The Episcopate’s President Asks that Funds Be Raised for Migrants on the Polish-Belarusian Border
“Regardless of the circumstances in which the migrants arrive, they certainly need our spiritual and material support,” wrote the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, in his Appeal to assist the migrants.
The episcopate’s President noted that “since the beginning of the migration crisis, the Church in Poland has, to the best of its abilities, been providing help to migrants through Caritas Polska, diocesan Caritas and the Bishops’ delegate for immigration.”
As the needs are much greater, the Episcopate’s President asked the faithful and all people of good will to hold a nationwide fundraiser for the migrants at the Polish-Belarusian border after all Masses on Sunday, November 21st. “The funds collected during this campaign will be used—through Caritas Poland—to fund relief efforts in border areas during the migration crisis and for the process of long-term integration of refugees who choose to remain in Poland,” he wrote in the Appeal.
Archbishop Gądecki recalled that the mission of the Church is, first and foremost, to preach the Gospel. “Consequently, when it is necessary to provide assistance to newcomers, we must not shy away from it. Without prejudice to the security of the Republic and its citizens, we must show our solidarity to those in need,” says the Appeal.
The President of the Episcopate also asked for prayers for peace on Poland’s eastern border.
Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
We are publishing the full text of the Appeal:
APPEAL
OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLISH BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE
ARCHBISHOP STANISŁAW GĄDECKI
REGARDING ASSISTENCE TO MIGRANTS
For several weeks now, we have been witnessing an exceptionally difficult situation on the Polish-Belarusian border. Regardless of the circumstances in which the migrants arrive, they certainly need our spiritual and material support.
Since the beginning of the migration crisis, the Church in Poland has, to the best of its abilities, been providing help to migrants through Caritas Polska, diocesan Caritas and the Bishops’ delegate for immigration. Presently, support is being provided in centers for foreigners, at border posts of the Border Guard where migrants and refugees are staying, and Caritas Poland’s Tents of Hope are being opened in border parishes.
However, the needs are much greater, so I ask the faithful and all people of good will to hold a nationwide fundraiser for the migrants at the Polish-Belarusian border after all Masses on Sunday, November 21st. The money collected during this campaign will be used—through Caritas Poland—to fund relief efforts in border areas during the migration crisis and for the process of long-term integration of refugees who choose to remain in Poland.
The mission of the Church is, first and foremost, to preach the Gospel. Consequently, when it is necessary to provide assistance to newcomers, we must not shy away from it. Without prejudice to the security of the Republic and its citizens, we must show our solidarity to those in need. In the current situation, the message of the parable of the Good Samaritan resonates even more urgent and awaits universal implementation, also in relation to how the migrants themselves are perceived.
Let us pray fervently for peace on the eastern border of Poland, for all the migrants residing there, for the people living there, for the state services, including the Border Guard and the army, for politicians, Poles and Belarusians.
+ Stanisław Gądecki
Metropolitan Archbishop of Poznan
President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference
Warsaw, 8 November 2021
