July 14   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 then.”  “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 the long history of foreign labour and of justice, dignity and rights. 

Scripture: 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.(in particular grandparents and their grandchildren) JUBILEE. Exiles, displaced persons and refugees, whom international tensions force to emigrate in order to avoid war, violence and discrimination, ought to be guaranteed security and access to employment and education, the means they need to find their place in a new social context.   SNC13.  Act and pray. For the needs of families, especially grandparents and the elderly.