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(scroll down for Syrian Family information)
(scroll down for Syrian Family information)
CELEBRATING FATHER KEVIN
SAINT JOHN DIOCESE REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
This week we received a request from Leticia Adair, the coordinator for the Saint John Diocese Refugee Sponsorship Program. For the past few months, Leticia has been working with a group in Israel who are helping refugees from Eritrea (air-a-tree-a) – a country on the Horn of Africa - who are in danger of being deported under a new Israeli law. This group has raised enough funds to help Canadian sponsors bring some of these Eritreans to Canada.
Leticia is asking if the parishes of St. Alphonsus and St. Anthony’s would be interested in supporting a woman and her 10 year-old daughter. There will be no financial commitment required from us; we will collect furniture and household goods, clothing, etc., and Leticia is coordinating shared accommodations, with other women supported by other parishes.
If we choose to support this family, we will form a new committee, since several of our volunteers are still committed to the Al Zohbis. As with all immigration applications, the process could take as long as 18 months, but a decision needs to be made immediately because the Israeli deportations begin on April 1st.
Information from Sunday, March 18th meeting.
Last Sunday, at a parish meeting with Leticia Adair from the Diocese, it was agreed that St. Alphonsus and St. Anthony’s will sponsor four refugees who are at risk of being deported to Rwanda from Israel. There will be no financial requirement from us; we will support them with household goods and clothing, and help them integrate with our community and culture. A committee at the Diocese office will handle all the paperwork, and the money will be forwarded to the parish’s account before the applications are sent to Immigration.
Leticia brought us an urgent case: two gentlemen – 38 year-old Amnuael, an auto mechanic, and 33 year-old Mikele, a pastry shop worker - received deportation notices last week when they went to renew their papers in Israel. The first deportations start on April 1st; and as you can well imagine, being sent to Rwanda is little more than a death sentence. While their applications were started in Israel some time ago, the immigration process typically takes 18 months, so we might not be greeting Amnuael and Mikele until the fall of 2019. Although she down-played it during the meeting, Leticia thanked us as she left, and said “You have just saved those two men’s lives.”
The family Leticia originally asked us to help – the young woman and her daughter – will follow some time later. We were delighted to hear that a Hampton resident has opened her home to them!
All 3 adults speak some basic English, which will certainly help with their settlement. Leticia suggested that we connect with them via email or “What’s App”, so that even if they are detained in prison until they can leave for Canada, they will know that someone is looking out for them and waiting to welcome them. Just to give them a bit of hope.
Once we have word that their security and medical clearances are complete and know they will be arriving within a few weeks, we will form new teams to support the Newcomers. Karen Bethune has offered to coordinate the committee, and will keep us posted as we get news from Leticia.
Thank-you for once again opening your hearts to strangers in need. Please keep these applicants and their countrymen in your prayers during the months ahead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This week we received a request from Leticia Adair, the coordinator for the Saint John Diocese Refugee Sponsorship Program. For the past few months, Leticia has been working with a group in Israel who are helping refugees from Eritrea (air-a-tree-a) – a country on the Horn of Africa - who are in danger of being deported under a new Israeli law. This group has raised enough funds to help Canadian sponsors bring some of these Eritreans to Canada.
Leticia is asking if the parishes of St. Alphonsus and St. Anthony’s would be interested in supporting a woman and her 10 year-old daughter. There will be no financial commitment required from us; we will collect furniture and household goods, clothing, etc., and Leticia is coordinating shared accommodations, with other women supported by other parishes.
If we choose to support this family, we will form a new committee, since several of our volunteers are still committed to the Al Zohbis. As with all immigration applications, the process could take as long as 18 months, but a decision needs to be made immediately because the Israeli deportations begin on April 1st.
Information from Sunday, March 18th meeting.
Last Sunday, at a parish meeting with Leticia Adair from the Diocese, it was agreed that St. Alphonsus and St. Anthony’s will sponsor four refugees who are at risk of being deported to Rwanda from Israel. There will be no financial requirement from us; we will support them with household goods and clothing, and help them integrate with our community and culture. A committee at the Diocese office will handle all the paperwork, and the money will be forwarded to the parish’s account before the applications are sent to Immigration.
Leticia brought us an urgent case: two gentlemen – 38 year-old Amnuael, an auto mechanic, and 33 year-old Mikele, a pastry shop worker - received deportation notices last week when they went to renew their papers in Israel. The first deportations start on April 1st; and as you can well imagine, being sent to Rwanda is little more than a death sentence. While their applications were started in Israel some time ago, the immigration process typically takes 18 months, so we might not be greeting Amnuael and Mikele until the fall of 2019. Although she down-played it during the meeting, Leticia thanked us as she left, and said “You have just saved those two men’s lives.”
The family Leticia originally asked us to help – the young woman and her daughter – will follow some time later. We were delighted to hear that a Hampton resident has opened her home to them!
All 3 adults speak some basic English, which will certainly help with their settlement. Leticia suggested that we connect with them via email or “What’s App”, so that even if they are detained in prison until they can leave for Canada, they will know that someone is looking out for them and waiting to welcome them. Just to give them a bit of hope.
