Showing posts with label pope francis. Show all posts
Let Us Pray on 18 January for Migrants and Refugees!
Louise Zanré, Director of JRS UK, invites us to dedicate time this New Year to pray in solidarity with refugees who face the year ahead with uncertainty. This reflection first appeared in the Catholic Universe newspaper.
For the people we accompany at Jesuit Refugee Service, a new year can be a time for dejection and tiredness, rather than filled with promise. A new year marks the passage of another year of waiting for a decision in an asylum claim; another year with no answer or certainty for the future. And they have already waited for a very long time, with no leave to remain, no permission to work and no access to benefits.
They put on a brave face, but the mood in our day centre is normally much quieter and much lower in January. The weather and the short days do not help; but the bravery is there and is for us so that we, the staff and volunteers at JRS, don't feel too bad.
For 101 years the Catholic Church has celebrated migrants and refugees with a special day of prayer, standing in solidarity with them and offering support and hope (on 18 January in the UK is year).
The message given by the Pope for the day of prayer for migrants and refugees is challenging. This year Pope Francis takes as his theme "Church without frontiers, Mother to all". He reminds us that the Church has no frontiers, but "a heart open to all". And he issues us with a challenge:
"The Church without frontiers, Mother to all, spreads throughout the world a culture of acceptance and solidarity, in which no one is seen as useless, out of place or disposable. When living out this motherhood effectively, the Christian community nourishes, guides and indicates the way, accompanying all with patience, and drawing close to them through prayer and works of mercy."
In order to be effective, this accompaniment has to be based on encounter:
"Migration movements, in fact, call us to deepen and strengthen the values needed to guarantee peaceful coexistence between persons and cultures. Achieving mere tolerance that respects diversity and ways of sharing between different backgrounds and cultures is not sufficient. This is precisely where the Church contributes to overcoming frontiers and encouraging the “moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalization … towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world” (Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2014)."
Many of the people attending our day centre derive a great deal of resilience from their faith and hope from the support offered to them by day centres, charities and people of good will they meet in their lives. The practical support, care and attention offered by these groups and individuals stand as a direct contrast to the anti-migrant messages we can see or hear in the media or from politicians. Without this practical support and kindness, lives would be more difficult, obstacles more insurmountable.
It is particularly important for us to show practical support and kindness, to demonstrate tolerance and acceptance, to be counter-cultural at the beginning of the year, when those we welcome find things more difficult. A good starting place is to say a prayer for migrants and refugees on 18 January, to spare a kind thought or another prayer for migrants and refugees whenever we see or hear anti-migrant stories. If we can we might also support with our time or financially a local project welcoming refugees and migrants. In this way we can shine as a beacon of hope and hospitality to those who may feel unwelcome and tired of waiting.
For more information about the work of JRS please phone 020-74887310 or go to www.jrsuk.net
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Advent Together
Kate and Rosemary both took part in Pax Christi’s annual Advent Service at St Aloysius church near Euston in London this week. Kate shares what she enjoyed about the occasion.
Jesuit Refugee Service UK was invited to offer a testimony and focus for prayer for a gathering of people who work for justice all the way through the year. We were together to listen to stories, reflect on scripture and sing. The event was both intercession for people who all year round struggle in impossible circumstances and a festive celebration at the same time.
This service was particularly important to me. It was beautifully designed and presented with a lot of thought and love - whether through the choir, Westminster Deaf Service interpreters or the different creative stations for prayer. It is not often that I feel my worship truly reflects my work and commitment to working for peace. So I am grateful that on occasion we were able to honour refugees, those caught up in the troubles in the Holy Land, women who suffer from violence and those who seek to transform conflict throughout the world.
Each theme had a scripture verse, a personal story, a prayer from Pope Francis or a litany and a song. During the service we were all invited to make a pilgrimage around the church to each area, by way of accompanying people throughout the world who find themselves in situations of flight, discrimination, trafficking or isolation. We sang in English, Arabic and Hebrew and made a commitment to instil in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. It meant a lot to me to share those words with a mix of people who I know do that in their daily lives.
After the service, we all went downstairs to share a mince pie and glass of wine. JRS had a stall with crafts made by refugees in Kenya (www.jrsea.org/mikono) and sold more than £100 of products. Thank you to everyone who bought something from us.
Read more about Pax Christi’s work: www. paxchristi.org.uk
Read more about JRS’ work in Syria: http://en.jrs.net/campaigns_
The collection was taken for Pax Christi and JRS Syria. You can donate here: https://en.jrs.net/donate
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Volunteering at JRS, the Day-Centre
Mike Guilfoyle, talks about his experience as a JRS volunteer.
