Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary.
The theme for Refugee Week 2024 is ‘Our Home’. From the places we gather to share meals to our collective home, planet earth: everyone is invited to celebrate what our Our Home means to them.
Together, this Refugee Week let’s practice our solidarity and make Our Home a more welcoming, safe and sustainable place for all.
During the week, we also celebrate Windrush Day (June 22) and the Great Get Together (June 21-23) all wonderfully tied together with the theme ‘Our Home.’
Here’s what we’re up to each day throughout the week:
Sunday 16 June
11am: Croeso / Welcome Mass @ St Mary’s
We’ll be celebrating on Sunday—as we usually do—with a joyful Sung Mass which we offer in anticipation of the whole week ahead.
We’ll begin with words of welcome in all the languages associated with the families of our school, and share more of the week ahead.
Our reflection spaces will also be in place, as well as our Children’s ‘Refugee Book Corner’ to which you’re invited!
(There are also the usual celebrations of Mass across the Ministry Area. In Grangetown at St Paul’s Church at 8 am and 10.30 am, and Ss Dyfrig and Samson Church at 9.15am. In Splott at St Saviour’s Church at 9.30 am)
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
12 noon: Ice Cream Sunday
Before all the activity of the week to come, let’s begin with a sweet and chilled out time with Ice Cream Sunday!
Join us for an ice cream in the gardens. All are welcome—you don’t have to join us for Mass. So whatever your faith, feel free to pop by for an ice cream at 12 noon in the gardens, and find out what’s in store for the days to come!
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH GARDENS, BUTETOWN
Monday 17 June
Break out in Butetown
During the day, staff from St Mary’s School will be breaking out and taking a walk through Faithful Butetown.
They’ll be visiting various places of worship and landmarks of different faiths and cultures, from the past and the present, ending at Cardiff Bay and the statues of Gandhi and the Rugby Codebreakers. We’ll be handing out packets of wildflower seeds, packaged by the children, with a message for Refugee Week, and maybe we’ll even have time for a coffee or an ice cream! So if you see us around, say hello!
It is anticipated that Eid may be celebrated today, so it will be a great time to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere in Butetown.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH & OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT BUTETOWN
6pm: Mass @ St Mary’s
It’s time for us to pause a while for a short time of worship as we celebrate Mass. The intention today is for Christians who experience persecution.
Each day at the Mass there will be a short reflection on the themes of the week based on the readings of the Mass
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
6.30pm: Justice Cafe
Tonight, we will be joined by Jim Stewart from the charity ‘Open Doors’ which supports persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries.
Over 360 million Christians suffer persecution and discrimination throughout the world. This event will share the voices of Christians who suffer persecution, many of whom flee their homes as refugees. Light refreshments will be served as part of this event.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
Tuesday 18 June
11am : Faithful Butetown Discovery Day (I)
Beginning at the Betty Campbell statue we’ll be journeying through Butetown with St Mary’s twinned School from Blaenavon to discover a multicultural community in which different faiths have played such an important part.
We’ll stop along the way to watch the statue of Betty Campbell come to life with an interactive play for children performed at St Mary’s Church. The play reveals the growth of Cardiff and what made the historic community of Tiger Bay so significant, and discover what it has to reveal today. We’re also inviting teaching representatives from other school as a taster session, so they can find out more about how ‘Faithful Butetown’ can open the eyes of children and young people to the world!
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH & OTHER LOCATIONS IN BUTETOWN
1pm: Betty Campbell: A Journey through Butetown
Another performance of the Betty Campbell play for two different classes of children.
We’ll hear the story of Butetown and this historic part of Cardiff unveiled through the life of Betty Campbell.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
7pm: Mass @ St Mary’s
It’s time for us to pause a while for a short time of worship as we celebrate Mass. The intention today is those who are homeless, and all for whom ‘home’ is not a safe place to be.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
Wednesday 19 June
10am: Sanctuary School Mass @ St Paul’s
Each week, a class from St Paul’s School celebrates Mass at St Paul’s Church. This week, we’ll be blessing and distributing wildflower seeds to care for the world, and to share a message of welcome and support for Refugees.
VENUE: S PAUL’S CHURCH, GRANGETOWN
11am: Sanctuary School Mass @ St Mary’s
Each week, children from St Mary’s School gather for Mass in Church. This week, we’ll be blessing and distributing wildflower seeds to care for the world, and to share a message of welcome and support for Refugees.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
PM: Sanctuary Gardening
With St Mary’s School, we’ll be creating our potted Sanctuary Herb Garden, a living larder for the whole community!
PM: Time to Reflect
St Mary’s Church will be open for you to explore the children’s reflection spaces, and share your own messages and prayers.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
3.30pm: Animated at St Mary’s School
Year 6 of St Mary’s School will be sharing and celebrating the outcomes of their brilliant animation project with parents and families.
