Croes y Jyngl – Symbol Gobaith yn codi o anobaith
Mae dau ddarn o bren, a hoeliwyd at ei gilydd gan ffoadur anhysbys, ac a ddefnyddiwyd fel ffocws o barch gan ffoaduriaid yng Ngwersyll Jyngl Calais, wedi’i chyflwyno i Esgob Bangor - y Gwir Barchedig Andy John - gan newyddiadurwr a fu’n gwirfoddoli yno.
Ildiodd Caroline Gregory 2½ flynedd o’i gyrfa er mwyn gwirfoddoli ymysg y ffoaduriaid yng Ngwersyll y Jyngl yn Calais. Cafodd ymweliad gan sawl gwleidydd ac eraill yn ystod ei arhosiad yno. Pan benderfynodd awdurdodau Ffrainc glirio a chwalu’r gwersyll, roedd Caroline wedi medru arbed y groes, a fu’n cael ei defnyddio yn yr eglwys a adeiladwyd hefyd gan y ffoaduriaid.
Mewn sgwrs fideo (sydd hefyd ar gael fel podlediad), mae Caroline Gregory yn dod â gosod y groes yng nghapel tŷ Esgob Andy. Ei ffordd hithau oedd hyn o ddiolch am y gefnogaeth a gafodd hi gan Esgob Andy ac eraill yn Esgobaeth Bangor tra’i bod hi yn Calais. Roedd Esgob Andy yn rhan o grŵp – cymysgedd o bobl o wahanol ffydd a dim ffydd – a gymerodd roddion o Ogledd Cymru a theithio draw i ymweld â’r gwersyll drostyn nhw’u hunain ym mis Ebrill 2016.
Aelod arall o’r grŵp hwnnw oedd y Parch Sara Roberts, curad yn Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Enlli. Mewn sgwrs fideo Gymraeg (sydd hefyd ar gael fel podlediad) gydag Esgob Andy, mae’n dwyn i gof eu hymweliad â Gwersyll y Jyngl, a’r profiadau a’r teimladau o fod ymysg y ffoaduriaid o Gristnogion yn yr eglwys o le ddaeth y groes.
Wrth fyfyrio ar y rhodd, meddai Esgob Andy, ‘Dwi’n teimlo’n wylaidd iawn o feddwl bod Caroline Gregory am ddod â’r groes hon yma aton ni ym Mangor, ac mae ei phresenoldeb mor berthnasol wrth inni ddechrau ein tymor sanctaidd, sef y Grawys.
Mae’r groes hon yn symbol o obaith o ganol anobaith y ffoadur o Gristion a’i lluniodd. Mae’n ein hatgoffa na ddylen ni anghofio’r ffoaduriaid wrth i’r Gwanwyn agosáu, pan fydd pobl unwaith eto’n cychwyn croesi am Ewrop o Affrica a’r Dwyrain Canol, a mwy na thebyg y cawn glywed hanesion torcalonnus drachefn am bobl yn boddi a thrychinebau eraill.
Mae’r mudo enbyd yma o bobl sy’n dianc mewn anobaith o’u cynefin rhag tlodi, rhyfel a gorthrwm, ac sy’n dymuno dim mwy na bywyd gwell i’w teuluoedd, yn drasiedi. Mae’n glwy agored ac yn gondemniad damniol ar yr holl rai hynny sydd mewn grym ac sydd â’r gallu i wneud gwahaniaeth.
Mae angen inni weddïo y bydd arweinwyr y gwledydd yn gwneud yr union beth hynny - gwneud gwahaniaeth - ac un sy’n cyfrif, fel yr angen sydd arnon ni i weddïo dros y bobl sy’n ffoaduriaid, boed hynny yma yn y DU neu ar daith i gyrraedd - eu bod yn canfod cefnogaeth a goddefgarwch ar hyd eu siwrne.’
Jungle Cross - a Symbol of Hope rising from despair
Two pieces of wood, nailed together by an unknown refugee, to form a cross, which was used as a focus of veneration by refugees in Calais’ Jungle Camp has been presented to the Bishop of Bangor - the Right Reverend Andy John - by a journalist who volunteered there.
Caroline Gregory gave up 2 1/2 years of her career to volunteer amongst the refugees in the Jungle Camp in Calais. She was visited by a number of politicians and others during her time there. When the French authorities cleared and bulldozed the camp, Caroline was able to save the cross, which had been used in the church which was also built by the refugees.
In a video conversation (which is also available as a podcast) Caroline Gregory brings and places the cross in the chapel of Bishop Andy’s house. It is her gesture of thanks for the support which Bishop Andy and other people in the Diocese of Bangor gave to her and others whilst they were in Calais. Bishop Andy was part of a group - made up of people from different faiths and none - which took gifts from North Wales and went to see the camp for themselves in April 2016.
Another member of that group was the Rev Sara Roberts, curate in the Bro Enlli Ministry Area. In a Welsh video conversation (also available as a podcast) with Bishop Andy, she recalls their visit to the Jungle Camp, and the experiences and feelings of being amongst the Christian refugees in the church from where the cross came.
Reflecting on the gift, Bishop Andy said, ‘I am humbled that Caroline Gregory wanted to bring this cross to us here in Bangor, and its presence is so pertinent as we begin our holy season of Lent.
This cross is a symbol of hope rising from the despair of the Christian refugee who made it. It reminds us not to forget refugees as we come into Spring, when people will once again start cross to Europe from Africa and the Middle East, and no doubt we will hear of drownings and other heartbreaking stories.
The migration of desperate people from their homelands to escape poverty, war and tyranny, and who want no more than a better life for their families is a tragedy. It is an ongoing blight and damning condemnation of all those who hold power and who have the ability to make a difference.
We need to pray that the leaders of nations will do just that - make a difference - and one that counts, just as we also need to pray for people who are refugees, be they here in the UK or en route - that they will find support and understanding on their journey.’