With the northern hemisphere continuing to tilt away from the sun, the mysterious and nostalgic season of autumn dons its coat of many colours. The mood of this season, with its movement of death and life, with the fear of the unknown often hiding new life, reflects something of the startling images of our current humanitarian crisis as it spirals out of control. Our global world and in particular the European world struggles to cope with this largest enforced movement of people in its history.
No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark …
you only leave home when home won’t let you stay…
you have to understand that no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land …
no one spends days and nights in the stomach of a truck feeding on newspaper unless the miles travelled means something more than journey.
No one could take it … no one could stomach it … no one’s skin could be tough enough …. survival is more important….
(Kenyan born Somali poet and writer; Warson Shire)
Within the interplay of hope and despair our hearts are broken at the human face of suffering in images and stories of women, children and men who have risked their lives to escape conflict, violence and persecution as they try to enter the safe haven of Europe.
We hear the cry for solidarity, empathy and compassion from each and every country. Yet, we are conscious of the breakdown of national and regional systems in parts of Europe and the struggle to agree on common policy regarding safety and protection. The greatest response comes from individuals, churches, and agency workers, doing what they can in a spirit of Gospel compassion. Our biblical tradition reminds us that the movement of people in search of liberation is part of who we are and in this light to welcome the stranger is an imperative for each of us. The alien among you must be treated as one of your native born. Love him (her) as yourself (Lev.19:34). God will remain faithful and God will not abandon people if we have faith and trust.
We find ourselves challenged individually and collectively to move out of our comfort zones as we grapple in the depths of our hearts with such human suffering, pain and bewilderment staring us daily. This surely is a turning point in our history.
We are grateful that our Congregation/Province leaders, on behalf of all of us, “feel an urgent need to act” and they “invite all of us to become involved in our local area with the organisations that are working with migrants and refugees” With missionary zeal and hope accompanied by prayer “Let our tears move us to act together, as RNDM Sisters across the globe, to alleviate this terrible suffering.” (RNDM Letter 10 September 2015)
Sr Elizabeth Hartigan, RNDM