Bishop calls for better care of migrants during homily at Irish Chaplaincy anniversary Mass

Bishop Kirby with CEO Eddie Gilmore

London's Irish community and friends gathered at the Sacred Heart Church in Kilburn, north London on Sunday, for a Celebration Mass and reception to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain.

Bishop John Kirby, who chairs the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants, Bishop Paul McAleenan, Auxilliary in Westminster and Fr Gerry McFlynn were the chief celebrants.

During his homily Bishop John noted that people have been migrating around the world since ancient times. “In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, the Lord says to Abraham ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you’ and that is the start of the people of Israel, later, Jacob and his sons follow Joseph to Egypt at a time of famine and 430 years later, Moses leads the people of Israel back to Canaan, the Promised Land.”

“Migration has also had a major role in Irish history” Bishop John said, noting the brutal plantations of Ireland during the 16th and 17 centuries and the massive exodus from the country during the Famine in the 19th century. He said: “A further wave of emigration took place in Ireland in the early years of independence at a time of recession and hardship in the 1940s and 1950s… Many of you here in this church in Kilburn are Irish born or are descended from Irish born people of that period. Your work and life here have contributed to your own prosperity and to the prosperity of this country. Indeed, you have also helped the Irish economy through the practice of what became known as ‘postal remittances’, money sent to assist families back home in Ireland.

“Sadly, not everyone was able to contribute to life in the new country or in the old. We know that there are Irish people who continue to need help and the Irish Chaplaincy Service exists precisely to help them.”

When the first group of nine Columban chaplains were sent over to England in 1957, some of them travelled with the Irish navvies who were working on the road. They had a mobile chapel where the workers could celebrate Mass.

Throughout the years, needs have changed and today much of the chaplaincy work is carried out by lay people, and its focus is on three key areas: Irish prisoners held in UK prisons, the older generation of Irish emigrants, and the Irish Travelling Community in Britain.

The Sacred Heart parish, served by the Oblate Fathers, now boasts more than 62 nationalities about its parishioners. Bishop John noted: “many migrants travel to other countries because they are fleeing persecution or conflict. The problems of those trying to get to Europe from the Middle East and North Africa continue to grow. It is a huge problem for all the countries of the Western world and particularly for us here in Europe.”

Pointing out that Pope Francis is the son of Italian migrants who travelled to Argentina, Bishop Kirby said: “Pope Francis has made the care of migrants one of his main initiatives. His first trip outside of Rome as Pope was made to the Island of Lampedusa off the coast of Sicily. This was one of the main landing points for those from Libya trying to gain entry to Europe. Large numbers drowned whilst attempting the journey. Those who landed faced further difficulties. In Ireland the system of Direct Provision for migrants arriving from very difficult situations is a very unsatisfactory arrangement, and we need to change it into a more respectful system for those coming to Ireland.”

The chalice used during the Mass was partly made from wood salvaged from a boat used by asylum seekers. As the bishop explained: “The chalice is a silver cup inside a wooden shell. It was made by the same wood-turner who made a chalice for Pope Francis when he visited Lampedusa four years ago. In both cases the wood used had been part of a boat carrying migrants from Libya to Lampedusa. It was given to me on loan specifically for this Mass as we are commemorating migrants. The cup of the chalice is silver and is stamped 2016 in memory of the centenary of the Easter Rising. Thus, it links the migrants coming to Ireland with those who fought for Irish freedom 100 years ago.”

“The care of migrants is one of the major problems being faced by governments of the developed economies. It is also a major challenge for the Church and for all of us as individuals.” Bishop John said. He concluded: “Remember the parable of the Last Judgement in Saint Matthew’s Gospel – ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’ or ‘I was a stranger and you did not welcome me’ as the case may be. If we take the gospel seriously, the care of migrants has to be placed high on all our plans.”

There was a get together afterward in the parish hall.

Read more about the Irish Chaplaincy here: www.irishchaplaincy.org.uk

We will be posting up a video of Bishop John's homily on ICN's YouTube channel soon.