10 September 2014 - Philippine Ambassador to Mexico Catalino R. Dilem, Jr., together with Embassy personnel and members of the Filipino community, attended a Liturgical Mass celebrating Migrants and Refugees Day on September 08 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico, upon the invitation of the Archdiocese of Mexico’s Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (Comision de Pastoral de Migrantes y Movilidad Humana).

Cardinal Norberto C. Rivera, the Archbishop of Mexico, was the main celebrant. Other Embassies in attendance were those of Spain, Peru, Chile, Panama, Costa Rica and Honduras. Several migrants from the aforementioned countries also joined the celebration.

The Migrants Day Eucharistic Celebration is held every first Sunday of September in Mexico. The whole Archdiocese of Mexico and most Latin American countries dedicate the Mass to honor and give grace to all the migrants and refugees in Mexico City.

A Filipino nun and member of the Scalabrinians order, Sister Maria Arlina Barral, assisted in the Embassy's participation in the said event. She is the Director of the Pastoral Commission which extends pastoral services to the migrants in Mexico.

It likewise provides basic needs to migrants such as food, clothing, transportation, medical services, legal orientation and spiritual guidance. The Pastoral Commission was established in July 2000. END