4th March 2022, Statement from the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland

Meeting in London, today, 4th March 2022, the Presidents and Vice-Presidents of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Ireland, and Scotland said:
In the face of the shocking loss of life, bloodshed, displacement of people and destruction of property in Ukraine, we make these heartfelt appeals.
We ask our Catholic communities to sustain the prayer and self-denial of Lent as a constant offering to God, begging for an end to this pointless violence.
We ask our fellow Christians everywhere, including Patriarch Kirill and all in the Russian Orthodox Church, to join in solidarity with us in daily spiritual and practical efforts for a ceasefire, for humanitarian outreach and the silencing and laying down of weapons.
We ask all who have an instinct for God to raise their hearts and minds in prayer for peace.
We urge everyone to open their hearts and respond generously to the many appeals for help and support for all who are fleeing their homeland. We call on the UK and Irish governments to offer an open and generous welcome to those who seek refuge in the face of this warfare.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop Eamon Martin Bishop Hugh Gilbert
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon Archbishop Dermot Farrell Bishop John Keenan
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Bishops’ Conference of
England and Wales Scotland

Responding to the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine

Our parishioners have responded generously to the needs of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine by providing goods and financial donations.

Now we turn our minds to hosting Ukrainian refugees who come to the UK.

This document addresses key points, what is needed and how best to respond.

Please read CSAN (Caritas Social Action Network) document

https://www.csan.org.uk/ukraine/ from which much of the following is taken.

Prayer Is Essential

Loving God,
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world
that in this moment of crisis,
we may reach out in solidarity
to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways
so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine
and for all the world.

Amen.

(https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Prayer-resources/A-prayer-for-Ukraine)

Donate

We recommend donating money to CAFOD (who are a part of the Disasters Emergency Committee). CAFOD will be working through partners including our sister organisations Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Poland, on the ground. Please note we do not advise donating or transporting goods.

https://cafod.org.uk/donations/picker?defaultuniversaltype=single&_Appeal=123770

Sponsoring a Ukrainian refugee (or family) as an individual

‘Homes For Ukraine’

This Government scheme to allows British people to host a refugee family in their homes for six months or more. We encourage this but only after careful consideration. We recommend that people find out as much as possible about both the practicalities and other possible impacts of hosting refugees.

To Sign Up

The Government scheme is open to those who already know a refugee family they would like to host. Most people will not be in this category. However even though you don’t know a Ukrainian person you can still host. Do this by registering your interest. We recommend RESET (a leading Community Sponsorship of Refugees charity) who have a website where individuals can register to be matched with Ukrainian person or family. Go to: https://www.homesforukraine.org.uk/

To Sponsor refugees as a Community Group

The Government scheme and the RESET website mentioned above are only set up for individuals who wish to sponsor (although organisations can register their interest on the RESET page.

Now is the time for your parish to consider taking part in the general Community Sponsorship scheme, and work towards finding a home and a welcome for a refugee family from Afghanistan, Syria, Ethiopia, Yemen…

Go to https://resetuk.org/ to find out more, and contact your Caritas Westminster Development worker too!

The Parish Community

Even though accommodation will necessarily be provided by an individual household the involvement of the parish community is still required. Skills such as befriending, catering, introduction to local amenities and schools will be needed.

Remember Ukrainians already present in the UK

Where there are Ukrainians already in your communities, be aware of their needs, both pastoral and physical.

  • Many Ukrainians are in the UK on temporary visas and should be able to get these extended – they will need to check the advice and act quickly.
  • Ukrainians on visas which do not allow them to apply for benefits (No Recourse to Public Funds) may be particularly vulnerable, for example of becoming homeless, or being exploited. See the link above for signs that someone is being enslaved.
  • Ukrainians will be anxious to bring their family members over and the Government has set up a scheme to allow this, but it will not apply to everyone – see the information on the CSAN resource https://www.csan.org.uk/ukraine/

Be Conscious of the Risk of human trafficking

On Tuesday, an open letter was sent from a group of organisations working in the field of Human Trafficking. It was signed by Karen Anstiss, manager of Caritas Bakhita House. The letter highlighted the risk that those who have fled Ukraine, to Poland and Romania, may be at risk of being trafficked for the purposes of exploitation and slavery.

As always please be vigilant of the signs of human trafficking and modern slavery, which can be found on our website here: https://www.caritaswestminster.org.uk/human-trafficking-what-are-the-signs-to-look-for-769.php

Volunteering to help refugees in the UK

Not everyone can host a refugee, but we need people to help support a refugee or asylum seeker.

We are able to help find volunteering roles and anyone interested should fill in this form: https://www.caritasvs.org.uk/volunteer-to-support-afghan-refugees.php (NB – this form was originally created to help find volunteers to support Afghans arriving last summer, but it is a general form for anyone wishing to volunteer with refugees.)

The Nationality and Borders Bill

The House of Lords has voted against key clauses of the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill. The Bill will soon return to the House of Commons, where the Government is likely to reject many or all of the Lords’ proposed amendments. JRS UK has produced a briefing asking MPs to support the Lords’ amendment to prevent the creation of differential treatment of refugees depending on how they arrived in the UK. We urge people to write to their MPs on this matter. The JRS briefing can be found here:  https://www.csan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NandB-Bill-JRS-briefing-Mar22.pdf

HELPUKRAINE EMERGENCY APPEAL

Ukraine is facing a new threat of invasion from Russia. Seven years of war have already left Ukraine with 14,000 dead soldiers and civilians, with an additional 1.4 million forced to flee their homes.
A further Russian invasion will be catastrophic for the civilian population. The elderly, vulnerable, children and families are at risk of losing their homes and access to medical and other vital services. The psychological trauma of war will affect generations.
Our Ukrainian Churches and community organisations have united to work with accredited and registered Ukrainian charities to provide medicines, food and critical services to support the most vulnerable to overcome the consequences and trauma of war.
We are asking all our members, communities and supporters to do everything they can to raise funds to #HELPUKRAINE. Donations will be used to fund immediate emergency and ongoing needs, including for example:
£8 2 woollen blankets for individuals or emergency shelters
£23 A food and hygiene pack for one adult for a month or 30 thermal foil blankets for emergency use
£70 A food and hygiene pack for a family of 4 for a month
£500 Towards crisis counselling, support services, and children’s services
£1,500 A basic emergency medicine pack for 1,000 people for 3 months
£3,700 Medicine and pharmaceutical pack for 10,000 people for 3 months
The more we collect, the more we’ll be able to help – particularly with the longer-term impacts of hostilities, displacement and poverty on families, children, the elderly and those with special needs.
The food, hygiene and medical packs comply with specifications set by the World Food Programme, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (IEHK 2017).
If the crisis passes, the emergency medicine/food/hygiene packs that you have helped to buy will be released to hospitals and to Ukrainian accredited charitable organisations for distribution to those in desperate need.
How to donate:

  • Through parishes and branches of partner organisations
  • Direct to the central appeal fund
    AUGB Ltd, 80038237, 20-65-89, with reference HelpUkraine
  • Through our fundraising page on GoFundMe by following the link or by scanning the QR code above

Prayer Opportunities

Our Lady Queen of Apostles (141 Woodhall Lane, Welwyn Garden City AL7 3TP) are going to have a Vigil of Prayer for Ukraine on Saturday 12th March after our 6pm Mass It will last from 7pm until midnight and will include Scripture and hymns, the Rosary and Stations of the Cross. The final hour will be before the Blessed Sacrament ending with Benediction at midnight. Everyone is most welcome.

If any parishioners plan to attend and are willing to give lifts to others please let Trish know.