Below are two statements I have received. The first one is from the Diocese of Aliwal North and the second one from the Archdiocese of Johannesburg
The Bishop of Aliwal and his Diocesan Pastoral Council
call at the 2015 AGM on all the faithful to commit themselves to
XENOPHILIA, the friendship for the stranger or immigrant.
Biblical tradition makes us aware that almost all of us or our
ancestors once were strangers:
“You shall declare before the Lord: My father was a wandering
Aramean who went down to Egypt … and lived there as an alien.”
(Deuteronomy 26:5). Being alien is not easy. Meeting aliens is a
challenge. Often we do not know their customs and religion. And they
do not know us. We are here as Christians, called by God, to welcome
them and make them feel at home.
“Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly
entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). Angels are messengers. We
expect something from the strangers: They shall integrate and share
their wisdom. They may know a lot about appreciating good education
and professional training. They may alert us to commitment and what
it means to own a business. We may gain a lot.
And they will gain from us: They can experience our faith in a
compassionate and merciful God. They may learn about the struggle for
freedom and commitment to truth and reconciliation, all that Madiba
stood for. They may learn this when we reject and uncover all sorts
of lies spread about strangers.
“When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you?” (Matthew
25:18). We know the answer very well. We implore all our faithful,
the Small Christian Communities, the sodalities and the Pastoral
Councils to listen to the stories of immigrants, and to tell them
ours. If we know their stories we can talk well about them to our
neighbours, colleagues and friends.
We commend all who stand by the side of those in fear and
desperation, among them our Pope Francis and countless people among
us.
Immigrants know hatred, violence and anxiety. It would be wonderful
if we worked the miracle and became angels for them proclaiming and
showing: “Do not be afraid!” (Luke 2:10). We would love to hear
your stories at the 2016 AGM of the ADPC about your friendship with
strangers, how you overcame obstacles and how this friendship
enriched your life.
Many people know about xenophobia, how to be hostile. Let us make
them enjoy a new reality: XENOPHILIA, friendship with the
stranger. Try to pronounce it! And try it again: Xenophilia. It
works! May God bless you!
Michael Wüstenberg at the ADPC, Mt Carmel, 7.3.2015 and the ADPC
Bishop of Aliwal
Department of Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees
Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg
"For the Church nobody is stranger – we all belong to God"
