BY James Farrell | March 29 | 
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Glasgow parish home to refugees highlights the joy they bring to communities
Refugees from 23 countries who found their home in a Glasgow parish celebrated their heritage as they learned about SCIAF’s work for people who fled ethnic cleansing in Myanmar.
Immaculate Conception Church, Maryhill, hosted a SCIAF exhibition on March 22, highlighting their work helping Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The week culminated in an uplifting Mass attended by pupils from St Blane’s and St Mary’s primaries and John Paul Academy focussing on the plight of refugees—and giving recognition to the refugee backgrounds of some of those pupils.
Fr Jim Lawlor, parish priest, expressed his joy at being able to host the exhibition and noted the importance of it for the community.
“There are now 23 nationalities in our schools and parish community,” he said. “These families began their journey as refugees and asylum seekers.
“Historically our parish was founded to accommodate refugees from the Irish Great Hunger who came to Maryhill to work on building the canal and the nearby canal locks.
“In honouring and making welcome new refugee families we are honouring our history and learning from it, to make a community where all are welcome.
“The teachers and staff were very pleased to be able to take part in supporting SCIAF and in acknowledging the rich diversity that is now in Maryhill.”
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