Love Surpasses Fear

Posted on 21. Jun, 2018, in Christian Values, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Humanitarian Aid, Places of Conflict, RefugeesComments Off on Love Surpasses Fear

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Peter Girasek SJ said he felt like he was going to a sure death when he was asked to go to refugee camps in Iraq, a country that was assaulted by the Islamic extremist group ISIS for three years displacing over three million people.

He made the decision to go when he asked himself, ‘If my family was from Iraq, would I hesitate to go there?’ He also opted to work with Muslim and Christian refugees in Lebanon, as part of his final year of training. Saying that in the end,”Love surpasses fear,” Fr. Girasek said he found spiritual consolation in being with the refugees.

Upon reflection of his time in Lebanon, he also notes, ‘My presence there spoke to them more than the work I did.’ He was sick for half of his time due to water contamination and the flu. This experience led him to realise the importance of ‘giving yourself’ in solidarity with the people. In like with Pope Francis who call us to ‘live in a certain discomfort’ so that we can reach out to refugees.

The Slovakian priest explained more to Pat Coyle.