Cook Islands Catholic Church Bishop Reynaldo Getalado has stressed the message that every migrant and Cook Islanders should be one family regardless of their cultures and languages.

Hundreds of migrants who moved to the Cook Islands for better opportunities over the years gathered at the Saint Joseph’s Cathedral on Catholic grounds to celebrate their stay on the island.

Bishop Getalado, m.s.p. who was ordained coadjutor bishop at St. Joseph’s Cathedral on April 27 this year, led the service with an encouragement highlighting unity between migrants and Cook Islanders.

He stressed that this is the first time this is being held here in the Cook Islands and it’s a sign that everyone should be one family regardless of their culture and languages.

The celebration kicked off with a parade in the morning where different ethnic groups were dressed in their own cultural uniforms in the Avarua town area.

“Because of the Holy Father who encouraged us to celebrate the refugee and migrant Sunday, so I said it’s also an opportunity for us to have it here in Rarotonga and to bring together the different migrants,” Bishop Getalado told Cook Islands News.

“There’s no refugees here but for the migrants, it is to come together to share stories and present their cultural items and enjoy each other’s company.”

Bishop Getalado explained that the number of migrants in the church has increased over the years.

“Many come here for better opportunities while some moved here years ago and have married local people and continue to stay here and these are all signs that migrants play an important role in our countries and it’s not limited to the Cook Islands it also happens to all countries in the world,” he added. According to the Bishop, it is the church’s goal to continue this celebration annually to celebrate the contribution of migrants to Rarotonga as well as through the churches.