Visiting scripture scholar challenges Christians to put a face and name to migrants, refugees

Migration is at an all-time high, with one in 35 people in the world being displaced, and in responding to this, it is crucial for Christians to understand that each of those statistics has a face and a name and is made in the image of God, a visiting Scripture scholar from Chicago says.

Professor vanThanh Nguyen SVD, Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union, is visiting Australia to teach a short course at Yarra Theological Union, entitled ‘Strangers, Migrants and Refugees in the Bible’.

While in Australia, the Divine Word Missionary priest is also giving public addresses in Sydney, Brisbane, Alice Springs, Wollongong, Bathurst, Darwin, and Wellington, New Zealand.

“Migration is as old as humanity,” Fr vanThanh told a public gathering at Marsfield in Sydney.

“Once humans came into being they began to move about, in search of food, shelter, water. It’s not a new phenomenon by any means.

“Yet something is leading us to recognise that today, in this age, something is causing this greater movement of people. We are living in the age of migration.”

Fr vanThanh said that in 1965 there were about 75 million migrants on the move and that by 2005 that had jumped to 190 million. The number currently sits at about 200 million.

“So international migration is at an all-time high,” he said. “My job is to bring home the fact that these statistics, these immigrants, do have a face and a name.”

Fr vanThanh said a look through the Old Testament shows that the history of Israel is a history of mobility.

“The Bible is loaded with stories written by and for strangers and refugees,” he said.

From the story of Adam and Eve, who were forced out of their given home in the Garden of Eden, to  the stories of Cain and Abel and the Tower of Babel, “the first 10 chapters of Genesis are filled with stories of humanity seeking a home; always on the move”.

The story of Abraham also tells of one who was chosen by God to travel from his homeland, leaving behind all comforts and certainties. Then there is the story of Joseph in exile, Moses and the Israelites where the Hebrews became slaves in Egypt, as well as stories of people on the move in Joshua and the Judges.

“What is notable in all of this is that God’s mercy was shown among the displaced people,” Fr van Thanh said.

“Migration is a central theological them that weaves throughout the Bible and it is important to note that the text gives a human face to the migrants.

“Because that’s the danger- that we always talk about statistics. These statistics are real people, made in the image of God and by virtue of that, they must be given respect.

“What we learn in the pages of the Bible is that God cares for the vulnerable and disenfranchised; God cares for each individual, since they are made in God’s image. And this demands our compassionate response.”

Turning to the New Testament, Fr vanThanh said Jesus also experienced being both immigrant and host.

“He was always on the move. He was born on the road, then he became a fugitive from Herod, and then a refugee. Throughout his life he was seen as an outsider, seeking refuge and escape from his opponents. He died and was buried a stranger. His whole life is a journey,” he said.

The Bible also shows that Jesus travelled with those in need or oppressed; he crossed many borders in his healing, teaching and eating; no-one was excluded from his table fellowship.

“Crucially, we see that in Luke 14:12-14, Jesus urged his human hosts to open their banquets and dinner tables to those who could not return the favour.

“Jesus promised that welcoming the stranger, feeding the hungry person and visiting the sick were acts of personal kindness to the Son of Man himself.”

Fr vanThanh said he was proud to be visiting the Australian Province of the Society of the Divine Word, where his international confreres were doing what Jesus commanded, by giving hospitality to asylum seekers who are awaiting the processing of their claims.

He said Church documents on migration had consistently accentuated the dignity of immigrants.

They also addressed practical concerns, including the right for people to find work and opportunities in their homeland; their right to migrate; the right of nations to control their borders; the rights of refugees and asylum seekers; and the dignity and rights of undocumented migrants.

He said the Bible challenged us in our own response to ‘strangers’ and outsiders.

“What we see in both the Old and the New Testaments is that hospitality is an esteemed virtue in the Bible,” Fr vanThanh said.

“So as Christians we can ask ourselves, ‘Who are the strangers who need welcoming and care in our world today?’.

Fr vanThanh Nguyen SVD, Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago is visiting Australia and New Zealand.

February 24, 2012

Divine Word Missionaries embark on new ministry
with asylum seekers

Members of the Society of the Divine Word AUS Province met recently for their Assembly and Chapter meeting and resolved to renew and deepen their current ministerial commitments as well as strike out in new areas, particularly in support of asylum seekers and refugees. Sixty-five members of the Divine Word Missionaries (SVDs) and their lay collaborators met at Marsfield in Sydney for the Provincial Assembly which focused on the theme of “See, I am doing a new thing” (Is 43:18-19). In particular, the three day Assembly explored the current situation of Catholic Social Teaching and discussed how social justice could be more actively incorporated into the life and mission of the SVDs. Fr Bruce Duncan cssr, a noted author, theological lecturer and social justice advocate, gave a keynote address on Catholic Social Teaching in the World Today and helped to facilitate discussion among the confreres and their collaborators on the themes raised. Fr Tim Norton, SVD Provincial, said the triennial Assembly and Chapter meeting provided a chance for members of the Province from Australia, Thailand and New Zealand to come together and focus on both the work being done in Divine Word Missionary ministries and the challenges and opportunities that exist. “It was a chance to gather with our lay collaborators to discuss the Biblical and Doctrinal foundations of Catholic Social Action and recall the need to keep a focus on this area in our ministry,” Fr Tim said. “So, as SVDs, we renewed our understanding of our present commitments and considered further opportunities in light of this call to actively pursue justice in the world and particularly for the people and communities we serve.” Among the SVD ministries that were featured in panel discussions during the Assembly were those with the Aboriginal communities in Alice Springs and Santa Teresa; in Thailand, working with people living with AIDS; as well as parish ministry throughout Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. Fr Tim said an important outcome of the Assembly and Chapter was a commitment by the Divine Word Missionaries to embark on “a new thing” by welcoming asylum seekers into SVD accommodation in Melbourne and Sydney while they await the outcome of their claims. “This is a new area of ministry for us,” Fr Tim said. “We are delighted to be working with Jesuit Refugee Services, CatholiCare Melbourne and the Federal Government to enable these vulnerable young men to live in the community while their claims are processed. “Our focus on the Gospel call to social justice during our Assembly helped us to place this new ministry into context for us and underline both the Biblical and Missionary nature of this initiative.” Fr Tim said the Assembly also resolved to increase support for SVD missions in Central Australia and Thailand, as well as promote the SVD Bible apostolate, and justice and peace initiatives in parishes. Fr Tim Norton SVD, Provincial, addressing the AUS Province Assembly Fr Bruce Duncan cssr explores the theme of Catholic Social Teaching in the world today