Tomorrow, Sunday June 21, is Sanctuary Sunday. It comes at the end of Refugee Week which in turn follows a week of appalling events on our island. A horrific attack by an individual has understandably caused anger, upset and terror. But it has also resulted in the targeting of entire communities, forcing some people to flee their homes and heightening an atmosphere of fear in which people who have come to call our island home no longer feel free to live their lives.
In Dublin last week we heard that members of immigrant communities are frightened by the growth of racist rhetoric in Irish society and they feel fear in their hearts. Some people speak of avoiding walking the streets of our capital city for fear of confrontation.
As people of faith and parish communities we are part of the fabric of our country. We form part of the social contract which sets the tone for how society speaks and behaves. We must stand up – not just in solidarity with – but in recognition of the fact that there is no ‘them’ and ‘us’, there is only ‘we’. We are all human and we are all children of God. We can celebrate our unique identities and cultures but we occupy our communities together.
People who now call Ireland their home, who live amongst us and contribute to our society are not just to be welcomed, they belong here. Ensuring that somebody belongs means giving up some of our space to ensure there is space for everyone to thrive. This Sanctuary Sunday I urge all parish communities to consider whether you have inadvertently trapped people in a state of perpetual welcome or whether people feel that they genuinely belong in your community. And make no mistake, welcome is extremely important, but there must be a next step.
Fittingly, the theme of Sanctuary Sunday this year is ‘Challenging Hostility with Hospitality’. I urge you to pray with me this Sanctuary Sunday in the words of the Collect by Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (see below). And then I urge you to consider what small actions you can take as individuals and parishes to ensure that the voice of God is heard in our communities to diffuse hostility and create hospitality.
+Michael
Dublin and Glendalough
Collect for Refugee Week and Sanctuary Sunday
Migrant God, free from borders, your presence spans all creation.
You take sanctuary in us, in you is our eternal sanctuary.
We behold you in community with those uprooted from their homes by war, poverty, persecution and extreme weather, especially those who make their way to these shores on small boats.
Be the shelter of their lives.
Bless their courage and resilience in seeking freedom and sanctuary.
Bring us to build cultures of welcome, hospitality and sanctuary for all;
Community where there is conflict;
Compassion where there is cruelty;
Humanity where there is hatred;
Hospitality where there is hostility;
And so, to practice and proclaim hope.
In the Name of Christ.
Amen