Courtney McGrailMags Gargan and Greg Daly
Parishioners across Ireland are preparing to welcome refugees fleeing Syria, Iraq and North Africa in answer to Pope Francis’ appeal to European parishes and religious communities to offer shelter to migrant families.
Taking up the Pontiff’s urgent plea, Bishop Noel Treanor of Down & Connor has put in place a team to assess available space and other resources in the diocese that could be made available in response to the crisis.
“My hope is that this initiative by the diocese will assist our local Church in playing its part in offering practical solidarity with those in need, mirroring the tender mercy and compassion of Christ himself for those who, like his own human family once did, face the fear, upheaval and uncertainty of fleeing violence and persecution,” Bishop Treanor said.
Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare & Leighlin said he applauded the “different efforts in the diocese that are currently underway to address our collective response as parishioners” and he encouraged “parishes and deaneries to gather together to reflect on our pastoral response”.
About 200 people attended a public meeting in St Peter & Paul’s Church in Portlaoise on Monday evening, which was addressed by refugees from Iraq and Syria who are already housed in a local hotel under a Government asylum programme.
“Our great fear is that this will turn into another direction provision centre where people are left waiting for a number of years,” Msgr John Byrne PP told The Irish Catholic.
“I hope the Pope’s call doesn’t fall on deaf ears and on a parish level and practical level we will do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
The parish has decided to investigate the possibly of taking over a small number of incomplete houses in the town, which volunteers will refurbish and make available for refugee resettlement.
“The problem is the decision is not in our hands,” Msgr Byrne said, “but a group will meet again before the end the week to see how we can advance that proposal.”
In the Diocese of Limerick a notice was read out at all Masses appealing for support for the ‘Limerick to Calais’ initiative, which is gathering donations of clothing and toiletries etc. for refugees in a depot in Limerick for a convoy of volunteers to bring to Calais at the end of the month.
Bishop Brendan Leahy, who plans to visit the depot, said the response to the crisis in Limerick “has been wonderful, with literally hundreds if not thousands putting up their hands and volunteering to take families in”.
“However, it is essential that Government and all the State agencies, in taking up on the generosity of the public, put the necessary resources behind it,” he said.
Request
At the request of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Crosscare staff in Dublin have begun working on a draft programme of support for refugees, including housing experts and interpreters, assigned specifically to helping with the intake of refugees. Crosscare Director Conor Hickey said they “hoped to work closely with State agencies as soon as Government confirmed their plans”.
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin said there has been discussion in his diocese on how to answer Pope Francis’ call. “I am sending a message to priests with an information form seeking to identify places that are available, such as an empty house or flat or whatever. If we could quantify what was there, and the quality of it – working bathroom, kitchen etc. – then we could work with local authorities,” he said.
“It’s very important that we work closely with local government and various voluntary and statutory agencies that have expertise,” he told The Irish Catholic. “Our area of expertise is our contacts with local communities and I am asking local communities to be prepared to do whatever was necessary.”
According to the Department of Justice 520 programme refugees who already have refugee status will be coming into the country from now till the end of 2016. “All the rest will be asylum seekers coming from places like Greece. They’ll be handled in the normal fashion, through direct provision,” a spokesperson said.