1. Week Beginning Monday 21 st October 2013 “Making a difference for uprooted* people.” (Uprooted People are those who are forced to leave their communities and country; those who flee because of persecution and war, those who are forcibly displaced because of environmental devastation and those who are compelled to seek sustenance in a city or abroad because they cannot economically survive at home.)

2. Friday 25 th October 2013 Health care is something in Britain we can take for granted. Whilst adults in work need to pay for dental and eye care, we are able to access free GP and hospital services. In 2012, free health care for refugee claimants was stopped in Canada. This meant that even women arriving who were pregnant were no longer given health cover for their pregnancy. In Britain: All asylum seekers and refugees are entitled to register with a GP and to receive free NHS hospital treatment. GP practices retain the discretion to register refused asylum seekers to the same extent that they have this discretion in relation to registering any patient, regardless of his or her residency status. Health professionals must not discriminate against asylum seekers or refused asylum seekers by unfairly prioritising other patients in preference to them. Asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers have the same rights to medical confidentiality as other patients.

3. What are the advantages of having a ‘free at delivery’ health service? How can the teaching of Jesus ‘Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers/sisters, that you do unto me.’ help us respond with love to those who are sometimes accused of taking advantage of the system?

4. Let us pray: Good and gracious God, who loves and delights in all people, we stand in awe before You, knowing that the spark of life within each person on earth is the spark of your divine life. Differences among cultures and races are multi-coloured manifestations of Your Light. May our hearts and minds be open to celebrate similarities and differences among our sisters and brothers. We place our hopes for racial harmony in our committed action and in Your Presence in our Neighbour. May all peoples live in Peace. Amen. - See more at: http://www.sistersofmercy.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=345&Itemid=221#sthash.CWqThVGZ.dpuf