A monthly Memorial Prayer Vigil for refugees and asylum-seekers takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month outside the Home Office, SW1P 4DF, 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
Caritas Westminster recently hosted a reception ahead of Refugee Week (17th – 23rd June), a festival which celebrates the contribution and resilience of refugees in our communities and around the world.
The reception at the London Jesuit Centre heard from Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, parish priest at Farm Street and Chair of Westminster Justice and Peace alongside Ahlam Hamed, who supports students at St Elphege’s School, Wallington.
Ahlam spoke about the importance of community in welcome and the many different ways in which people can support. She spoke particularly about the Community Sponsorship scheme and the Sutton Deanery Refugee Community Sponsorship Group (Diocese of Southwark) who welcomed her and her family via the scheme.
Hannah Sansom, Community Building Lead at RESET shared her reflections on the Wisdoms Report. RESET supports Community Sponsorship groups to welcome refugees into their local area, and funded the Wisdoms Report.
A group of students from Newman Catholic College shared their ideas for the future, highlighting the need for young people to live in a place where they can feel safe and the role we all have in shaping a better future.
The event celebrated contributions to the Wisdoms Report, a listening exercise led by the Mayday Trust in partnership with Caritas Westminster which was open to anyone who had arrived in the UK seeking sanctuary. Those who took part shared about the need to have control over their lives and to feel safe and secure.
A total of six recommendations we made in the report, which can be read in full HERE
Hannah Sansom, Community Building Lead at refugee charity RESET, said: “This report is hugely powerful and has the potential to educate people on the complexities of seeking safety, what people really need and how important and significant choice, freedom, safety and community really is. Thank you to everyone who was a part of it.”
Christians for Palestine outside St Paul’s Cathedral
All are welcome to join us for the fourth Roundtable meeting, facilitated by the Westminster Justice and Peace Commission.
Venue: Arrupe Hall, Farm Street Church, 114 Mount Street, London, W1K 3AH
Date: 29 June 2024
Time: 4.00-6.00pm
This month’s meeting will focus on parish responses to the war in Gaza and strife in the Holy Land.
What is happening in your parish – prayers, fundraising, talks?
What would you like to see happening?
With whom can we collaborate? Ecumenical, interfaith, Holy Land charities???
New participants welcome.
Please do come along to find out more or get in touch with the Justice and Peace Co-ordinator, Colette Joyce. Mobile: 07593 434905; Email: colettejoyce@rcdow.org.uk
Fr Dominic Robinson SJ (Chair), Colette Joyce (Co-ordinator) and Ann Milner (Hitchin) from the Justice and Peace Commission represented the Diocese of Westminster at an Interfaith Peace Walk in Central London on Sunday 23rd June 2024. We joined Christians from several denominations and members of other faith communities to walk in solidarity in a silent, yet powerful, call for peace. In the face of escalating violence and loss of life in over 100 wars and armed conflicts worldwide, including in Palestine and Israel, Sudan, Ukraine, and Myanmar, around 500 people of all faiths joined the vigil.
Facilitated by Plum Village UK and Quakers in Britain, this second peace walk, held by popular request, reflected a groundswell of calls for peace in London and inspired events in Washington, Los Angeles and France on the same day.
The walk commemorated people killed in war, alongside a call for the cessation of killing and reflected a shared commitment to nonviolence, reconciliation and a just peace.
Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists and many more faiths joined the walk from Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square and back, weaving a narrative of peace between the city’s key political landmarks.
Without flags, placards, slogans or chants, participants dressed in mourning to remember the loss of life through war.
They carried hand-made white flowers as a reminder that everyone has a role to play in cultivating a more peaceful world.
Prayers were offered by a diverse group of grassroots faith representatives: Lakshmi Vyas (Hindu), Shahin Bekhradni (Zoroastrianism), Maureen Goodman (Brahma Kumaris), Islam, Rabbi Rebecca Birk (Judaism), Rev Sarah Farrow (Christian), Jinali Meisheri (Jain), Sr Dao Nghiem (Buddhist), Cristina De Rossi (Pagan, Wiccan, Druidry), and Koje Freemantle (Baha’i).
Plum Village Buddhist monastics from France attended the walk, which was supported by key aid organisations Christian Aid and the Salvation Army.
Rehena Harilall, co-organiser from Plum Village UK, said: “There are simply no more words left to convey our anger and grief.”
