by Adv. Rani Punnasseril, Conference of Catholic Bishops of India
The Catholic Church in India on Sept. 27 has launched a digital portal designed to provide critical support to millions of migrants across the country.
The platform, which was officially unveiled by Cardinal Philip Neri Ferrão of Goa, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI), aimed to address the challenges faced by migrant workers, students, and displaced individuals.
The new portal is part of the Catholic Connect platform and is intended to assist migrants in various aspects of their lives, whether they have moved for employment, education, or other reasons.
This initiative echoes Pope Francis’s call to “welcome, protect, promote, and integrate” migrants and refugees, and seeks to extend the Church’s mission to accompany vulnerable populations.
India is home to over 450 million internal migrants, many of whom face hardships such as displacement, exploitation, and lack of access to essential services.
Through this digital initiative, the Church aims to provide a lifeline for migrants, including refugees, internally displaced persons, unaccompanied minors, and victims of human trafficking.
Fr. Adv. Jaison Vadassery, who played a key role in the development of the platform, stressed the inclusive nature of the service.
“The portal will enable the Church to accompany migrants in a more meaningful way, as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. Vadassery emphasized that the platform will be accessible to all, irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.
The portal is designed to help migrants register for essential Church services, no matter their location, and offers practical assistance, such as helping migrants enroll in government programs and providing emergency support.
This includes securing healthcare and education for their children. Dioceses and parishes across India are expected to play a crucial role by helping migrants register, while trained volunteers from within migrant communities will provide on-the-ground support.
The Catholic Church’s new initiative aims not only to offer immediate aid but also to empower migrants by facilitating their integration into host communities while maintaining connections to their cultural and religious identities.
During the launch, several high-ranking Church officials were present, including Archbishop Victor Henry Thakur of Raipur, who also serves as Chairman of the CCBI Commission for Migrants; Archbishop Anil J.T. Couto, Secretary General and Archbishop of Delhi; Archbishop Elias Gonsalves of Nagpur; Rev. Dr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General of the CCBI; Fr. Adv. Jaison Vadassery, Executive Secretary to the CCBI Commission for Migrants; and Rev. Dr. Cyril Victor, Coordinator of the CCBI Media Apostolate.
