By Kathy Shaw, SPARK Project Manager
The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on the last Sunday in September since 1914. It is always an occasion to highlight the need for global unity in supporting refugees; to pray for different vulnerable people on the move as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities offered by migration.
This year the Holy Father has chosen “God walks with His people” as the title for his annual message; this theme connects us to the message of World Refugee Day celebrated in June “Everyone is Welcome”.
“God not only walks with his people, but also within them, in the sense that he identifies himself with men and women on their journey through history, particularly with the least, the poor and the marginalised. In this we see an extension of the mystery of the Incarnation.”Pope Francis
From Syria to Yorkshire – A Refugee Story is an inspiring event that has been planned for 29th September starting at 2pm, at Wheeler Hall in Leeds where you are invited to hear the story of one family; their journey and resettlement in Yorkshire and sample some delicious Syrian food. The event is a partnership between SPARK Social Justice and Caritas Catholic Care. Leeds Church Institute will also provide a unique experience of faith and creativity.
Community Sponsorship is a successful scheme allowing refugees to enter the UK and Catholic Care has been recognised by the Home Office as a Principal Sponsor since 2022. Sponsorship is a unique opportunity for volunteers supported through Catholic Care to welcome and resettle refugee families, putting local communities at the heart of a family’s journey to a new life, and helping them to rebuild their lives.
The Catholic Bishops publication “Love the Stranger” inspires us to “look beyond labels and see the person who has left their homeland”.
SPARK is the faith-informed social justice project for people aged 18 to 30 years in the Yorkshire area. It was set up by the Justice & Peace Commission in 2019 with funding from the Porticus Trust. We are continuing to provide safe spaces for younger people of faith through helping individuals to follow their social justice concerns, organising events like this one and providing opportunities for them to explore the faith basis for taking action on social justice issues.
