christmas message from holy name night shelter
What follows is a transcript of a reflection given by Holy Name Night Shelter Coordinator, Hinna Parvez at Carols by Candlelight on Wednesday 14th December 2016.
"She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7
We hear about the nativity every Christmas, we know the story of Christ’s birth very well, yet how easily we fail to understand it.
In the midst of our busy, overworked and non-stop routines, at times we may fail to look beyond our personal lives. And very easily we can be the ones shutting our doors to the people new to our city and our culture here.
Soon after Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Matthew 2:13
Joseph did as the angel had asked him to do. And so Joseph, Mary and Jesus lived as refugees in Egypt.
Jesus was a refugee.
As strange as it may sound, imagine Jesus being a refugee in our country today. Joseph would have to go through endless rounds of interrogation to prove his reasons for coming over to this country, he would have to verify something he only dreamt of. How difficult would it be for the Holy Family to convince the authorities/Home Office and yet continue struggling with their daily life - the hardships of earning a livelihood, finding food and accommodation in an alien land?
This is indeed what our present world has become, there are 100,000 Refugees and asylum seekers in the UK today. A major percentage of these are living in Manchester. Leave aside their legal processes, they are struggling at every point of life. They cannot get into paid employment as refugees; and with almost zero benefits from the government they cannot afford accommodation or healthy food. They have nowhere to go and no one to turn to - they end up on the streets of Manchester.
This year, The Holy Name Church has signed up to offer a helping hand to these people who are living as refugees, seeking safety and shelter in our community. Holy Name has been on the Boaz Night Shelter register for this year from Oct-April 2017 to host 12 destitute male refugees/asylum seekers in the Church. we are humbled by the overwhelming support from our volunteers from the chaplaincy and our parishioners.
During this Christmas season, Holy Name is privileged to open its doors and give refuge to 12 destitute asylum seekers and refugees on Christmas Eve, the night of our Saviour’s birth. As we remember the nativity, we warmly welcome our guests into the bigger family we have all built in the wider community in Manchester. We treasure their presence among us this Christmas and continue to pray for them and their families.
May the baby Jesus send His help to the refugees and those seeking asylum, may he comfort them in their time of trial.
May we never cease to see the face of Jesus in refugees; remembering the time when Jesus himself lived as a refugee amongst us thousands of years ago.
May we continue loving and helping the less privileged around us. Amen
"She gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." Luke 2:7
We hear about the nativity every Christmas, we know the story of Christ’s birth very well, yet how easily we fail to understand it.
In the midst of our busy, overworked and non-stop routines, at times we may fail to look beyond our personal lives. And very easily we can be the ones shutting our doors to the people new to our city and our culture here.
Soon after Jesus’ birth, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” Matthew 2:13
Joseph did as the angel had asked him to do. And so Joseph, Mary and Jesus lived as refugees in Egypt.
Jesus was a refugee.
As strange as it may sound, imagine Jesus being a refugee in our country today. Joseph would have to go through endless rounds of interrogation to prove his reasons for coming over to this country, he would have to verify something he only dreamt of. How difficult would it be for the Holy Family to convince the authorities/Home Office and yet continue struggling with their daily life - the hardships of earning a livelihood, finding food and accommodation in an alien land?
This is indeed what our present world has become, there are 100,000 Refugees and asylum seekers in the UK today. A major percentage of these are living in Manchester. Leave aside their legal processes, they are struggling at every point of life. They cannot get into paid employment as refugees; and with almost zero benefits from the government they cannot afford accommodation or healthy food. They have nowhere to go and no one to turn to - they end up on the streets of Manchester.
This year, The Holy Name Church has signed up to offer a helping hand to these people who are living as refugees, seeking safety and shelter in our community. Holy Name has been on the Boaz Night Shelter register for this year from Oct-April 2017 to host 12 destitute male refugees/asylum seekers in the Church. we are humbled by the overwhelming support from our volunteers from the chaplaincy and our parishioners.
During this Christmas season, Holy Name is privileged to open its doors and give refuge to 12 destitute asylum seekers and refugees on Christmas Eve, the night of our Saviour’s birth. As we remember the nativity, we warmly welcome our guests into the bigger family we have all built in the wider community in Manchester. We treasure their presence among us this Christmas and continue to pray for them and their families.
May the baby Jesus send His help to the refugees and those seeking asylum, may he comfort them in their time of trial.
May we never cease to see the face of Jesus in refugees; remembering the time when Jesus himself lived as a refugee amongst us thousands of years ago.
May we continue loving and helping the less privileged around us. Amen
