When the Office for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees opened in Pretoria, South Africa last September, Sr. M. Marta Vargas and her team were astounded by the turnout. As she recounts, “In the first three days, over 500 people lined up at the door.” This outpouring revealed the extensive migration crisis facing the country.
In Sr. Marta’s words, “Why do hundreds of people line up under the sun looking for a place of help and comfort? Why do they stay and wait, even when there are no promises?” She realizes, “The truth is that beyond their needs, lie dreams and longings for happiness.” Even amidst precarious conditions, migrants continue dreaming of a better life.
The people seeking assistance have faces and stories: mothers searching for peace for their children, youth desiring education, pregnant women unable to afford healthcare. Sr. Marta stresses the importance of seeing migrants as human beings with an inherent “right to dream of a life in peace.”
In response, the Pretoria Archdiocese opened the migrant office, blessed on World Day for Migrants and Refugees. Archbishop Anthony Mpako promotes care for the vulnerable. As Sr. Marta explains, “The office intends to be a source of light where migrants and refugees can experience God’s care and guidance.”
Though the challenges are immense, joining hands gives hope. The office collaborates with Caritas and other groups assisting migrants. For Sr. Marta, this initiative represents “a place of union with other people committed to the common good.” She concludes, “It is time to open the doors and let dreams come in.”