The CLAMOR Network, made up of more than 50 Catholic organizations that work, from faith, for the defense and promotion of the human rights of migrants, refugees and displaced people in Latin America and the Caribbean, began its VI general assembly on Tuesday, September 12, 2023 in the city of Bogotá, Colombia.

The meeting, which runs until September 15, 2023, has as its motto "Widen the space of your tent" Is. (54,2-3) and seeks to strengthen networking as well as ecclesiastical and social incidence in the face of the challenges that continue to be posed by the growing and increasingly complex migratory flows in the Region.

The first day of the assembly began with a symbolic gesture: a group of migrants who accompany this meeting, and who represent the millions of people who seek a new future in other countries, gave entry to the word of God and They turned on a light that remains in the center of the room throughout the assembly. Then, the opening words were heard by Monsignor Gustavo Rodríguez, current president of the CLAMOR Network and Archbishop of Yucatán (Mexico), who highlighted the importance of the assembly as a space for communion, reflection and action.

He was followed by Monsignor Robert Vitillo, secretary general of the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), who highlighted the role of the CLAMOR Network as a concrete expression of the commitment of the Church with migrants and refugees. Next, Father Flavio Lauría, representative of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development, spoke, who conveyed the greetings of the Dicastery based in Rome, and recalled the guidelines of Pope Francis for a comprehensive migratory pastoral.

Finally, Father Francisco Hernández, director of the Center for Pastoral Action Programs and Networks (Ceprap) of CELAM, thanked the presence and participation of the delegates of the different organizations that make up the CLAMOR Network, pointing out that it is a model of Synodality that provides an important service to the Latin American Church. Subsequently, Elvy Monzant, executive secretary of the CLAMOR Network, proceeded to verify the quorum of this assembly, which has 78 in-person attendees.

During the morning of Tuesday, September 12, there was a moment of spirituality facilitated by Sister. Liliana Franco, president of the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women (CLAR), who invited the participants to “glimpse together a missionary horizon,” in a “history that is built in the chiaroscuro of the human,” and to do so while listening to God, who is the “eternal speaker.” He also encouraged us to take advantage of this “celebration of interculturality” as an opportunity to “renew the forces that allow us to continue walking with those who migrate through different geographies.”

SEEING AND LISTENING FROM FAITH

The afternoon session of this first day of meeting began with the block titled “A look at reality”, which included the interventions of Angélica Uribe, UNHCR officer, and Julio Crocci, Coordinator of Intergovernmental Processes at IOM. Both spoke about the current context and the challenges and opportunities that the region faces in terms of human mobility, as well as the actions carried out by their respective agencies to protect and assist people in vulnerable situations.

Consecutively, there was a panel with border bishops, where Monsignor Celmo Lázari, bishop of Sucumbíos, Ecuador, participated; Monsignor Jaime Villarroel, bishop of Carúpano, Venezuela; Monsignor Bernabé Sagastume, bishop of San Marcos, Guatemala and Monsignor Guadalupe Torres, bishop of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The prelates shared their concerns, experiences and testimonies about the reality that migrants and refugees experience in their territories, as well as the responses provided by the Church through pastoral care, charity and advocacy.

Then, Nicolás Pedemonte presented the report on migration in Latin America prepared by the CELAM Knowledge Management Center and the San Alberto Hurtado University. The document offers an updated diagnosis of migratory flows in the Region, as well as an analysis of the structural causes and social, economic and cultural impacts generated by human mobility.

In the last part of the afternoon, simultaneous workshops were held on three thematic axes: incidence, solidarity economy and integral ecology. The participants were able to delve deeper into these topics and discuss good practices and the challenges that arise for the action of the CLAMOR Network.

The day concluded with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by the president of the Network, Monsignor Gustavo Rodríguez Vega. In his homily, Monsignor Vega invited the assembly members to follow the example of Mary, who welcomed and accompanied Jesus on his path to the Cross. Likewise, he encouraged them to be a Church on the way out, which becomes close to the poorest and most excluded.

NDP: Communications Red CLAMOOR