Archbishop John blesses new statute of St Josephine Bakhita
At a full service for Racial Justice Sunday, Archbishop John unveiled and blessed a new statute of St Josephine Bakhita
On Racial Justice Sunday, Archbishop John Wilson unveiled a new statute of St Josephine Bakhita for St George’s Cathedral.
Before blessing the statute, the Archbishop of Southwark delivered a powerful homily in which he once again made clear “there is no place for racism in our Church”.
Archbishop John said as followers of Christ:
“we cannot be passive or indifferent in the face of racism and injustice. We have to examine our hearts to see where we need to grow in seeing others as God sees them”.
The Archbishop said to the packed Cathedral that each person is fashioned by God and called on everyone there to join him in saying “I am uniquely and wonderfully made. Every person is uniquely and wonderfully made”.
To follow Christ, Archbishop John said, is to “embrace this truth” and that means being a “living witness” in stating and understanding that “every form of prejudice or injustice is incompatible with God’s desire”.
As part of the Archdiocese of Southwark’s work to combat racism, Archbishop John established a Commission for Promoting Racial and Cultural Inclusion which is led by Canon Victor Darlington.
To demonstrate the wonderful contribution of people all over the world to the family of Christ, the Commission will be promoting saints from diverse cultures. The first statute is of St Josephine Bakhita, which will be placed in St George’s Cathedral. St Josephine, Archbishop John said, spent her life as a witness to the hope that comes from the Gospel and that is why we should take such inspiration from her.
It is in the Gospel, the Archbishop said, that “Christ calls us to a different standard, a higher standard, God’s standard for humankind”. This standard, Archbishop John said, calls “us together as one family under Heaven with one Heavenly Father”. The Archbishop said:
“How can we have one Father in Heaven and not believe we are brothers and sisters? It’s impossible.”
Archbishop John said the truth at the heart of our faith is that “every human life, every human being, is made in the image and likeness of God. There are no exceptions. Everyone is made in the image and likeness of God”.
Photos from the beautiful service can be found via the link below.
