‘”Stretch your tent wide.” [Is 54v2]
On 18th June under the banner of “Stretch your Tent Wide” our Diocese welcomed and celebrated the life and joy that migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum bring to our church and region.
Inspired by the prophet Isaiah we recognise that we have so much to learn from our worldwide neighbours and that by living alongside one another we can be better people.
It does not matter if our neighbour was born here, is a migrant or is fleeing persecution; we can learn and receive from one another.
Our Lord and Saviour reminds us to that it is a duty of each one of us to welcome the stranger.
As a Diocese we shall always be one of openness to all who live in our region, treating all as sister or brother. We condemn the violence and intolerance shown recently on our streets by a tiny minority of people.
In Fratelli Tutti Pope Francis writes “To care for the world in which we live means to care for ourselves. Yet we need to think of ourselves more and more as a single family dwelling in a common hope.” [FT 17]
We fully support the statement made by Raymond Friel on behalf of Caritas Social Action Network (found here).
Fr Adrian Tuckwell
Episcopal Vicar for Caritas Hexham and Newcastle