📸TOGETHER FOR SANCTUARY

⛪ Last night many gathered at The Immaculate Conception Church in Maryhill for Together for Sanctuary, a moving ecumenical worship service as part of Refugee Festival Scotland.

Organised by (SFAR) and co-hosted by Justice & Peace Scotland, the evening brought together people from many Christian traditions and cultures to stand in solidarity with those who seek sanctuary.

🙏 The evening began with an ecumenical prayer and worship service during which we prayed for peace and intentions for countries close to the hearts of those present: Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, El Salvador, Palestine, Nigeria, Sudan, Israel, Pakistan, Syria, Iran, America, Scotland and many more.

🕊️Through prayer, music, reflection and powerful testimonies from people with lived experience of displacement, we were reminded of our shared call to welcome the stranger and build communities of justice, compassion and hope.

💬 Two parishioners from Immaculate Conception, Ruth and Rita, courageously shared their own stories of their journeys to finding sanctuary, security and welcome here in Scotland. Fr Andriy Chornenko of the Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Glasgow offered a powerful reflection after the Gospel of the Good Samaritan reminding us of Jesus’ call to “go and do likewise” for the stranger in our midst.

🍲 After the service we shared food prepared by community members and shared dishes from places such as El Salvador and the Philippines, celebrating the richness and diversity of the Church as one family in Christ.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, participated, and joined us in this beautiful expression of faith, hospitality and solidarity and for coming together to "go and do likewise".