Catholic Outlook September 2016

SOCIAL JUSTICE
WORLD DAY OF MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Launching out into the deep
By Sr Louise McKeogh FMA,
diocesan Social Justice Coordinator
MIGRANT AND REFUGEE Week
commenced on 22 August and
concluded with World Day of
Migrants and Refugees on Sunday 28 August.
In a first for the Diocese of Parramatta, a
resource kit for Migrant and Refugee Week was
launched on 20 August at the All Saints of Africa
Centre in Blacktown.
Entitled Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us.
The Response of the Gospel of Mercy, the kit was
prepared by the Australian Catholic Migrant
& Refugee Office and includes a message from
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv.
Bishop Vincent came to Australia as a
refugee from Vietnam in 1981. He serves as the
Australian Bishops Delegate for Migrants and
Refugees and Chair of the Australian Catholic
Social Justice Council.
We took as our starting point for the launch
these words in Bishop Vincent's message:
"Friends, we stand united with one another,
with men and women of good will in working
for the coming of the Kingdom. We stand united
with Pope Francis who has given us a strong
leadership on the care of asylum seekers and
refugees. ... With many newly arrived migrants
and refugees in our midst, I encourage you to
enact the culture of encounter, welcome and
acceptance in practical, personal and communal
ways."
We gathered in Blacktown to celebrate,
treasure and acknowledge the many and varied
stories of migration that each and every one of
us shared. We were from Africa, South Sudan,
Ghana, the Pacific Islands, and Australia.
Whether it be migration from country to city
for employment or the challenge of migration
because of war, persecution and famine with
the need to seek asylum or the assistance of the
United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR).
Hearts and minds were truly in awe as John
Cinya shared his story of migration from South
Sudan. His journey included time in a refugee
camp and finally, through the work of the
UNHCR, he was granted the opportunity to
resettle in Australia.
John outlined the many difficulties and
challenges along the journey, but we were all left
in no doubt what values, skills, commitment and
gifts that John and many others like him bring to
Australia and our community here in Western
Sydney.
We were reminded that the culture of
encounter and taking the time to hear another’s
story helps us to see our common humanity,
rather than our perceived differences.
Yvonne Leonna shared the story of her
family’s migration and the challenges of settling
in a new country and culture. She said it was the
parish community that provided a home and
anchor to sustain them through a difficult time
of transition.
A common thread in the speakers’ stories was
their gratitude to Australia for the welcome that
they had received.
A significant and meaningful discussion that
followed included concrete and practical ways
that we can continue to be communities of
hospitality and welcome.
Audrey Hill from the Pacific Islander
community led us in song and the chaplain to
the African Catholic community, Fr Christopher
Antwi-Boasiako, led us in the final prayer and
commissioning.
The launch was centred with prayer as part of
The diocesan launch took place at the All Saints of
Africa Centre in Blacktown.
PHOTOS: DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA/ART IN IMAGES.
the Way of Mercy in our Diocese and we were
privileged to have the Mercy Cross and relics
of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and St Mary of the
Cross MacKillop with us at the All Saints of
Africa Centre.
Blacktown seemed a natural place to locate
this launch.
According to Western Sydney University’s
Institute for Culture and Society sociologist Dr
Shanthi Robertson, Western Sydney is one of
the most culturally diverse places in Australia, if
not the world (Blacktown Advocate, 2 December
2015).
“Blacktown’s diversity is quite higher than
the state’s and even higher than other places in
Western Sydney,” Dr Robertson said. “Over 40%
of people in Blacktown were born overseas and
about 37% of families speak a language other
than English at home."
The article said that the 2011 Census data
revealed that among the 340,000 residents living
in the Blacktown Council area, 143 countries
were represented.
The energy and excitement of the diocesan
launch will project us into next year as the
communities are planning to continue this
custom and celebrate our significant and
meaningful stories of migration with prayer,
story, dance, songs and food. A living legacy of
the Way of Mercy.
We realised that although Migrant and Refugee
Sunday is celebrated on a particular Sunday of
the year, our wish was to share and celebrate this
each and every day as our concluding prayer
stated:
"Look with Mercy on our brothers and sisters
who live as migrants and refugees.
"May they find welcome and a home away
from home here in the vast Australian land.
"Bless those who work and minister to help
the migrants and refugees.
"May setbacks and opposition not discourage
them in their endeavours.”
Copies of the resource kit can be downloaded
at no charge from www.acmro.catholic.org.au
To view a gallery of photos from the
launch, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/
parracatholic/albums
When the care you seek is
unconditional - talk to us.
wnbull@wnbull.com (02) 9519 5344
www.wnbull.com.au
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