Strangers into Citizens

6 May 2009

“Strangers into citizens” - this was the cry of 30,000 people in Trafalgar Square on Monday (4 May).  It was a cry shared by Father Richard McKay, Sister Bernie and Sister Barbara (Daughters of Charity), together with parishioners of St Nicholas of Tolentino - our inner-city Bristol parish. 

Father Richard told cliftondiocese.com: “We travelled with many people from our partner organisation Bristol Refugee Rights.  We went to London, to a rally in Trafalgar Square, to take part in the national campaign “Strangers into Citizens’.” 

“The event was organised by ‘London Citizens’ which is a broad-based community organisation involving faith communities - including many Catholic parishes - as well trade unions working together on a common agenda.

“People of faith and values from around London and throughout the UK responded to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor’s call two years ago that undocumented migrant workers should be granted an amnesty and UK citizenship.

“So the community of St Nick’s was more than happy to cry out with the crowds in Trafalgar Square: “I am somebody” and ‘not strangers but citizens’.”

Sister Barbara and other members of the St Nick’s group were present in Westminster Cathedral where migrants from all over the world took part in the fourth Mass for Migrants on the Feast of St Joseph the Worker (4 May). 

Bishop Thomas McMahon, Bishop of Brentwood, was the principal celebrant of the Mass and read out a message of welcome and support from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor. Bishop Patrick Lynch, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and Bishop Bernard Longley, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster concelebrated the Mass with Bishop McMahon.  

In his homily, (which you can listen to the Archdiocese of Westminster website) Bishop Patrick Lynch emphasised that the Catholic Church has a concern for all workers whether documented or undocumented. He said that a way should be found for undocumented workers who had been in the UK for over five years to: “continue to contribute to British society”.

“The Church is concerned for all workers - documented and undocumented.  A migrant’s legal status is quite separate from his or her human dignity.  A human being’s worth is defined by their God given dignity, not by the papers they do or do not carry.  There is clear moral case that undocumented workers who have lived and worked in this country for five years or more should be given the opportunity to build a future in the United Kingdom and continue to contribute to British society.  You have worked here: your children have been born here and attend school here: you are part of our parishes and our society here and a way should be found so that you can remain here.”

Bishop Lynch also stressed the important contribution that migrant workers have made to the Catholic Church and to Britain in recent years and urged people to prevent migrants being used as scapegoats during the economic downturn.

“You have contributed culturally and economically to the nation and you have contributed spiritually and socially to the Church bringing with you your deep faith, your commitment to the family and your loyalty to the Church.  So my first prayer today is that during a time of recession when there will inevitably be job shortages we as the Church will do all we can not to allow migrant workers from within or outside the European Union to become scapegoats and targets of peoples frustration with the economy.”

The Mass reflected the tremendous diversity of our Catholic community, with people representing countries from around the globe.  A number of civic dignitaries, including ambassadors attended the Mass.

The Mass was the fourth Mass for Migrants to have been organised jointly by the Diocese of Westminster, the Archdiocese of Southwark and the Diocese of Brentwood and supported by their Justice and Peace Commissions.

For the first time, similar services took place at Westminster Abbey and the Methodist Central Hall at the same time, celebrating the place of the immigrant in modern Britain.  After the Mass, many people joined the rally in Trafalgar Square.

There's a special event in Swindon in June celebrating 25 years of the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ).