Archbishop's appeal to house asylum seekers in Luxembourg

Luxembourg's Archbishop has urged residents to reach out to asylum seekers in Luxembourg, not only by donating money to charities but also by giving time, energy and a home.

In an open letter, Jean-Claude Hollerich urged people with empty  accommodation to lend them to refugees and asylum seekers.

Earlier this year, the Archbishop himself invited two Eritrean asylum seekers to live at his official residence in Avenue Marie-Thérèse as part of a new diocesan project called “Reach a hand”.

As part of the same project, he is urging every parish in Luxembourg to welcome at least one refugee family.

“For months and months, women and children have been in a dramatic situation, fleeing war, misery, risking their lives to cross the sea and seek protection in Europe,” he wrote, adding: “I propose together that we put ourselves on this road, as a Church in Luxembourg, to provide help in these tragic situations.”

The Reach a Hand project aims to extend a hand to those who are “shipwrecked”. In particular it addresses the way asylum seekers are received in Luxembourg by appealing to people who have empty properties to make them available to rent for a specified time as host structures.

The religious leader called for the creation of working groups within every parish that will liaise with a Diocesan task force to develop local projects supporting asylum seekers and refugees.

“Do not fall into the trap of only giving money, give your time and energy. Christians, dare to react!,” the Archbishop wrote.

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