“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
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As Refugee Week begins, our director Patrick O’Dowd highlights why it’s so important that we’re there for people seeking refuge and asylum in our communities…
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”
Matthew 18:5
This week, it’s national Refugee Week.
Awareness weeks like this one are a great way to shine a spotlight on key issues, combining voices to help cut through the ever-noisy world we all live in.
But, at Caritas we aren’t just there for refugees during weeks like this.
We’re really proud to work alongside people from many different communities around the world, right through the year.
They come to our services for lots of reasons. Some have been wrenched from their home, separated from their families and are in desperate need of not just a safe, secure place to live, but also of compassion and understanding.
Others have settled here and are keen to further contribute to the communities they have joined, taking part in our Aspire courses to improve their English or to help them with their career or volunteering aspirations. And, some come offering to help others, by volunteering their time too.
However we stand alongside individuals and families who are refugees, we’re proud to be there supporting them.
After all, anyone can become a refugee at any time. War, famine, poverty, climate crises – these are all part of the many reasons why someone can be forced to flee the place they call home.
Later this year, on World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Leo XIV has said his chosen theme of focus will be “Even just one of these children.” This not only highlights the Church’s concern for minors who are involved in migration, but also – most importantly – reminds us of the humanity of every person.
Every one is an individual. Every one is a person – young or old – with their own wishes and aspirations for the future.
Many refugees are people who are vulnerable, who have experienced trauma and are simply seeking safety, dignity and kindness.
We can get lost in numbers and statistics that, in our ever-saturated, always ‘on’ world can sadly often lose meaning.
Huge numbers of people are displaced around the world, but many decision makers can often, unfortunately, fall into a trap of point-scoring or wanting to the be loudest voice in the room. It can mean that they lose sight of the importance of making changes that have, at their heart, respect and understanding for the adults and children who are experiencing times of dire need.
At times, it can feel as though public conversations around migration and asylum are becoming increasingly harsh and divisive. People who have already experienced loss, fear and displacement can too easily be spoken about as problems to solve rather than human beings to welcome, listen to and support.
As Christians, and as a society, we’re called to something better than suspicion or hostility. Catholic Social Teaching reminds us that every person has inherent dignity, regardless of where they come from or how they arrived here. We’re called to recognise one another first not as strangers, but as neighbours; people made in the image of God, deserving of compassion, fairness and hope.
That does not mean ignoring the complexity of migration or the pressures communities can face. But it does mean refusing to lose our humanity or to allow fear and division to harden our hearts to people in need.
You can read more about the changes we are calling for from policy makers to better support refugees and people seeking asylum, here.
As Pope Francis said: “…the encounter with the migrant, as with every brother and sister in need, is also an encounter with Christ.”
And in a civilised and modern world we should never forget that everyone deserves a safe, secure future filled with hope.
Find out more about how you can get involved: www.caritassalford.org.uk/refugees