Celebrating 30 Years of Welcoming Refugees and Immigrants
Caritas P.A.R.I (Point d’Accueil pour Réfugiés et Immigrés) celebrated 30 years of welcoming and supporting refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers with a joyful mass, cultural festivities, and a heartfelt tribute to fraternity, hospitality, and service.
On 25 May 2025, Caritas – P.A.R.I joyfully marked its 30th anniversary with a thanksgiving mass and a cultural afternoon brimming with emotion. The celebration highlighted the organisation’s tireless work on behalf of refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers, offering a vibrant tribute to the values of fraternity, hospitality, and service.
Under the banner of “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”, the day featured a parade of nations, musical performances, and the P.A.R.I. Jubilee song, performed by a group of refugees and asylum seekers.
The celebrations began at 10 a.m. with a solemn mass presided over by Abbé Gérard Diène, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Dakar, representing His Excellency Mgr André Gueye, Metropolitan Archbishop. In his homily, Abbé Diène praised the ongoing dedication of the Caritas Dakar team and P.A.R.I., reflecting on the jubilee as a moment to celebrate their mission of welcoming and integrating migrants, while looking to the future with hope. He offered words of comfort to all migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers: “God is always with you.”
Sister Joséphine Gueye sm, Coordinator of P.A.R.I., expressed her gratitude for celebrating the milestone with such a supportive community. She emphasized the organisation’s enduring mission to meet the needs of people on the move despite limited resources, calling for continued solidarity to sustain this vital work. Sister Joséphine concluded by inviting all attendees to share a fraternal meal and extend the day’s festive spirit, praying that God continues to guide P.A.R.I. for many years to come.
Church and Caritas representatives commended P.A.R.I.’s attentive and empathetic approach, noting that understanding beneficiaries’ realities and needs is essential for effective support. They encouraged all people of goodwill to contribute to the mission of hospitality and solidarity, reminding everyone that welcoming others combats distress and affirms human dignity.
The 30th anniversary of Caritas – P.A.R.I. was a resounding success, marked by meticulous organisation and strong community participation. It was a day rich in meaning—a lasting celebration of fraternity, hospitality, and the commitment to serving others.
