“Love the Stranger”: New Parish Resources to Support Refugees

As Catholics, we’ve got a long tradition — stretching right back through the Old Testament — of welcoming the stranger and showing love to those in need.
It’s a big part of who we are.

That’s why the Church has always spoken clearly about our responsibility to welcome migrants and refugees. In fact, in 2023, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales published Love the Stranger, a powerful reminder that we’re called to respond with compassion and action in today’s world.

Building on that, Caritas Southwark, with help from JRS UK, has put together a great set of resources designed especially for parishes and deaneries.
These tools are here to help your community get involved in welcoming refugees — whether through practical support, prayer, raising awareness,
or taking action in other ways.

You can pick and choose what works best for your local situation. We’ve suggested three different plans to suit different levels of time and commitment, which you’ll find in the resources below and in the Introduction and Instructions for Leaders document.

There are so many ways your parish can make a difference — from organising local support efforts and fundraising, to running awareness events
or joining in campaigns. Every little action helps to build a community where those seeking sanctuary are met with warmth and welcome.

Take a look through the resources and see where the Holy Spirit might be guiding your parish next.