Pope Francis has called for a two year campaign to encourage Catholics to encounter migrants and refugees, called "Share the Journey".  The campaign seeks to put a human face on migration and encourage people to see beyond the numbers and truly meet Christ in those around us who leave their homeland behind, oftentimes by necessity. Share the Journey hopes to inspire in Catholics a desire to get to know their neighbors and hear their stories, to truly understand what is happening around them and to take action in response to defend those in need.

Christopher Write, the national correspondent from Crux, states "Cardinal Luis Tagle, Archbishop of Manila and president of Caritas Internationalis, said the primary purpose of the campaign is to encourage a return to the study of scripture, 'where God always had a soft spot in his heart for the most vulnerable.'"

As part of the campaign, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for a National  Week of Prayer and Action from October 7-13. 

The USCCB, Caritas Internationalis, Catholic Relief Services, and Catholic Charities USA have created a site,  www.sharejourney.org, which offers resources for both prayer and action including: stories of migrants, prayers, opportunities for action, resources for those looking to get involved, and ideas for pastors and educators looking to encourage their communities. 

We encourage you to take some time to explore the site and learn more about the Holy Father's Campaign and how your youth ministry can take part.