December 2005 - Archdiocese of Glasgow

· DECEMBER 2005Seeing Jesus in the face of refugeesIN A ROBUST challenge toboth politicians and theChurch, the Pope has saidthat asylum seekers andimmigrants must be seenthrough the eyes of Jesus.And appealing for greatersolidarity with the world’s mostdisadvantaged peoples,Benedict XVI has urged thismonth’s World TradeOrganisation conference inHong Kong to open up marketsto small rural farmers in developingcountries.His intervention comes at a timeof increased questioning ofgovernment asylum policies inBritain and heightened concern atwhat many see as the heavyhandedtreatment of asylumseekers, with the use of dawn-raidsto evict families from their homes.In his message for the WorldDay of Migrants and Refugees,Pope Benedict appeals for greater solidaritywith the world's most disadvantagedthe Pope looks at the situation ofmigrants requesting asylum andcalls for reflection on thereasons that have caused them toflee their homelands.“I wish to underline how thetendency is to stop at the questionof their arrival while disregardingthe reasons for which they lefttheir native land,” he writes.“The Church sees this entireworld of suffering and violencethrough the eyes of Jesus, whowas moved with pity at the sightof the crowds wandering assheep without a shepherd.”A recent report from the JesuitRefugee Service estimates thatthere are over 40 millionrefugees and other forciblydisplaced people around theworld. More than half of theseare children. Yet their rights andspecial protection needs arefrequently neglected.Fr Lluis Magrina, JRS internationaldirector, said: “Morethan ever the effects of growinginequality, cheaper communication,access to armaments, andenvironmental degradation arepushing millions to flee theircountries and towns of origin.”The JRS was set up 25 yearsago at a time when there were only16 million refugees worldwide.“The number of peopledisplaced within their owncountries now exceeds thoseforced to seek protection internationally,”Fr Magrina pointedout. “Children are now morelikely to be involved in armedconflicts, and migrants of alltypes to be detained for crossingborders in search of protectionor a better life.”JRS has highlighted theBridging the generations at St Philomena'sfailure of the internationalcommunity to act decisively toensure that children areprotected and can access basicliving needs.In Colombia, 23 per cent ofdisplaced children are malnourishedand more than half areunable to access education.Consequently, they becomeinvolved in delinquent behaviour,prostitution, or arerecruited by paramilitaries.”Looking ahead to the WTOtalks in Hong Kong, PopeBenedict expressed the hope that“a sense of responsibility andsolidarity with the most disadvantaged”would prevail. Andthat “narrow interests and thelogic of power” will be set aside.“A consistent course of actionwould call for recognising theessential role of the rural familyas a guardian of values and anatural agent of solidarity,” thePope told a conference of theUN Food and AgricultureOrganisation in Rome.Meanwhile, the campaigngroup Church Action of Povertyis challenging Christians inBritain to live as a destituteasylum seeker - on £5 and a foodparcel - for a week during Advent.Alan Thornton said: “In thisrich and welcoming country ofours we now have peopleseeking asylum who are destitute,homeless or living of foodparcels. Many of these peopleare ‘living ghosts’ that no oneknows about.“These problems would beeradicated if those seeking asylumwere allowed to sustain themselvesand contribute to widersociety through paid work.”NEWS 3What’son...YOUNG PEOPLE:SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER AT 7PMThe Mass that Takes itsTime. A meditative approachto Sunday Mass with spacefor personal reflection anddiscussion about the Liturgyof the Word.Venue -Ignatian Spirituality Centre(7 Woodside Place, StGeorge’s Cross)WEDNESDAY 7 DEC AT 7 PM40th anniversary of VaticanII’s message to youngpeople. An opportunity toreflect on the vocation ofyoung people as prophets ofa civilisation of love.Venue -St Andrew’s Cathedral,Clyde Street.THURSDAY 15 DEC (EVENING)Advent prayer led by youngpeople of St Teresa’s andother parishes in Northdeanery.Venue -St Teresa’s church, SaracenSt, PossilparkCONCERTS:SUNDAY 4 DEC, AT 7.30PMGlasgow Lyric Choir in aconcert of seasonal musicand readings. Also theThistle Brass Quintet.Venue -St Andrew’s Church, RomanRoad, BearsdenWEDNESDAY 7 DEC AT 7.30PMThe Dalvait Singers lead afund raising concert for theGorsilaure Project in the Congo.Venue -St Patrick’s church hall,DumbartonPrimary Five youngsters at St Philomena's, Provanmill were delighted towelcome Sister Philomena to their classroom recently.The Little Sister of the Poor from the nearby St Joseph's home for the elderlywas visiting to thank the children who had raised £300 for the Sisters as part ofa project looking at the care of elderly people. During her visit Sister Philomenahappily spoke to the youngsters about her work.NEWMAN TALK:THURSDAY 8 DEC AT 7.30PMFred Shortland, Directorof Casa Alianza UK, willspeak on : ‘Defending andprotecting Street Childrenin Central America’.Venue -Turnbull Hall, 15Southpark Terrace,Glasgow.Spiritual help for alcoholicsGeorge BestTHE widespreadravages of alcoholabuse and therecent debate overlicensing hours inScotland prompteda Glasgow priest toprovide an alternativespiritual fillip.Angered by what he seesas a lack of resolve to tacklewhat is Scotland’s majorkiller, Fr Gerry Nugent,parish priest of St Patrick’s,Anderston, organised a Massof remembrance at the end ofNovember.He invited people who arerecovering from alcoholaddiction to take part in theliturgy alongside the friendsand family of those who havelost loved ones throughalcohol-related illness.The Mass took place as themedia headlines continued toreflect the death of GeorgeBest - the football geniuswhose life was marked by afatal dependency on alcohol.Fr Nugent, who is himselfa recovering alcoholic, said:“The service was designed toshow people that there is asolution to the illness withthe help of God.“Many people have thisillness and are doing somethingabout it. Others whohave the illness can make thefirst step towards recovery,by admitting their need forhelp.”Reflecting on the words ofScripture, ‘Come to me allyou who are burdened andlabour and I will refreshyou’, Fr Nugent acknowledgedthat many of thosesuffering from alcoholismhave lost touch with theChurch. But by coming backto Christ and the Sacramentsthey could discover a newway of living.