As many parishioners are now aware, we are in the formative stages of a partnership with Catholic Charities to welcome a Refugee family this year. A group of over forty parishioners have committed to helping the effort in the areas of housing, pre-arrival and post-arrival needs. As we prepare for this family to arrive, our passionate volunteers have created this communication space to answer any questions that may surface throughout the process. Stay tuned here for all the exciting developments! We trust in God’s timing and purpose as we wait in anticipation of a family who could arrive from any country!
What is a “refugee”? A refugee is an individual or family who have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster. There are currently 65.6 million persons who have been forcibly displaced worldwide.
Is the family we are welcoming here legally? Absolutely. Refugees resettled by Catholic Charities have undergone a 15-step legal process which includes interviews with the United Nations and U.S. officials, vetting, security, medical, and fingerprint screenings, and cultural orientations.
The ceiling for refugee arrivals has been set for the fiscal year 2020 at a historic low of 18,000 individuals. We ask for your prayers that we may be able to help one of these individuals as we seek ways to “welcome the stranger”.