Judith Baker, co-organiser from Quakers in Britain, said: “We walk together because we share a deep love for creation and a common universal language of peace. We share horror at the desecration of creation that war brings. War is failure to love our neighbours as ourselves; failure to seek peace and pursue it; failure of dialogue and diplomacy; failure to uphold the basic principles of international law and ethical norms. But the possibility of peace is always with us.”
Colette Joyce (l) and Fr Dominic Robinson SJ from Westminster J&P with campaigners about to join the march.
Source: Jo Siedlecka, ICN / Westminster Justice & Peace
People of all faiths and none were out in force at the Restore Nature Now march in London last Saturday. Billed as the “largest-ever environmental march”, an estimated nearly 100,000 people from more than 350 organisations took part – ranging from long established wildlife organisations to climate change activists and faith groups.
Led by naturalist and television presenter Chris Packham with actors Emma Thompson and Judi Dench, Megan McCubbin, Steve Backshall, singer Feargal Sharkey, speakers at the rally urged stronger political action to tackle the nature and climate crisis based on five demands: Giving a pay-rise for nature. Making polluters pay. Delivering more space for nature. Putting a right to a healthy environment in law. Ensuring fair and effective climate action.
Christian campaigners gathered before the march at packed service at Farm Street Church in Mayfair, hosted by A Rocha, the Salvation Army, Christian Climate Action, Operation Noah and Green Christian. Rev Helen Burnett, Vicar of St Peter & Paul Chandon, Diocese of Southwark and Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Parish Priest and Chair of Westminster Justice & Peace, led the prayers. A separate Forest Church gathering for children took place in the church grounds.
Participants then joined the march through central London, to the rally in Parliament Square.
Colette Joyce from Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace told ICN: “Pope Francis has urged us all to hear the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor and to respond. The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world so we need to act fast now, not only to protect what we have left, but to restore what we have lost. When we help nature we also help ourselves, creating better physical and mental health for ourselves and for future generations. The aims of this rally chime with those expressed in Laudato Si’, and so many Catholics have come out to support it. We know that we need to be in this for the long haul, but we are not doing it alone. The care of our common home is a cause that can unite people like no other. As one slogan said ‘No nature, no us’!”
Tim Cooper, co-founder and Trustee of Green Christian, said: “It was hugely inspiring to see so many Christians demonstrating their love of God’s creation by joining the march. The event should serve as a wake-up call to Christians everywhere. When we voice praise to God for the glory of His creation, we are simultaneously called to address the severe harm being caused to nature by our current lifestyles and priorities.”
Speaking at the rally, Emma Thompson said: “We cannot take any more oil out of the ground. I mean, there’s much argument about it. I know there’s a lot of very complicated economic arguments about it. … we have to leave all the resources in the ground, we cannot bring them out of the ground.”
Chris Packham, who proposed the march and led the coalition of green charities taking part, said political parties’ lack of “substantial promises” in the election campaign to tackle the destruction of the planet was “reckless”.
“I’m devastated by the lack of foresight, intelligence, commitment, understanding and determination to do anything about the single biggest issue in our species’ history,” he said. “At a time when we need bold and brave leadership, we’re not seeing any sign from any of the manifestos that that might materialise.”
Packham said it would be “a bold ask” to expect the march – to put the biodiversity crisis on the political agenda given that it has had “next to no mention at all” in the election campaign so far.
But he said he hoped the day of songs, speeches and slogans for wildlife would show there was a growing coalition determined to force the next government to properly fund nature recovery, with further protests a possibility.
“What the march should do is send a very clear signal to all candidates that an enormous breadth of society is exhibiting a real concern for nature restoration,” he said. “Don’t think we’re going to go away because we will be banging on the door of No 10 on 5 July saying now is the time for action.”
Mary Andrews, Green Christian member and volunteer, said: “Brilliant to be united with thousands upon thousands of nature lovers, to call for its restoration now, at this amazing, family friendly march!”
St George’s pupils at Home Office vigil. Image ICN/JS
Refugee Week began on Monday, with a moving prayer service outside the Home Office in Westminster.
The names of hundreds of refugees who lost their lives in just one month, last June, trying to seek safety in Europe or the UK were read out.
Many are unknown, but as Pope Francis said, ‘Every one has a name, a face and a story’.
They included: ’15 people, including a baby, were presumed drowned, their bodies found by a Tunisian fisherman in his nets in the Mediterranean Sea.’
