Distinctively Local:Bristol, City of Sanctuary for Asylum SeekersFather Richard and St Nicks: a case study

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Sanctuary – A Bristol Case StudyRevd. Richard McKay, St Nicholas Tolentino,

Roman Catholic Church, Easton, Bristol

A) What does the word Sanctuary mean?

B) What is an asylum seeker? What is a refugee and what is an economic migrant?

C) What do you know about Father Richard McKay’s life?

D) What was Father Richard prepared to do for Josette Ishimwe? Why?

E) Which teachings from the Bible influences and inspires Father Richard and his congregation?

F) Who was St Nicholas Tolentino and why is his life story significant for this church?

G) What does “St Nicks” website say that it aims to do as a church?

H) What is the idea behind Bristol as a City of Sanctuary? (Father Richard is the Chair of this organisation)

I) What does the Borderlands Charity do?Where is it based?

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1. A sanctuary, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a safe haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a safe place for humans, such as a political sanctuary; and non-human sanctuary, such as an animal or plant sanctuarySource: Wikipedia

2. Who are asylum seekers? Who are refugees?Who are economic migrants?

Refugee facts and figures

Have a look at some facts and figures.

How many people in the UK are asylum seekers?There are an estimated 60 million people throughout the world who have been forced to flee their homes. The numbers of protracted wars and conflicts have increased. This has created more than 15 million refugees worldwide - but developing countries host over 80 per cent of people.There are an estimated 126,000 refugees living in the UK. That's just 0.19 per cent of the total population (64.1 million people)

How many asylum seekers came to the UK in 2015?The UK received 38,878 asylum applications (including dependents). This was less than Germany (431,000), Sweden (163,000), and Hungary (163,000).

Which countries do asylum seekers come from?More than half of the world's refugees (60 per cent) came from just five countries: Numbers of people per country:

Syria: 4.2 million Afghanistan: 2.6 million Somalia: 1.1 million Sudan: 744,000

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South Sudan: 641,000 

What do the terms mean? In the eyes of much of the UK public, the terms ‘refugee’, ‘asylum seeker’ and ‘migrant’ have almost blurred into one. This is far from the truth (and far from helpful).Here's a handy guide to the different terms:

Asylum seeker flees their homeland arrives in another country , whichever way they can makes themselves known to the authorities submits an asylum application has a legal right to stay in the country while awaiting a decision.

Refugee has proven to the authorities that they would be at risk if returned to

their home country has had their claim for asylum accepted by the government can now stay here either long-term or indefinitely

Refused asylum seeker has been unable to prove that they would face persecution back home has been denied protection by the authorities must now leave the country, unless they wish to appeal the decision or

there are legitimate reasons why they cannot yet return home. Economic migrant

has moved to another country to work could be legally or illegally resident, depending on how they entered

the country may or may not have a legal work permit.

Sources: Home Office, Immigration Statistics, Oct to Dec 2015; UNHCR mid-year report 2015; Office for National Statistics (mid 2013).

3. Key beliefs for St. Nicholas Tolentino Roman Catholic ChurchAt St Nick’s they want to follow the example of Jesus who said:Luke 4:18Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition of the Bible (RSVCE)18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim release to the captivesand recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

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And live out what Jesus taught when he said:Matthew 25:35-40Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition of the Bible (RSVCE)35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’

4. Father Richard McKay

RICHARD MCKAY'S BIOPIC

Richard is proud of his Scottish origins, but has lived and worked all his life in England. He has been a Roman Catholic priest of Clifton Diocese for 40 years, working for 35 years in very impoverished Outer Estate and Inner City parishes.

For over 13 years he was RC Chaplain at HM Prison Bristol. He finds the reality of oppression and poverty the source for theology and mission.He has been co-chair of an expanding project that has established four houses for ex-prisoners, and is involved with racial justice and supporting people seeking safe sanctuary ('asylum') in this country. He has long been Chair of the Bishops’ Committee for Health and Healing and represents the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales on the English Churches Together for Healing.He has a passion for the unity of the Church and its mission to bring justice, equality and freedom to the oppressed of our world.His parish has over 60 nationalities represented in the congregation week by week, and the worship reflects this cultural diversity, eg singing in different languages, and a multicultural choir, as well as often the Scripture readings are in a number of languages. A major part of his Pastoral work is in support of those seeking safe asylum and sanctuary in our country.Source : http://www.tolentino.org.uk/index.php/father-richard-mckay

