I’m walking from Iona (Scotland) to Lindisfarne (Holy Island, England) to highlight the work of St Maria Skobstova House of Hospitality in Calais.

I‘m looking upon it as a pilgrimage in solidarity with those who have to abandon their homes in order to find peace, and yet are often subjected to inhumane treatment in Europe. The pilgrimage starts on Sunday 26th June and is due to finish on Friday 16th July.

St Maria Skobstova House offers accomodation to refugees many of whom have travelled thousands of miles in the hope of finding sanctuary. The House caters primarily for women and children but also reaches out to the Eritrean refugee community who live in temporary camps that are often vandalised and destroyed by the authorities.

A friend who regularly volunteers at the House describes with amazement the hospitality that he receives from the refugees (in the form of tea/coffee and whatever food they have) in their makeshift camps as opposed to the reception they receive from the Authorities. His statement that Europe is ’experiencing a crisis of hospitality’ struck me profoundly, and the fact that these vulnerable people have something to teach us, or remind us, about hospitality rings true. Some of these people arrive having suffered severe trauma and due to the policies implemented by the authorities are deprived of the necessities of life: shelter, food, clothing, health care etc. After a recent visit Bishop Olivier wrote in an open letter: Migrants in Calais are being treated by the authorities “worse than dogs.”

Please help provide these people with the necessities of life through the hospitality of St Maria Skobstova House by donating through this page. Thanks, Jim

For more information on St Maria Skobstova House of Hospitality please check out this website...

www.refugeehousecalais.org/