Why should we Christians want to get involved?
'Supposing a brother or sister is without clothing, and is short even of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; be warm, be full!” – but doesn’t give them what their bodies need – what use is that? . . . [F]aith, all by itself and without works, is dead.’ (James 2: 15-17)
'The true nature of the parish, our home with strangers, is revealed when we welcome in migrants, so that they have somewhere they can call home.' (Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, Alive in God)
'Integration is when we live together – when we find the shared points between us.' (Samer Serawan, Syrian refugee)
As Christians we are committed to serving without question those who are poor, desperate, frightened and in need. These refugee families have lost almost everything. Here in Bristol we find it very difficult to imagine what they must be going through.
For any believer it is natural to pray to God (by whatever name in one's own language) for desperately needed help. We believe God hears, and He replies with a question:
'Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"' (Isaiah 6: 8)
Let us be God's answer to the prayer of the refugees.
Pope Francis has said:
'Faced with the tragedy of tens of thousands of refugees who are fleeing death by war and by hunger, and who are on a path toward a hope for life, the Gospel calls us to be neighbors to the smallest and most abandoned, to give them concrete hope. It's not enough to say "Have courage, hang in there".
May every parish, every religious community, every monastery, every sanctuary of Europe, take in one family, starting with my diocese of Rome.'
The Community Sponsorship Scheme has been warmly welcomed by the Catholic bishops and the Catholic Church, led by Caritas Salford, has been heavily involved in putting it together. Cardinal Nichols has commented:
‘Catholics have been keen to get involved in helping to resettle refugees in the UK, responding to the situation with kindness and compassion as we are called to when confronted by those in need. However, that generosity needs to be channelled and we are therefore delighted that community sponsorship is being launched in the UK by the government . . . This innovative scheme will enable everyone to get involved with welcoming refugees, offering a very real and tangible way for people to help new arrivals settle into their communities’.
However on UN World Refugee Day (20 June 2018) Bishop Paul McAleenan, lead Catholic bishop for migration and refugees, observed:
‘A society is judged by how it treats the most vulnerable within it, and in England and Wales we must do more. As Catholics, we should welcome refugees into our communities, reaching out to the most vulnerable groups through the Community Sponsorship Scheme for Syrian refugees.’
Working with the Community Sponsorship Scheme has been described as ‘the most wonderful and fulfilling experience of my life’.
We in the Clifton Catholic community very much want to be part of it.
Here we are, Lord - use us!
OUR PRAYERS
As Christians we see this project as our Lord's work, for suffering families in the Middle East who are all His, whoever they may be. We consider that without prayer we can achieve nothing.
All our committee meetings begin and end with these prayers:
PRAYER BEFORE A MEETING, AND A LITANY FOR THE END
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to You at this time asking for Your guidance, wisdom, and support as we begin this meeting.
Help us to engage in meaningful discussion; allow us to grow closer as a group and nurture the bonds of community.
Fill us with Your grace, dear Lord, as we make decisions that will link us to a family in the Middle East, our brothers and sisters from Your own homelands, who have lost so much, who are frightened, and who place in us their hope.
Dear Lord, Who told us of the good Samaritan and bid us ‘go and do likewise’, continue to remind us that all we do here at this time, all that we accomplish in this project, is for Your greater glory and for the service of those dear people for whom You gave up Your life.
We beg all these thing, Lord, in Your precious name,
Amen.
LITANY FOR THE REFUGEES
Leader: God, our Father, you sent your Son to us to show us how to love. While he was still an infant, Your Son, Jesus, became a refugee. We want to be close to Jesus. Help us to come closer to Him by becoming closer to the refugees from Syria and the Middle East forced to flee their homes because of war.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Lord, clear our eyes that we may see the suffering of the refugee.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Open our ears that we may hear the cries of those deep in despair.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Release our feet that we may walk in greater solidarity with refugees from Syria and the Middle East every day.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Free our hands from wanting to grab more, so that we may share more generously with those who have lost everything.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Unloose our tongues that we might speak Your words of hope, peace and love.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Widen our minds to think of new ways to provide help to refugees.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Give us open hearts that we may be truly hospitable to the stranger in our midst.
Response: Lord, may Your mercy shine in us.
Leader: Lord, grant us greater courage to pray, learn and act in support of refugees from Syria and the Middle East.
Response: May Your mercy be known in all we say and do.
Leader: And may almighty God bless us all, in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen
OUR PATRON SAINT IS ST. CHARBEL MAKHLOUF (1828-1898), A CATHOLIC MARONITE HERMIT SAINT FROM LEBANON
