July 12.  Xenophobia. When the elderly men met from time to time their conversation was different from that of the women.  “When I was reading the story of the Israelites in Egypt it made me think of the foreigners in our land.  Things were very different in those biblical times.”  “Is it really? Is xenophobia not a form of oppression of the foreigners also when we make them work so hard for us.” “And we do that in many ways, as they often get paid less than locals.”  It sparked off quite a debate about history and justice and rights.  

The Egyptians were in dread of the sons of Israel.  So they made the people serve with rigour and made their lives bitter with hard service.  Exodus 1:13-14 

Pope Francis. Migration is another sign of the times to be faced and understood in terms of its negative effects on family life. In accompanying migrants the Church needs a specific pastoral programme addressed not only to families that migrate but also those family members who stay behind.  AL 46