 16th and Euclid streets NW
For Those Considering Whether to Stay or Migrate – 16th and W streets NW
For Those in Refugee Camps – 16th and T streets NW
For Those Currently Detained – 16th and Q streets NW
For Those Advocating for Humanity at Our Borders – 16th and O streets NW
For the DREAMers, Young People, Children, and Unaccompanied Children – Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle
Rain plan
In the event of rain, the procession will take place inside the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle at 3:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 5:30 p.m.
Safety
Participants are asked not to bring flags, banners, or signs. Any brought to the Shrine must be left there and can be picked up after the Mass. Organizers stress that the event is intended as a prayerful witness. Organizers especially encourage U.S. citizens and those with secure status to participate publicly in support of migrants and refugees.
Parking and transit
Limited free and metered parking is available near the Shrine; paid parking is available at the DC USA garage.
The Shrine is a seven-minute walk from Columbia Heights Metro station.
The Cathedral is an eight-minute walk from Dupont Circle Metro station.
Bus service will be suspended during the procession but will resume after Mass. The recommended route back to the Shrine is the D6X 16th Street Limited or D60 16th Street line.
