Archdiocese of Toronto Marks the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The Archdiocese of Toronto marked the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on September 27, 2026, with a special Mass and Reception at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Pickering, bringing together refugees, parishioners, clergy, government representatives, community leaders and friends of the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Office for Refugees (ORAT).
A Community United in Welcome
The Archdiocese of Toronto was privileged to welcome a number of distinguished guests who joined in marking this occasion, expressing their support for the important work of welcoming newcomers to Canada.
Among those present were the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship; MP Costas Menegakis;; MP Garnett Genuis; MP Juanita Nathan Mayor Kevin Ashe of Pickering; Mr. David Pickles, Councillor for Ward 3 in Pickering; and Ms. de Berardinis, representing MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance.
Their presence reflected the importance of collaboration among the Church, government, community organizations, and local communities in supporting migrants and refugees as they begin new lives in Canada.
ORAT was also privileged to welcome representatives from various churches and community groups that it works closely with to sponsors refugees, including St. Joseph Syriac Catholic Church, St. Barsaumo Syriac Orthodox Church, St. Behnam Syriac Orthodox Church, the Eritrean Catholic Chaplaincy of Toronto, and the Eritrean Canadian Association of Nova Scotia.
From Vietnam to Canada: Bishop Vincent Nguyen's Journey
The celebration was also a powerful reminder that behind every refugee is a person—a story, a family, a journey, and a hope for a new beginning.
Among the most moving moments of the celebration were the personal stories shared by Bishop Vincent Nguyen and Emmanuel, each offering a profound witness to the courage, faith, and perseverance of refugees.
Bishop Vincent Nguyen knows personally what it means to flee one's homeland in search of freedom and safety.
Having fled the communist regime in Vietnam, Bishop Nguyen escaped to Japan before eventually making his way to Canada. His journey was marked by uncertainty, hardship, and the challenges faced by so many refugees who leave everything familiar behind.
Yet his story did not end with displacement.
In Canada, Bishop Nguyen discovered a new home and a new vocation. He became a priest and eventually a bishop, dedicating his life to serving God and the people entrusted to his care.
His presence at the World Day celebration was a powerful reminder that a refugee's story is not defined by how it begins. A journey that starts with fear and displacement can, through faith, perseverance, welcome, and opportunity, become a story of service and hope.
From a Refugee Camp in Ghana to a Toronto Hospital
Emmanuel's story offered another extraordinary example of what can happen when a refugee is given the opportunity to rebuild a life in safety.
His parents fled the brutal regime in their homeland of Togo and eventually found refuge in Krisan Refugee Camp in Ghana, where Emmanuel was born and raised. Life in the camp presented many challenges, and opportunities for education and employment were limited.
Emmanuel's life changed when he was selected by the Office for Refugees of the Archdiocese of Toronto (ORAT) during one of its overseas refugee selection missions. He was subsequently matched with St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Pickering, the very parish that hosted this year's World Day celebration.
Emmanuel embraced his new opportunity with determination. Within his first year in Canada, he successfully completed the examination required to become a Registered Nurse. Today, he serves as a nurse in the Emergency Department at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto.
His journey—from growing up in a refugee camp in Ghana to caring for patients in a Toronto hospital—is a remarkable testament to resilience, determination, and the transformative impact of welcome.
Emmanuel's story reminds us that when refugees are given an opportunity to rebuild their lives, they do not simply become recipients of Canada's generosity. They become neighbours, colleagues, professionals, caregivers, parishioners, and contributors to the communities they now call home.
The celebration at St. Isaac Jogues was more than an annual observance. It was an opportunity to listen to refugee voices, to remember the journeys that brought so many newcomers to Canada, and to celebrate the remarkable contributions they are making to our communities.