‘A young girl from Cameroon drowned, her body wrapped in a pink winter suit recovered by Tunisian coast guard off Kerkennah, Tunisia.’
‘20 Syrians, including at least 2 children, 3 women, and 3 men, drowned when a boat on the way to Spain sank of Arhat, Algeria; 7 bodies were probably found, 2 survived.’ (Read the prayers and full list of names HERE.)
The event was co-ordinated by Barbara Kentish. Among participants were representatives of Westminster Justice and Peace, Fr Martin Newell and Brother Johannes and others from the London Catholic Worker, Pax Christi, Columban J&P, and a group of students from St George’s School, Maida Vale who made some striking placards. Their messages included: ‘Jesus was a Refugee’ and ‘I was a refugee and you did not welcome me’. The students – several who were from migrant families – also contributed some heartfelt prayers.
In his reflection, Fr Joe Ryan thanked everyone present and said: “In this Monthly Vigil we remember those who have lost their lives in their efforts to escape war, violence, persecution and starvation to come to another place where they hope to find a new home and security for their family.
“The theme for this Refugee Week is: OUR HOME- and we are also invited to recognise the contribution made by migrants and refugees who settle in another country. This truth is remembered each year at the Migrant Mass.
“OUR HOME- home is where we like to live in peace and harmony, with security and shelter and have the basic elements of human living.
“We stand outside another Home, the Home Office- it is here for the security of our nation, but also should be a living example of security for the stranger, the asylum seeker and the refugee.
“None of this is evident in the modus operandi of the Home Office.
“Fine words and vocabulary may be used, but the reality is that migrants and refugees are seen as VERMIN! What do you do with vermin? Get rid of them at all costs!! They are ostracised and demonised!
“These Refugees and Migrants are our brothers and sisters. They need to be treated as such….
“Politicians and officials create a blanket of fear and warn us that we will be overrun by migrants.
“We are reminded that they will take our jobs and homes… Now that Nigel Farage is back on the scene, the spin against migrants is all the greater!
“Yes, we know that homelessness is a factor in our society, but there are at other solutions.
“We are asked this week to remember the contributions made by Migrants: look around you in the UK; where would the NHS be, our care homes, our corner shops and transport be if it were not for people who come from overseas?
“Think of the millions of pounds spend on building fences and barriers to keep people out.
“If only some of those resources were used to investigate and negotiate in nations where people have to flee for security! What a difference it would make if only the millions and billions spent on so-called security could be spent on negotiations and building bridges between nations.
“Looking at the manifestos for the General Election, the signs are not hopeful. All we see is, cutting back on net migration. The flights may or may not take off for Rwanda.
“I would like to declare here and now to Mr James Cleverly, Secretary of State, or whoever may be in charge, that I would be hoping to be standing on the runway to prevent the plane taking off or suffer the consequences. Would I be alone? I don’t want to be accused of mob incitement, but then if it happened at the White House, and I could still run for President.. the I’m ok!
“We need to sow seeds of hope just like we have heard in our gospel reading today. The mustard seed, the smallest of all, can grow into a large tree. We need to be people of hope. We need to be people who show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in desperate situations.
“This is the significance of us being here today so that the world may know that we are standing shoulder to shoulder and offering a welcome to the migrant and refugee.
“It’s as simple and complicated as that.
“We mustn’t lose hope in the face of what seems like an impossible challenge. It is always better to light one candle than to curse the darkness!
“There are so many like-minded people who can inspire us.
“Pope Francis has been an inspiration over many years.
“He has been challenging to nations, governments and ourselves. He has called us to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate people fleeing from conflict and persecution.
“We have the words of Jesus himself, ‘I was a stranger, and you made me welcome’.
“We need to see the face of Jesus in our brothers and sisters and those we are remembering today.
“We need to extend the hand of welcome. Many have already done so and are still showing to those in need, that we do care and that there are so many who want to help, not ostracise.
“The crisis in Ukraine has shown the compassion and care that is evident in so many people in our nation. That Spirit of welcome needs to be highlighted and promoted, rather than the fear for ourselves… We’ll be back. The witness goes on. Thank you for being here and spread the message please.”
The final blessing was given by Bishop McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees for the Bishops Conference.
