A vigil to support the refugee crisis will be held outside Wakefield Cathedral this Saturday.
It follows a vigil outside the city's County Hall last Saturday and comes in a week that City Council leader, Coun Peter Box pledged to welcome refugees to the city and the Bishop of Wakefield, Bishop Tony issued his own personal message.
Wakefield was declared a City of Sanctuary in 2010 and takes pride in welcoming Asylum Seekers and Refugees to the City and District and offers them every opportunity to share and contribute in the life of our communities.It is one of the country's Initial Accomodation Centres for all refugees and asylum seekers.
It welcomes 300 refugees to its Initial Accommodation Centre every 21 days who come to Wakefield before they are dispersed across the county. The City of Sanctuary have asked people to donate specific goods and clothing to the project.www.wakefield.cityofsanctuary.org
Message from the Bishop of Wakefield, the Rt Revd Tony Robinson.
I imagine that you have been deeply affected, as I have, by the disturbing images of refugees risking their lives and desperately looking for a place of sanctuary. Whatever the reasons for this crisis and the political debate, we have to acknowledge that there are many vulnerable individuals and families fleeing terrible circumstances. Their nightmare is further compounded by exploitative traffickers and the sheer scale of the problem.
We as Christians are called to share in the suffering of those in need and to welcome the stranger. Christ himself was a refugee and knew what it was like to be displaced, without a home and in danger. So it is entirely right that we look for ways to take care of those who find themselves in this terrible situation.
Wakefield City of Sanctuary has for many years provided asylums seekers and refugees a warm welcome. There are weekly Drop Ins at S. Michael’s, S. John’s and the Quakers. They provide emergency packs for men, women and children. I know many of our parishes already support the work of this and other groups by helping to raise funds, offering homes to refugees and bringing people together to find compassionate responses within our Episcopal Area and more widely. Further details are available on the website https://wakefield.cityofsanctuary.org.