Archdiocese of Armagh Hosts Seminar as Irish Catholic Bishops’ issue a pastoral letter on immigration: ‘A Hundred Thousand Welcomes?’

On 12th October, the Archdiocese of Armagh, in conjunction with Embrace NI, hosted a significant gathering at the Drumcree Pastoral Centre to address the pressing issue of migration. This gathering, aligning with the Irish Catholic Bishops’ release of their pastoral letter, “A Hundred Thousand Welcomes?”, brought together people from across Northern Ireland to reflect on the Christian call to welcome migrants and embrace the stranger.

Archbishop Eamon Martin opened the gathering, referenced both the Gospel imperative to welcome the stranger and Pope Francis’ consistent call for compassion and inclusion. This event built upon the Irish Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter which emphasises that Ireland, with its rich history of migration, has a moral duty to extend the tradition of céad míle fáilte (a hundred thousand welcomes) to those arriving in search of safety and a better life.

During the plenary session, participants explored key themes such as the role of hospitality in Christian life, the importance of cultural understanding, and the necessity of collaboration across Churches to support migrants. Small yet powerful gestures—such as offering coffee after Mass, incorporating multilingual prayers, and fostering intercultural events—were highlighted as ways to create spaces of belonging for newcomers.

The personal testimonies of migrants, those working in the field of accompanying migrants and others attending the session underscored the challenges faced, which includes language barriers, housing, and cultural integration. The event also acknowledged the need for better resources and support structures, such as schools and community organisations, to aid in the integration of migrants. An important takeaway was the idea of developing a Ministry of Welcome, where clergy and laypeople work together to create a warm and inviting atmosphere within parishes that fosters belonging.

A call to action concluded the event, with parishes encouraged to audit their current efforts in welcoming migrants and to collaborate with other denominations and organisations, such as St. Vincent de Paul, to support integration efforts.

In concluding the gathering participants added to the rich dialogue by asking for God’s guidance in building a more welcoming, compassionate Church and society for all, especially those seeking refuge and new beginnings. 

For more information on the Irish Bishops’ pastoral letter A Hundred Thousand Welcomes? Please CLICK HERE

Embracing the Stranger Seminar,12th October 2024, Drumcree Pastoral Centre, Portadown. 

Representatives from parishes and diocese attended a seminar yesterday at Drumcree Pastoral Centre in Portadown entitled: Embracing the Stranger, Challenges and Opportunities. Archbishop Eamon Martin introduced the Pastoral Letter “100,000 welcomes?” of the Irish Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference which explores what hospitality for migrants means in contemporary Ireland.