Speaking recently with a group of young people in Rome, Pope Francis gave the following challenge saying, “You cannot be a Christian without living like a Christian. You cannot be a Christian without practising the Beatitudes. You cannot be a Christian without doing what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 25, which is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and welcome the stranger.”
“It’s hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help,” Pope Francis said. “If I say I am Christian, but do these things. I am a hypocrite.”
He went on to say, “The world needs Christians to witness God’s mercy through service to the poorest, the sick and those who have abandoned their homelands in search of a better future for themselves and their families.”
Brigidine Sisters, our associates and partners in ministry around the world support and advocate for asylum seekers in a variety of ways and settings.
The Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project in Victoria is such an initiative sponsored by the Brigidine Sisters. It is one significant way in which we engage with the issues of our time, stand in solidarity with those who are oppressed, and seek to build a more inclusive community.
This project focuses on practical assistance, advocacy and raising awareness of the issues faced by people seeking asylum.
Through this project we seek security, justice and a hopeful future for all in our community.
Another project which Brigidines support is the Tallaght Intercultural Centre in Dublin.