Migration A Borderless Mission Maruja M B Asis

Migration: A Borderless Mission Maruja M. B. Asis - Philippines Asian Mission Congress Chiang Mai, Thailand 18 -22 October 2006

Worldwide: 191 million international migrants Asia: 53. 3 million international migrants

Asia, a Region in Motion Major countries of origin – Indonesia – Philippines – Vietnam Burma Cambodia Laos – – Bangladesh India Nepal Pakistan – China Major countries/areas of destination – Brunei – Malaysia – Singapore – Thailand – – Hong Kong Japan South Korea Taiwan – Gulf countries

Asia, A Region in Motion Men are not the only ones leaving their families to work abroad. Asia is a significant site for female migration. – Philippines – Indonesia – Sri Lanka

Asia, A Region in Motion Less skilled workers Professionals & highly skilled Permanent migrants Students Brides Unauthorized migrants, including trafficked persons Refugees

What Migrants Hope For Migration as secular pilgrimage – a journey of hope – a perilous rife with trials (the road to Calvary) – reward at journey’s end (the glory of the Resurrection)

What Migrants Experience Temporary labor migration involves only the migration of workers; families are not included. Family separation is a source of pain to migrants and their leftbehind families. Migration has a dark side.

Migrants as the Other Migrants are needed but not wanted Migrants are regarded only as workers, not as full human beings Migrants are scapegoats for the spread of diseases, crimes … terrorism Migrants receive an uncertain welcome at the least. “You can’t feel at home here, never, even after years and years, even if now we have everything to live like in Kerala. Because we have no right: just the right to work and be silent. ” Beemole, a nurse in the UAE for 20 years

What Migrants Hope For Migration as secular pilgrimage – a journey of hope – a perilous rife with trials (the road to Calvary) – reward at journey’s end (the glory of the Resurrection)

What Migrants Experience Temporary labor migration involves only the migration of workers; families are not included. Family separation is a source of pain to migrants and their leftbehind families. Migration has a dark side.

Migrants as the Other Migrants are needed but not wanted Migrants are regarded only as workers, not as full human beings Migrants are scapegoats for the spread of diseases, crimes … terrorism Migrants receive an uncertain welcome at the least. “You can’t feel at home here, never, even after years and years, even if now we have everything to live like in Kerala. Because we have no right: just the right to work and be silent. ” Beemole, a nurse in the UAE for 20 years

Migration as an Unfolding of the Story of Jesus For Catholic migrants: – the challenge of keeping the faith; their everyday life and conduct as witness For the Church in the origin: – Working with local institutions – Guiding and assisting the leftbehind families – Call to transcend national borders in journeying with the faithful

Migration as an Unfolding of the Story of Jesus For the Church in the destination: – Migrants bring the mission home; the foreigners are at the doorstep – Call to hospitality and welcome – Call to care for ALL migrants; no one is a stranger in the Church

At Jacob’s Well: Crossing Boundaries, Making Dialogue

Migrants and Pilgrims All Migration takes us out of our comfort zones – For migrants, it is a step into unfamiliar & uncharted territory – For those left behind, it requires major adjustments – For those in the destination, the encounter with strangers can be alarming “The Stranger within my gates, he may be evil or good, but I cannot tell what powers control, what reasons may sway his mood; nor when the God of his far-off land may repossess his blood. ” Rudyard Kipling

Migrants and Pilgrims All “And you are to love those who are aliens, for yourselves were aliens in Egypt. ” – Deutoronomy 10: 10 “Remember to welcome strangers in your homes. There were some who did that and welcomed angels without knowing it. ” – Hebrews 13: 2

Migrants and Pilgrims All Migration is an opportunity – to proclaim God’s presence in the world – to proclaim God’s love to all – As individuals and as Church: Cooperation and coordination across Churches Harnessing resources to undertake this mission Rethinking our structures and modes of operation: being Church for people on the move Openness to dialogue

Migrants and Pilgrims All Migration is a metaphor of our transient existence we are all migrants and pilgrims stopping by, on our way to our real home.

Acknowledgments SALAMAT PO For the artworks: – www. asianchristianart. org/galleries For the map and photos: – – http: //travel. yahoo. com www. unfpa. org (State of the World Population Report) www. ibiblio. org www. mfasia. org For the music: – “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan”[Rocking of the Cradle] (L. San Pedro/L Celerio)