“I was a stranger...”
Concern for refugees and migrants during COVID-19
By Damian Jackson
(From the April - June 2020 issue of VOX)
Oughterard, Rooskey, Moville, Ballinamore, Carrickmacross, Moville, Tullamore, Rosslare...
In recent years, the sudden arrival of refugees and asylum seekers into communities across Ireland has prompted a range of responses from welcome and hospitality to demonstrations and even arson attacks!
“Welcome towards friend and stranger is at the heart of our Christian faith.”
After protests in Leitrim, a powerful statement by Monsignor Liam Kelly, the Administrator of the Diocese of Kilmore, brought a timely reminder into the heated local debate, “Welcome towards friend and stranger is at the heart of our Christian faith. Central to our faith is the belief that God lives in all human beings, no matter who they are or where they come from... Hospitality has been part of our Christian tradition and it has been the practice of generations of Irish people to welcome everyone who came to their door and to share whatever they had with them.”
While there are many issues and questions around government policy, Christians in Ireland have often been at the forefront of positive initiatives to welcome asylum seekers and to provide support and care to those in direct provision, emergency accommodation or resettlement programmes for the last 20 years, as well as friendship and accompaniment to migrant workers and others who live here but are far from family and friends.
In his 2015 book, “Ministry to Migrants and Asylum Seekers” written from years of experience of supporting people in the Mosney centre, Nick Park, Executive Director of the Evangelical Alliance Ireland writes, “In order to survive, the children of the land of a hundred thousand welcomes (céad míle fáilte) have for generations had to learn to live as strangers in foreign lands and to rely on the welcome of others.”
Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, that question is reversed in a way, as we are not welcoming others into our homes; nor are we gathering together weekly every Sunday, welcoming people through the church door. Instead of asking how can we make our homes and churches place of welcome and belonging, we are called to be church – a people of hope – reaching out to those who are vulnerable in our communities.
We have rightfully been encouraged to connect with those who are elderly or in poor physical health and support them as they may need to isolate themselves. However, as followers of Christ, we are always called to look to those who are excluded. Refugees and asylum seekers, as well as other immigrants often don’t have the same societal and family connections as most, they can be forgotten in public advice and excluded because of language or cultural barriers.
The Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland points out that many migrant workers in sectors like care, fishing, retail, hospitality, construction, and agriculture are worried about losing their jobs and income due to COVID-19. Some with irregular migration status will be particularly afraid, even about going to the doctor but MRCI offer reassurance that it is safe to call a GP or any health service about COVID-19 even for those who are undocumented. Immigration status does not matter.
Connecting with one of the many “welcome groups” that have been established is one way in which Christians can seek to ensure that asylum seekers and refugees’ needs are addressed. Most of these are organised on social media and are best contacted that way. Bishop Patrick Rooke suggests churches seek to identify those in their congregation and wider networks who are likely to be less connected and consider establishing a ‘Love thy Neighbour’ scheme.
This begins with prayer both for those who are vulnerable but also for ourselves as followers of Christ, that we would see with His eyes and love with His love for all of those who are created in His image. Let us expand our imagination to include those who are not mentioned in government statements and especially those who haven’t got recourse to the normal supports provided by the state and by family connections.