Following my departure from having completed a twenty year ' stretch ' working as a front -line Probation Officer in London in 2010. I started to look around for new and energising pathways into working outside the statutory sector and in particular fulfilling a long standing interest in working as a Volunteer. After experiencing some unexpected setbacks, I was informed by one well known charity having made what I took to be a convincing presentation, that I was unsuitable as I appeared to have not quite stepped outside the probation officer persona! Undeterred, I directed my attentions to an altogether different area of volunteering, that I had peripherally engaged with albeit in the context of casework supervision with ' foreign national' prisoners when working as a probation officer.
Having already written articles for the Catholic Social Justice Quarterly, Justice Magazine, on how my catholic faith had informed my approach to working with those who came into contact with the criminal justice system, it seemed fitting that having contacted the Mount Street Jesuit Centre and had the estimable pleasure of an informal interview with Andrea Kelly that I was directed (I have now nearly completed my novitiate!) towards the Jesuit Refugee Service. At the time, JRS was relocating from its former base in North London to Wapping and as such I awaited with keen anticipation the much delayed meeting (due to the aforementioned migration across London) with JRS Assistant Director Jonathan Parr. The convivial and engaging process of volunteer recruitment was then wonderfully complemented by the presence of a warm, welcoming and eclectic staff group.
Although I had expressed a preference for working as a volunteer visiting those caught up in the Orwellian world of detention centres, childcare considerations meant that this option has remained , at least for the present, impracticable. Since then I have willingly given up a chunk of my Thursdays to work in the vibrant and challenging weekly Day-Centre that is at the heart of the Hurtado Centre and this has offered a richly uplifting experience which has meant so much to me, anchored as it is in the foundational principles of catholic social thought, respecting the dignity of the human person, who is possessed of a god -given worth captured so well in Matthew 25: ' If you welcome the stranger, you welcome me'
I was mildly amused to note that the Jesuits also have what they define as House Probation , that is novices perform most of their basic but essential tasks , alongside their heroically lengthy but to the secular outsider, formidable period of formation. I can honestly state that the time I have so far spent at JRS has been unremittingly rewarding and has offered me a privileged opportunity to meet with, work alongside and support the refugees, many of whom offer their greetings and friendship, when they arrive at the Day-Centre and prior to leaving. I now feel a warm attachment and measured respect for those friends whose stories of displacement and rejection, have resulted in unmerited penury reliant on the charitable support of JRS and other voluntary bodies. In making oneself available often at times of great individual distress, by opening up an emotional space and presence and active compassionate listening. I have always tried at moments when my patience or attention is lacking, to recall the enduring words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, ' If I see a person or persons suffer and the distance between us does not shrink, then my place, is not good, not enviable'.
I was mildly amused to note that the Jesuits also have what they define as House Probation , that is novices perform most of their basic but essential tasks , alongside their heroically lengthy but to the secular outsider, formidable period of formation. I can honestly state that the time I have so far spent at JRS has been unremittingly rewarding and has offered me a privileged opportunity to meet with, work alongside and support the refugees, many of whom offer their greetings and friendship, when they arrive at the Day-Centre and prior to leaving. I now feel a warm attachment and measured respect for those friends whose stories of displacement and rejection, have resulted in unmerited penury reliant on the charitable support of JRS and other voluntary bodies. In making oneself available often at times of great individual distress, by opening up an emotional space and presence and active compassionate listening. I have always tried at moments when my patience or attention is lacking, to recall the enduring words of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, ' If I see a person or persons suffer and the distance between us does not shrink, then my place, is not good, not enviable'.
Working at the JRS has helped me to see in the vulnerable stranger a mirror of myself, and a reflection of Christ that points towards an invitation to human solidarity. I have met some truly wonderful colleagues, some of whom have since moved onto other challenges and career openings. The ready wit, cheerful banter and ' salty' humour in evidence when volunteers come together has been a source of joy and delight to me, the ' passagiato' practised with consummate ease by one of the volunteers now studying for a higher degree! will no doubt be recognised by 'front of house' volunteers! An invitation to accord greater attention and support to those marginalised by political strife and persecution and broken by personal tragedy was recently reiterated in the Apostolic letter in anticipation of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees from Pope Francis which concludes with these resonant words: 'Dear migrants and refugees! Never lose the hope that you too are facing a more secure future, that on your journey you will encounter an outstretched hand, and that you can experience fraternal solidarity and the warmth of friendship! To all of you, and to those who have devoted their lives and their efforts to helping you, I give the assurance of my prayers and I cordially impart my Apostolic Blessing.'