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5. St Nicholas Tolentino Church Website

The story of JosetteJosette Ishimwe an Asylum seeker who Father Richard and the Church have helpedCatholic priest will risk jail to protect asylum seeker1/11/04

A Catholic priest who says he is prepared to go to prison to stop an asylum seeker being returned to Rwanda, has managed to get the case reviewed after he prevented her detention by police. Father McKay would not allow police and immigration officials to enter the church when they came to detain Josette Ishimwe last week.Miss Ishimwe, 23, saw her parents hacked to death in Rwanda and is seeking refuge in his church to avoid being sent back to the country. Miss Ishimwe came to England after escaping the Rwandan genocide in 1994, and settled in Bristol. In an attempt to avoid deportation, she has been taken in by Father Richard McKay, priest of St Nicholas of Tolentino Church in Easton. The Catholic priest says he is prepared to go to prison to stop Miss Ishimwe being returned to Rwanda.Her final appeal for asylum was turned down, but news came at the weekend that she has now won the right to have her case reviewed. Father McKay said: “I have been informed by my solicitor that Josette’ s case will now come up for judicial review. Obviously she is relieved about this as the threat of deportation has been temporarily taken away and at last there seems to be some progress."A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said two officers had gone to the church last week in support of immigration officers, but that a decision had been taken not to arrest her at that time. Father McKay would not allow police and immigration officials to enter the church when they came to detain her on Thursday. He said at the time: I realize that by stopping them entering I am breaking the law but I also have a duty to protect parishioners .Although the immediate threat of deportation has been lifted, Ms Ishimwe will stay at St Nicholas of Tolentino Church in Easton to avoid being taken into custody. Father McKay said; “We are all extremely concerned at the church at what Josette’ s fate would be if she was sent back to Rwanda. A Home Office spokesman said: "We are not able to discuss individual cases but if she has failed her appeal she will be expected to leave the country." Miss Ishimwe, who was just 13 when she saw her mother, father and other family members murdered, is said to be severely distressed at the prospect of deportation. She is being cared for by fellow parishioners at the vicarage attached to the church in the Easton area of the city.In order to keep Josette safe in the country and to avoid her being deported to Rwanda to a regime that had killed her parents, Father Richard MacKay legally adopted Josette. She has since formed a relationship with a young man and has had a child. This makes Father Richard a proud grandfather: an unusual position for a Roman Catholic priest. Source : http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_04111mck.shtml6. Who was St Nicholas Tolentino?

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St Nicholas of Tolentino was born in the village of Sant'Angelo in Pontano, Italy in 1245, as a young child was brought up by his parents to share their love and concern for the poor, going with them to the homes of poorest with food and clothes. When he was a young monk with the Augustinians, he would give the monastery’s food away to the poor. The community of monks became angry and the Prior forbade him to do so.

However, he knew a higher obedience to God, and a more authentic voice, and continued to do so. One day the Prior intercepted him on his way from the kitchen to the monastery door, with a cloak full of bread for the poor. When challenged to reveal what he was carrying, he opened his cloak and it was filled with roses! The Prior recognised the sign from God, instructed St Nicholas to continue giving the food to the poor and instructed the community to support this work and not grumble. From that day, the community was never again hungry.A fellow religious person describes Nicholas' ministry in these words: "He was a joy to those who were sad, a consolation to the suffering, peace to those at variance, refreshment to those who toiled, support for the poor, and a healing balm for prisoners." He is significant to this Church that bears his name as they try to do as he did in Bristol today.Source: http://www.tolentino.org.uk and http://www.osawest.org/saintnicholasoftolentine.html

7. The aims of St Nicholas Tolentino ChurchThis parish has been witnessing to Christ and serving the people of this part of Bristol since 1848. We are a 'Communion of Communities in Mission' with more than 60 nationalities who gather each Sunday to celebrate God’s great Love for the world in our Mass. Our commitment is to be a people at the service of the poor, both locally and globally; to be a community of warmth and welcome; to be a community of healing and hope. We are committed to work for the unity of the Church with our brothers and sisters of other Christian traditions, sharing mission and worship together; and to seek to build a fellowship of all believers among the many world faiths in our area. ST NICKS SEEKS TO BE 'GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR'The recent Synod of Bishops on ‘the New Evangelisation’ said in their closing message to the People of God: ‘If people are going to see in us the face of Jesus Christ, then they have to see a Church that is reaching out to the poor, that is caring for the sick and the marginalised, that is providing for children the next step in their encounter with Jesus’. This is precisely the vision that animates St Nicks and its life and mission in Bristol’s inner city. As a parish, and as their priest, we and I take very seriously ‘God’s preferential option for the poor’, as taught by the Church’s social teaching.

