Good morning!. There are 65 million refugees today—the highest level since WWII—who have been forcibly uprooted by war, persecution, ethnic and religious strife. That number 65 million is equivalent to the entire population of Great Britain!
A small group of Parishioners who has been working with Catholic Charities Refugee Resettlement Program which has 40 years of experience helping refugees reach America and settling here in Chicago. But with few refugee families being able to immigrate to our country as of late, we have been patiently—and not so patiently—waiting and hoping that we still are able to receive a family.
Inserted into our Bulletin this week is a flyer explaining that, despite the back and forth of the current refugee ban, there are a few families who have been carefully and extensively vetted and possess the needed visas who have been able to make it through to our country.
And this is our exciting news today!
We just learned on THURSDAY that one of these families, from Afghanistan, will be arriving at O’Hare on the afternoon of March 29 under the joint sponsorship of CCs and OUR PARISH!
So what does a co-sponsorship mean and what does it involve?
While the long-term goal is to help this refugee family become self-reliant as quickly and thoroughly as possible, there are many barriers we need to contend with to achieve that end.
Leaving one’s home country, learning a new language, adjusting to a different culture are very difficult hurdles. Financial responsibilities add to this stress. So, with Catholic Charities, we help to alleviate those struggles by assisting with rent and basic needs—that’s the material part—and also by providing friendship to the family in the early months.
First things first. We need to raise about $8,000 within the next two weeks to help pay for the first three months of rent, the security deposit and the cost of furnishing the family’s apartment.
This is the contract we have with Catholic Charities:
They will be responsible for finding the apartment, applying for Social Security and other public benefits, placing the family in English classes, ensuring children are enrolled in school and helping in job placement. We provide the necessary financial assistance and—equally important—the emotional, cultural, mentoring, friendship component. Helping with their English, exploring their neighborhood and the city, introducing them to American stores, products, the CTA, and so forth.
Let me tell you a little bit about the family:
Father and mother are in their 30s.
Father served as an interpreter to the US Military.
Four kids: three boys age 10, 8, and 3, and a daughter age 6. He speaks English—we hope some of that is passed to the children!
How can you help?
If every family in our Parish donates a minimum of $25, we will reach our $8,000 goal. Use the envelopes in the Bulletin or in the back of the Church. You can also donate online: www.icsjparish.org/refugee-effort
Thank you for your generosity!