This monthly Memorial Prayer Vigil for refugees and asylum-seekers takes place on the third Monday of every month outside the Home Office, SW1P 4DF, 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
The weekend of 22/23 June 2024 is a busy one for Westminster Justice and Peace.
On Saturday, 22 June, we will be participating in the ‘Restore Nature Now’ rally, alongside Chris Packham and thousands of other people from organisations that care for and protect our natural world. Before the rally, we are hosting an Ecumenical Service – ‘Creation Cries Out’ – at Farm Street Church at 11.00am, with participation from a wide range of Christian charities and activists. Please come along and join us! Nature Rally
On Sunday, 23 June, we are joining a Multi-Faith Silent Meditation Walk for Peace. Every day on our screens we see reports of the horrors of war. We want to show our commitment to a more peaceful world by uniting in this visible coming together of people from many different faith communities. Join us in Parliament Square and be part of a multi-faith movement. Peace Walk
This weekend also sees the conclusion to Refugee Week, 17-23 June 2024. This is an important time for showing our solidarity with all those who come to the UK seeking sanctuary from war and violence. Refugee Week
To mark Refugee Week, that runs from 17 – 23 June 2024, Bishop Paul McAleenan, Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees for the Bishops’ Conference, offers a reflection on three themes – his recent visit to the Bibby Stockholm barge, the impact of the Rwanda Bill, and societal attitudes towards refugees and migrants.
In late April, Bishop McAleenan was invited by the Home Office to visit the Bibby Stockholm. The vessel is a large floating barge moored off Portland Harbour in Dorset that accommodates asylum seekers – many who have fled torture and persecution.
The visit offered a chance to meet with residents, reflect on their plight and consider the pastoral care we could offer. At the time of the visit, Bibby Stockholm housed over three hundred asylum seekers, but numbers fluctuate depending on departures and arrivals.
“The most memorable part of the visit was undoubtedly meeting the residents and hearing their stories,” said Bishop McAleenan. “I was deeply moved by their resilience, the commonality of their aspirations and their willingness to share their experiences, which are, sadly, often traumatic. Despite the hardships they had endured, their desire to find a home here and belong to a society to which they can contribute to, is a testament to our shared humanity.”
“Indeed, I heard many positive stories from the local community – many going out of their way to provide support and a welcome for the residents. It was edifying to see Staff on the vessel genuinely engaging with residents, providing advice and helpful information to assist them to integrate more effectively.”
Bishop McAleenan was also pleased to reflect on the wider welcome extended by many Catholics in our countries to asylum seekers:
“In the last few years, we have witnessed the wonderful work of Catholic communities across England and Wales, who have welcomed migrants from Ukraine, Hong Kong and elsewhere with acts of solidarity and practical help.”
However, Bishop McAleenan’s visit coincided with the recent passing of the Rwanda Bill. He remarked on the distressing impact the legislation was having on Bibby Stockholm residents:
“The result of the passing of the bill was certainly felt onboard. A number of residents had received letters from the Home Office mentioning the possibility of deportation to Rwanda. It is an unjustifiable policy and has created an unnecessary sense of fear and anxiety.”
“The UK Government has a responsibility to ensure that we have an immigration system that upholds the dignity of human life. The Rwanda scheme does not do that.”
Bishop McAleenan concluded his reflection by calling for Catholics to use Refugee Week as an opportunity to pray for refugees and asylum seekers:
“During Refugee Week, I invite everyone to join in prayer and reflect on our understanding and belief that every person is made in the image and likeness of God. Let us remember that we all seek the same fundamental needs – safety, acceptance, and a place to call home.”
“Let us be thankful for the work of so many people in England and Wales to welcome migrants, but not be afraid to ask ourselves what else can we do to assist migrants and refugees”
Bishop McAleenan will be leading the prayer vigil outside the Home Office on Monday, 17th June from 12.30-1.30pm, Marsham Street, SW1P4DF
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, White City, in West London, have taken the plunge and decided to host their own hustings, ahead of the General Election on 4th July 2024.
Candidates have agreed to attend from the Labour, Conservative, Reform, Green and Liberal Democrat parties.
All are standing in the Hammersmith and Chiswick Constituency.
If your parish is doing anything similar in the Diocese, do let us know here at the Justice and Peace Commission.
A monthly Memorial Prayer Vigil for refugees and asylum-seekers takes place on the 3rd Monday of every month outside the Home Office, SW1P 4DF, 12:30pm to 1:30pm.
Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Commission 