Source: St Nicholas Tolentino website : http://www.tolentino.org.uk/

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8. Bristol as a City of Sanctuary

City of Sanctuary is a national network, a movement of local groups made up by businesses, community organisations and individuals, all with one thing in common; their belief that sanctuary seekers should be welcomed, and that their contribution to society should be celebrated.Bristol officially launched as a City of Sanctuary in June 2011, and since then has been working hard to keep the momentum created from this going. We love the multiculturalism that makes up our city, believing it should be something to be proud of and that should be applauded.Together we can work to make sure that our status as a City of Sanctuary is deserved, uniting to create a place of safety and sanctuary for refugees and asylum-seekers.On Tuesday 16th November 2011, Bristol City Council voted to give their support to the City of Sanctuary movement in Bristol. “This Council recognises the contribution of asylum seekers and refugees to the City of Bristol and is committed to welcoming and including them in our activities. The council also recognises that a comprehensive, co-ordinated and forward-looking approach is needed if City of Sanctuary, the welfare of people moving in to the city, and community cohesion between new and existing communities are to be supported effectively. The Council endorses Bristol’s status as a City of Sanctuary and will work to implement the City of Sanctuary pledges through its Community Cohesion Strategy 2010-13.”Source: http://www.cityofsanctuary.org/news/1937/bristol-council-stands-destitute-asylum-seekers

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9) BORDERLANDS from exclusion to BELONGING Borderlands Bristol: support for refugees and asylum seekers

About usBorderlands Bristol works especially with people seeking asylum in the UK or have become a refugee from other countries; we support people who have been trafficked and trapped in domestic service or the sex industry.We are a charity that supports disadvantaged and excluded people to improve their lives and the community in which they live: people who face great challenges and live difficult lives.  Borderlands offers hope to people who may see themselves as lost or abandoned and need support to find a way forward. We believe that giving someone a little help when times are hard for them can make a great deal of difference.Who can access our services?If you are seeking asylum in the UK or you have become a refugee in the last 1 or 2 years you are welcome to contact Borderlands or just come along to the Drop-in on Mondays and Tuesdays at St Nicholas Tollentino Church. We also accept referrals from other services such as charities, community members, health services and self-referral. Some of our services are only available for a limited time but we will try to help you if we can.How you can helpIf you can volunteer some time each week to help deliver our services we would be very pleased to hear from you. Find out more about volunteering with Borderlands – complete the form provided and we will respond to you as soon as we can. Please read up about our charity on our website so you know about the work we do. Our Drop-in runs on Mondays and Tuesdays only each week. If you wish to volunteer on other days we can help you to go to one of our local partner charities.If you want to donate money to Borderlands to help support our work please go to our support or donate page to find out how to donate. Or you can donate at www.localgiving.com/borderlands.Thank you for your concern and support for asylum seekers and refugees seeking sanctuary in our city and making Bristol a place of welcome and practical help.Thanks to HFE Signs for Banners.

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Sanctuary Case Study Father Richard MacKay and St Nicholas Tolentino R.C Church Mind Mapping Connections

Bristol City of Sanctuary

Revd. Richard MacKay

St Nick’s Church beliefs

Key Bible teachings for

Father Richard and St Nicks

Other contrasting beliefs from Christianity or another faith or

non religious perspective

What is an Asylum seeker?

Refugee? Economic migrant?

Borderlands Charity

Josette Ishimwe and other Asylum

seekers1 Write in the key

information in the blue boxes

2 Write connecting sentences along what you think are the 4 most important lines to explain how these factors link

3 In the pink shapes research/ give ideas that might provide contrasting views held on this issue

4 In a different pen or in pencil, wherever it is appropriate write your own opinions about

Other views held in British Society

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