Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal gave the homily at a Mass marking the 112^th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 27. Gathered in prayer at the Maria Ausiliatrice Mission in Rivière-des-Prairies, the community celebrated the richness of encounter, welcome and fellowship.

The archbishop returned to a fundamental truth: whatever our origins, languages, cultures and life stories, “we all share the same humanity.” God created humankind in His image, he recalled, and that one humanity finds expression in a great variety of cultures, families, histories, languages and vocations. Far from dividing us, this variety reveals the full richness of the human person.

Montreal: a gift and a mission

The archbishop spoke in particular of Montreal, a city deeply shaped by cultural diversity. Newcomers bring their history, family, language, traditions and culture, and each one enriches the community.

That diversity is a true gift, and it carries a responsibility. “When God gives us a gift, it is for the sake of a mission,” he said.

For Montreal, part of that mission is encounter: reaching out to others, discovering their stories and cultures, and learning to recognize a brother or sister in every person. Meeting other cultures changes us and helps us grow, both as individuals and as a community.

The city is thus called to bear witness that people can live together in diversity, and to let that conviction shine: whatever our differences, we all belong to one humanity.

Instruments of peace

Acknowledging the fears, worries and divisions that difference can sometimes stir, Archbishop Lépine urged the faithful not to lose heart. Beyond those fears, he said, lies an essential reality: we are all brothers and sisters in our common humanity.

That mission takes concrete shape in how we look at and welcome one another. It calls us to look on others with kindness, to serve and to be ready to become instruments of peace in our families, our communities and our society.

Prayer lies at the heart of this mission. In the face of injustice, hardship or the suffering of others, we are called to pray, and to let that prayer open our hearts to encounter and service.

In that spirit, the celebration also gave thanks to God for the diversity that defines Montreal and for every encounter it makes possible.

We give thanks to God for this gift. We give thanks for those who come to meet us, bringing different stories, journeys and cultures. And we give thanks for these encounters, which open our hearts and teach us, day by day, to see one another more fully as brothers and sisters.