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Walkers, friends and supporters of Refugee Tales received a warm welcome at Arundel Cathedral and Our Lady of Sorrows in Bognor Regis earlier this month, with the walking and story-sharing project run by Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWG), including Catholic churches in its summer walk programme for the very first time.

The Catholic Church recognises the innate dignity of every human life. The Bishops of England and Wales have been vocal in their support for a just aid budget and the extension of safe routes for refugees and asylum seekers, such as resettlement programmes, visa schemes and humanitarian corridors, so that people can exercise their right to migrate in a dignified and humane manner.

Volunteers and staff from Refugee Tales and GDWG promote the welfare of people held in immigration detention, offering friendship and practical support while calling for positive change  - including an end to indefinite detention in immigration removal centres such as Tinsley House and Brook House near Gatwick Airport, which are run by Serco.

Arundel Cathedral welcomed Refugee Tales on the first day of the charity's five-day walk, hosting an evening of reflection, music and storytelling, with a keynote address from CAFOD Director Christine Allen, readings by actor Laura Hanna, Refugee Tales and immigration detention visitor John Barrett, and music from the Dovetail DaCapo Refugee Orchestra.

According to the United Nations, more than 117 million people are forcibly displaced around the world, 38% of whom are children. Reflecting on the complex, often dangerous, factors that compel people to leave their homes, Christine Allen said:

"In my day job [at CAFOD] I come across the reality of conflict, war, oppression, climate change and disasters that force people from their homes. The vast majority... do not cross borders. Very few actually come here to Britain.

“The headlines and media stories about asylum seekers and immigration are so often negative. It is increasingly rare for us to hear from those who have sought asylum, and for them to have public opportunities to express their creative potential; their hopes and dreams. People who seek asylum are much spoken about and often misrepresented, but are very rarely heard. That's what makes this evening so special."

The Catholic Parish of Bognor Regis and Slindon welcomed 160 people to Our Lady of Sorrows on the second day of the walk, with the evening centred on hospitality, listening and shared humanity. Reflecting on the purpose of Refugee Tales, GDWG's Director Anna said: "Our message is one of imagining better. We don't march against anything, we don't rage at injustice, we simply listen to each other in conversation, try to learn from one another and walk, in the words of Refugee Tales Patron Ali Smith, for 'the better imagined'. We call for a future without immigration detention, with a time limit for detention as a first step."

Speaking shortly after the celebration, Fr David Osborne highlighted how privileged the parish community felt to welcome Refugee Tales and GDWG walkers to their church:

"Our hall became a place of food, refreshment and welcome, where tired legs and feet could rest before everyone gathered in the church for an evening of words and music,” he said. “The words came through letters written by former detainees whose lives had been touched by the friendship and solidarity of GDWG. They spoke of shared stories, shared suffering and, in the midst of it all, hope.

"Interspersed with these powerful letters was music - songs of love and loss. Although many of us did not understand the language, the power of the music conveyed exactly what was being expressed. As Anna from GDWG remarked, it spoke directly to the heart."

The parish has an active Justice & Peace network, with members of the group organising many of the practical arrangements for the visit and helping to provide hospitality throughout the evening. Reflecting on the Church's call to welcome the stranger, Fr David added:

"We want people to find a welcome and a listening ear in our churches. The aims of GDWG and the Refugee Tales walkers coincide with the Gospel message of solidarity with the poorest, the marginalised and those with no voice. We were delighted to host everyone."