Equality and unity in diversity: Refugees are welcome here

Equality and unity in diversity: Refugees are welcome here 

For the Refugee Week Celebration Event, Croydon College. Bible passages: Matthew 2; John 13. 

It is Refugee Week, a time when we celebrate the great contribution refugees make to our society, as members of our society - here in our College, in Croydon and Coulsdon, in the rest of London, and in many other places. Refugees give so much to us all – for instance, socially, culturally, and by means of the many skills they bring. We should - and must - always welcome them. To any refugees reading this: thank you. 

Refugees have often had some of the roughest journeys in their lives imaginable. Actually, sometimes we cannot imagine what they have experienced in their journeys, and the choices they have had to make - or the choices they have not had. Do you risk your life by travelling hundreds or even thousands of miles to a new place? Or do you risk your life by staying in your original country, where it is not safe, stable or secure? 

Refugees not only often find themselves in a new culture and place, and often having to learn a largely new language - but often they have to recover from loss in some of the most extreme ways. This might be a loss of possessions; a loss of homes; the loss of loved ones; and more. It is our duty to be here for them, to welcome and to help them as best we can; whether practically, pastorally, or otherwise, as they find and rebuild their lives here with us. 

I'm not a refugee, but I can certainly identify with one or two examples of loss which many refugees have experienced. My parents had both died by the time I was thirteen, and I then left my old home and moved into foster care for a few years. A new place; a new home. 

During much of this time, my life took the journey of an emotional rollercoaster, before it's stabilization - and I'm certainly very grateful to all those who have helped me along the way. 

In a similar way, we ought to help those less fortunate than ourselves - especially refugees. We have a duty to raise awareness of the needs of refugees to others; especially in this day and age, when refugees are often given a bad press. The current rise of hard-right politics amongst some in this country can pose potential danger to some of our refugees, and certainly to one of our country's very greatest values, which we cherish – equality. 

'We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.' These were the words of the late Jo Cox MP, which she spoke in her maiden speech in the House of Commons following her election as Labour's MP for Batley and Spen, West Yorkshire. Her time was tragically and brutally cut short just over three years ago, by someone who violently objected to her vision of equality. 

Following this, each year the Jo Cox Foundation hosts the Great Get Together weekend - a get together, a lunch, a tea party, a street parade, a sports day - where we all, as a community, are invited to meet together. Here in London, there are many such events this-coming weekend where we will remember Jo Cox, and come together with one another - meeting in her spirit and example of fellowship and love of one another. How can you as individuals welcome your neighbours? How can we all collectively welcome our neighbours? There are many, many ways that we can help others to flourish with us. 

At these events and in Refugee Week, we celebrate our diversity in unity - and our unity in diversity. Let us proclaim, practise and enact equality. We have much more in common than not; and how powerful we can be when we all come together, work together, flourish together, and live together as best we can. To any refugees reading this now - and to everyone else too - you are so welcome. Thank you. 

I'm one of the College Chaplains here at Croydon College - known by some as the Chess Chaplain, as I've been running the College's Chess Club this year! I've really enjoyed spending this year with you - thank you all. After the summer holidays, I'll begin my training for ordination to the priesthood in the Church of England, at Westcott House, Cambridge. All of us on the Chaplaincy team here at Croydon College are very happy to talk with students and staff - from all faiths and none - and you can usually find us here in the Common Room on most lunchtimes. 

In Matthew 2, we read of how Jesus and His family were once themselves refugees; let us love one another, following the example of God's love for us. 

Reflections on my placement at St. Michael's Croydon

Reflections on my placement at St. Michael's Croydon 

I can almost hardly believe I'm already approaching the end of my placement as a Pastoral Assistant at St. Michael's Croydon. How time flies when you're having fun! I have had a truly wonderful placement here, which has been instrumental in my pastoral, sacramental and academic formation – both in the Church and in the wider community. 

The sacramental life at St. Michael's is firmly rooted in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England, characterised by our daily routine of Morning Prayer, Mass and Evening Prayer. I am involved in all of these services – often either as a reader, server, or leader, as well as helping to keep the Church open for our many guests who visit us throughout the day between services. I have found our prayer and worship very helpful; perhaps collectively the heartbeat of the Church's sacramental life, this has provided me with a spiritual anchor and consistency, which I practise both at work and on holiday. I feel this perfectly compliments all the various other activities I am involved in throughout my week. Moreover, we have also made two visits to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham (on the National and Adoremus Pilgrimages); these have both helped to further foster my spirituality and devotion, and I have particularly enjoyed meeting more people from the wider Catholic tradition from across the country. 

Croydon is one of the most diverse regions in the country; it is home to people from many different countries and cultures. However, it is also one of the most deprived regions – and, as visibly committed Christians in the community, at St. Michael's we believe a vital aspect of our ministry is in accompanying and aiding others in relieving their poverty as best as we can. As part of my placement, I have volunteered at a winter night shelter for those who are homeless, and I also volunteer every week at Croydon's Refugee Day Centre, meeting and helping refugees from all over the world. Furthermore, I work as a Chaplain at Croydon College, a diverse school of several thousand students where I have established a chess club for people of all levels of experience at the game. Many of our students are also refugees; and my chess club, as well as providing a fun and educational activity for those who attend, also helps to give a much-needed confidence boost to those who are not yet as proficient in English as some of their friends. Moreover, I am a Chaplain at Croydon University Hospital, visiting both patients and staff around the Hospital. I have felt this to be a crucial aspect of my placement; many of the people I meet on a regular basis have experienced all kinds of loss; and yet, they often still display an inspirational degree of hope. To be able to do my part in playing a role in their journeys helps me just as much as it helps them. 

Alongside these pastoral and sacramental aspects, there has been a distinctly academic character to my placement. St. Michael's has been one of the most academically-focused Churches I have served in to date; this has particularly appealed to me, having studied theology at university. Our studies have been largely focused on various elements central to the Christian faith; the Incarnation, the Paschal Mystery, and the Saints and Sacraments. Engaging with a variety of ancient and modern texts (from St. Athanasius and Melito of Sardis, to the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) has provided me with a great sense of the consistency in the development of the Church's understanding of doctrine. I have particularly valued the variety in ways and mediums we have explored these Christian texts and doctrines; be it by seminars with the priests at St. Michael's and the Archdeacon of Hastings, or viewing and examining beautiful Christian artworks and artefacts at the National Gallery in London each term with one of the Curators there. I have both furthered and expanded my theological repertoire during my time at St. Michael's, in the spirit of St. Anselm's motto of “faith seeking understanding.” As well as for myself, I relish any opportunity to apply my theological learning and understanding to help other Christians on their journeys – and offering presentations to parishioners in study groups (such as our weekly Catechesis series in Church, which are open to all) gives us the perfect chance to help others around us to explore more about our faith. 

My placement at St. Michael's Croydon has been absolutely invaluable to me. I feel incredibly lucky to enjoy the experiences I have gained, and to have journeyed with the priests, my fellow Pastoral Assistant, and everyone else here. The placement has been vital for my vocational discernment, and particularly for the successful result I attained from my Bishops' Advisory Panel when I was formally recommended to train for ordained ministry. My year at St. Michael's has equipped me brilliantly, as I continue my journey towards further training and formation for ordination. I am immensely grateful to everyone who has helped make this placement possible for me – to those who pray for me, to those who mentor me, and to those who have funded the placement to make it financially possible.