Towards a better world
This Sunday, 19th January, is World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees within the Catholic Church. What does that mean? There are lots of “days” for different things all the way through the year, so what is special about this day for us at JRS? We accompany refugees every day, but once in a while it is good to pause and look at a bigger picture.
“Towards a better world” is the title of Pope Francis’s message written especially with this Sunday in mind. As he explains “Our societies are experiencing, in an unprecedented way, processes of mutual interdependence and interaction on the global level. While not lacking problematic or negative elements, these processes are aimed at improving the living conditions of the human family, not only economically, but politically and culturally as well. Each individual is a part of humanity and, with the entire family of peoples, shares the hope of a better future.” He then outlines many of the bigger issues that need to be improved and structural changes that need to be in place.
Moving towards safety is what many of our refugee friends have in mind as they left the desperate situations they were in back at home. Some of them may have been able to exercise a degree of choice in the decision to leave (for example when to leave and where to go), many had no choice but to flee.
Moving towards a more fulfilled life is what many of our refugee friends hope for when they come to a new country. Sadly, for many of those we see, life here is as hard if not harder emotionally, as their expectations of welcome and support are replaced with disbelief and turned down asylum claims.
Moving towards a better future is what many of our refugee friends cling onto as their hopes of being given leave to remain are dashed and they find themselves destitute or detained in immigration removal centres. Their resilience and strength of character is both humbling and inspiring to the rest of us.
So as we work on their behalf for “a better world”, we can take instruction from Pope Francis’s message that this is not just an idea, but something concrete: practical help with food and clothing, emotional support with friendship and hospitality, political change in values and priorities, media change in portrayals and images…
Let us remember: “Migrants and refugees are not pawns on the chessboard of humanity. They are children, women and men who leave or who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons, who share a legitimate desire for knowing and having, but above all for being more”
Dealing with the global forces at work, JRS’s mission to advocate as well as accompany , and serve is important: “As the Church accompanies migrants and refugees on their journey, she seeks to understand the causes of migration, but she also works to overcome its negative effects, and to maximize its positive influence on the communities of origin, transit and destination.”
And as Pope Francis says: “A change of attitude towards migrants and refugees is needed on the part of everyone, moving away from attitudes of defensiveness and fear, indifference and marginalization – all typical of a throwaway culture – towards attitudes based on a culture of encounter, the only culture capable of building a better, more just and fraternal world. The communications media are themselves called to embrace this “conversion of attitudes” and to promote this change in the way migrants and refugees are treated.”
So, this Sunday, we will both remember our own part and the wider picture of change that we can advocate for, while taking time to pause and hold in our hearts those individuals we know who come here for safety, for life and a better future in what we hope will be a better world for all of us.
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Who will weep for them?
The Globalisation of Indifference
A post based on Pope Francis’s homily from the mass he celebrated on the Italian island of Lampedusa on 8th July 2013.
Who will weep for them?
The UN reports that so far this year 40 people have lost
their lives off the cost of Lampedusa.
On Pope Francis’ first official visit outside Rome to the island,
reports were coming in that another 31 people have drowned in the waters of the
island in their quest for a better life.
Pope Francis described these deaths as a “thorn of suffering in his
heart”. But more than that, he spoke of
this disease, the globalization of indifference, which has hardens all our
hearts to the plight of these migrants, these our brothers and sisters.
“The migrants leave difficult situations in order to find a
little serenity and peace. They seek a
better place for themselves and for their families.”
To that end, for the chance of opportunities, which cannot
be found in their own countries, they embark upon perilous journeys, paying traffickers
vast sums of money and only counting on God to safely reach their
destination. They do not know if they
will make it. Many do not and those who
do, instead of finding the understanding, the welcome and the solidarity which
should characterise a global village in this age of globalization are instead met
with indifference. In our desire to
preserve our own well-being and our little soap bubbles, we turn our backs and
our hearts are not stirred within us as the dignity of our brothers and sisters
is trampled upon.
The globalization of indifference has taken away from us our
ability to weep even as God Himself weeps over these deaths and these migrants’
lives which are in limbo as they await a decision in the over-crowded detention
centres in Lampedusa.
In his homily, Pope Francis directed his listeners to the
two questions God asked of man after sin.
“Adam, where are you?” “Cain,
where is your brother?”
These two questions, rather than embedding us further into
our attitude of indifference, should instead provoke our consciences and cause
us to ask for forgiveness and weep: “weep over our indifference, weep over the cruelty in the world,
the cruelty in ourselves, and even in those who anonymously make socio-economic
decisions that open the way to the death of so many brothers and sisters and to
the robbing of the dignity of so many of them.”