VENUE: ST MARY’S SCHOOL
Thursday 20 June
10am: Faithful Butetown (II)
Another journey begins at the Betty Campbell statue, as we move through Butetown to discover a multicultural community in which different faiths have played such an important part.
We’ll stop along the way to watch the statue of Betty Campbell come to life with an interactive play for children performed at St Mary’s Church.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH & OTHER LOCATIONS IN BUTETOWN
1pm: Betty Campbell: A Journey through Butetown
Another performance of the Betty Campbell play for two different classes of children.
We’ll discover the story of Butetown and this historic part of Cardiff unveiled through the life of Betty Campbell. We’ll experience the growth of Cardiff and the part that so many people of different faiths and cultures played.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
PM: Grangetown Fundraising Walk
Today, St Paul’s Primary School and Grangetown Primary School are getting a move on, walking to raise funds for Oasis. The younger children are walking in school whilst Year 5 and 6 will take to the Marl, all in aid of a brilliant charity which works with Refugees.
7pm: Oasis Cultural Cabaret
With music, poetry and performance, this Cabaret evening promises to be an amazing event of global proportions! Check out https://www.oasiscardiff.org for more details and updates.
VENUE: OASIS, SPLOTT RD, SPLOTT
Friday 21 June
10am: Mass @ St Mary’s
The intention today for today’s Mass is for all who arrive in our city and communities seeking sanctuary and safety, a place to call home.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
10.30am: Time for Schools
An open time for children to explore our Refugee Week reflection spaces, share some thoughts of concern and compassion, or offer messages of support.
There’s also a Refugee Book Corner and Treasure Hunts available.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
12—3pm: Global Lunch @ Oasis, Splott
With music and entertainment and food at its heart this is an open invitation to taste some global delights at the brilliant Oasis centre in Splott. Check out www.oasiscardiff.org for more details and
VENUE: OASIS, SPLOTT RD, SPLOTT
1:30pm Great Get Together @ Grange Gardens
St Paul’s Primary School is leading the way in Grangetown for their ‘Great Get Together’. It takes place in Grange Gardens with neighbouring schools – and food, of course!
VENUE: GRANGE GARDENS, GRANGETOWN
3pm: Global Banquet @ St Mary’s
Celebrating the diverse community of St Mary’s School, we’ll be celebrating a Global Picnic with children, families and invited guests.
Children will be invited to wear clothing that is important to their own culture or religion.
VENUE: ST MARY’S SCHOOL, BUTETOWN
Saturday 22 June
11.30am: Mass @ St Mary’s
It’s time for us to pause a while for a short time of worship as we celebrate Mass.
The intention today is for all who work to support and welcome refugees and asylum seekers.
There is also Morning Prayer and Rosary as usual from 11am, and Coffee after Mass at 12 noon. Join us for a cuppa!
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
11am – 3pm: Welsh Refugee Council Celebrations
The Welsh Refugee Council is taking over Cardiff Central Library which will be alive with colour and music as we celebrate Refugee Week, Windrush Day and The Great Get Together weekend.
Come along and enjoy the fun! We’ll be there! Check out https://wrc.wales for more details and updates.
VENUE: CARDIFF CENTRAL LIBRARY
1.30pm: Aloud @ WMC
A celebration of song at Wales Millennium Centre with St Mary’s, St Paul’s and Tredegarville Primary Schools. 100 voices belting out some favourites and a rendition of Yma O Hyd
Sunday 23 June
Sanctuary Sunday Mass
We’ll be celebrating Sanctuary Sunday in all our churches across the Ministry Area, giving thanks for all the blessings received during the last week, all we have learned and done to care for ‘Our Home.
We’ll pray praying for refugees and all who seek a place to call home, and those who work to support them.
It’s also an opportunity to commit to caring for ‘Our Home’ and making it a welcoming place for all.
At St Mary’s, we’ll be, we’ll be looking back on the past week, and sharing videos and favourite memories from the last few days.
VENUE: ST MARY’S CHURCH, BUTETOWN
12 – 2pm: The Great Get Together Barbecue
We believe that we have far more in common than that which divides us.
Celebrating the Great Get Together inspired by Jo Cox, we gather in our gardens for a Barbecue to which all are welcome.
There will be halal, vegetarian and vegan options available. It’s time to get together and celebrate what we have in common!
VENUE: GARDENS OF ST MARY’S CHURCH BUTETOWN
You can find a PDF version of our programme here:
Volunteer
If you’d like to volunteer through the week then please get in touch. Email: deanatkins@southcardiffministryarea.co.uk
St Mary’s Primary School
Check out the programme for Day of Welcome and Refugee Week from St Mary’s School
South Cardiff Ministry Area 