June 20 is World Refugee Day. While local headlines have taken over our consciousness even more than usual, our faith calls us to have a global vision. Plus, the COVID-19 pandemic has a disproportionate impact on those who are already vulnerable, including refugees.

Many displaced persons live in close quarters in refugee camps or urban areas with limited access to healthcare. Global resettlement of refugees has been halted and international borders have been closed.

All of these challenges pile up on the other challenges refugees face in the best of times.

It’s why the world needs organizations like the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), which serves people displaced from their homes in over 50 countries around the world. Guest Danielle Vella is the director of reconciliation for JRS, and she has written a book of stories from her encounters with refugees called "Dying to Live: Stories from Refugees on the Road to Freedom."

Danielle is from the tiny Mediterranean island nation of Malta, and she sat down with host Mike Jordan Laskey on the last day of her US book tour in early March, right before COVID-19 began its assault on North America. She shares incredible stories from her book and how her faith inspires her work.

Danielle's book, Dying to Live: https://www.jrsusa.org/dying-to-live/

JRS USA's World Refugee Day campaign: https://www.jrsusa.org/campaign/welcome-protect-world-refugee-day-2020/