Migrants, Refugees, & a Newfoundland (H)airport

 

                                                      Re-opened Gander Airport International Lounge

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, 

for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2 NRSVue

There is a World Refugee Day in June and a World Migrants Day in December. So I was somewhat befuddled when I heard Pope Francis speak of yet another "day" on this theme, Sunday past. It turns out that the Roman Catholic church recognized Refugee and Migrants Day on the last Sunday of September each year. While this is a tad confusing, displaced peoples should be front of mind all through the year.

Canada has a mixed history of xenophobia and welcome when it comes to those from other parts of the world looking for hospitality. We can be stirred to generosity -- think of the Vietnamese boat people and Syrian refugees -- but we have also shameful aspects of our past -- we refused to welcome Jews fleeing the Nazi regime. 

Earlier this month we returned from a couple of weeks in Newfoundland and had a couple of hours in Gander airport. In July the restored International Lounge was reopened after forty years of being closed to the public. Queen Elizabeth was on hand when this showcase of design and art was unveiled in 1959 at a time when Gander Airport was one of the busiest in the world because flights to and from Europe and North America had to refuel for longer journeys.

Along with the fascinating mural, floor, and furniture created by the top designers of the day there is a photographic display in the mezzanine at the top of the elevator. Photos of famous personalities such as Bob Hope, Marilyn Monroe, and Muhammad Ali  are there. There are also photos of groups of people who passed through the airport on their way to refuge and new lives. 

                                                                           Hungarian refugees

In the 1950s nearly 40,000 Hungarian refugees fleeing the Soviet invasion of their country,  arrived in Canada, many through Gander airport. 

In the 1990s kids from the Chernobyl region of Ukraine came here to avoid radiation poisoning from the failed reactor. 

There is also a photo montage of the thousands of "Come from Away" airline passengers who ended up in Gander after 911. The mothballed lounge was opened to accommodate them and while we were looking around a contingent of organizers came in to scope out the space for an event which was taking place a couple of days later to commemorate those remarkable days of shelter and hospitality. 

I found myself quite moved by these reminders of Canada and Canadians at their best, rather than gripped by "fear of the other." Often it has been groups of dedicated Christians and congregations who have been involved in sponsorships for refugees, as was the case with Syrians, beginning in 2015. As it happens I will drive one of the 23 Syrian refugees welcomed by a coalition of faith communities and other people of good will in 2015 and 2015 to a medical appointment in another city. I haven't been involved with this group since my retirement but I agreed to be added to this week's roster and I see that other drivers are folk who were part of the group then and have continued to be supportive. 

I pray that Canadians can continue the positive aspects of our tradition of welcome, and that even as many faith groups are aging and struggling they will understand that hospitality is a vital aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ -- who doesn't want to welcome an angel? 

                                                      Chernobyl children in Gander