Once we have word that their security and medical clearances are complete and know they will be arriving within a few weeks, we will form new teams to support the Newcomers. Karen Bethune has offered to coordinate the committee, and will keep us posted as we get news from Leticia.
Thank-you for once again opening your hearts to strangers in need. Please keep these applicants and their countrymen in your prayers during the months ahead.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SYRIAN FAMILY INFORMATION
For more information, call Paulette Haines at 943-0123 or pmhaines11@gmail.com.
NEXT ST. ALPHONSUS MEETING: TBD.
The Al Zohbi's have arrived safe and sound! Thank-you to everyone for all your prayers and help. If you'd like to help in any way: transportation, language training, etc., please contact Paulette Haines or Karen Bethune.
TEAMS LIST: Updated list as of Dec 1, 2017: <Click Here>
FAMILY UPDATES/SCHEDULING LINK: <Click Here> Please note this is password protected. Contact Karen Bethune (in the Team's List) if you need access and don't have the password.
FAMILY UPDATE April 2018: <Click Here>
Video of the Al Zohbis helping with Habitat for Humanity.
WELCOME ACTION PLAN: <Click Here>
EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FORM <Click Here>
SPONSORSHIP FINANCIAL GUIDELINES: <Click Here>
Minutes from January 6/18 Meeting: <Click Here>
ST. ALPHONSUS SPONSORSHIP FORM: <Click Here> Forms should be printed and returned to the church.
CODE OF ETHICS: <Click Here>
CODE OF ETHICS SIGNATURE PAGE: <Click Here>
VOLUNTEERING & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HELPING REFUGEES:
YMCA NEWCOMER CONNECTIONS: is offering a number of sessions to help people learn more about helping newcomers. <Click Here> for more information.
SAINT JOHN MULTICULTURAL and NEWCOMERS RESOURCE CENTRE (SJMNRC) <Click Here>
SETTLEMENT PREPARATION - <Click Here>
NOTES ON SYRIAN CULTURE - <Click Here>
REFUGEE CONTACTS: <Click Here>
WEBINAR: Refugees and Trauma - Tips for Supporting (Crisis and Trauma Resources Institute Inc.) <Click Here>
POWERPOINT: Helping Refugees Settle <Click Here>
NOTES ON SYRIAN CULTURE: <Click Here>
CANADIAN REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM: <Click here> for the RSTP website. To read more about settlement preparation, <click here> to download the pdf version. The RSTP website has a wealth of information on refugee sponsorship and is available in both official languages.
NOTE TO ALL VOLUNTEERS: our Diocese protocol is that everyone volunteering in any capacity with the church must have a criminal records check completed in the past 5 years. If you do not have one, you need to take the "Background Check Letter" to the local RCMP detachment and have this check completed. The Hampton detachment is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 - 4:30. There is no charge to have this done and it only takes about 15 minutes. You will need two pieces of identification. The first is a driver's license or something from Service New Brunswick or Government of Canada showing your address. The second piece is another form of government issued ID such as a passport or medicare card. If you do not live in the Hampton area, you need to have the background check done by your local police detachment. Most will not charge if it's being done for a volunteer position. You must also print and complete the two "Volunteer Information Forms" and return them to Tammy Beyea at the church. *Please print all 3 of the documents below to have your background check completed.*
Background Check Letter
Volunteer Information Form
Volunteer Information Form - High Risk Positions
For more information, call Paulette Haines at 943-0123 or pmhaines11@gmail.com.
NEXT ST. ALPHONSUS MEETING: TBD.
The Al Zohbi's have arrived safe and sound! Thank-you to everyone for all your prayers and help. If you'd like to help in any way: transportation, language training, etc., please contact Paulette Haines or Karen Bethune.
TEAMS LIST: Updated list as of Dec 1, 2017: <Click Here>
FAMILY UPDATES/SCHEDULING LINK: <Click Here> Please note this is password protected. Contact Karen Bethune (in the Team's List) if you need access and don't have the password.
FAMILY UPDATE April 2018: <Click Here>
Video of the Al Zohbis helping with Habitat for Humanity.
WELCOME ACTION PLAN: <Click Here>
EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT FORM <Click Here>
SPONSORSHIP FINANCIAL GUIDELINES: <Click Here>
Minutes from January 6/18 Meeting: <Click Here>
ST. ALPHONSUS SPONSORSHIP FORM: <Click Here> Forms should be printed and returned to the church.
CODE OF ETHICS: <Click Here>
CODE OF ETHICS SIGNATURE PAGE: <Click Here>
VOLUNTEERING & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HELPING REFUGEES:
YMCA NEWCOMER CONNECTIONS: is offering a number of sessions to help people learn more about helping newcomers. <Click Here> for more information.
SAINT JOHN MULTICULTURAL and NEWCOMERS RESOURCE CENTRE (SJMNRC) <Click Here>
SETTLEMENT PREPARATION - <Click Here>
NOTES ON SYRIAN CULTURE - <Click Here>
REFUGEE CONTACTS: <Click Here>
WEBINAR: Refugees and Trauma - Tips for Supporting (Crisis and Trauma Resources Institute Inc.) <Click Here>
POWERPOINT: Helping Refugees Settle <Click Here>
NOTES ON SYRIAN CULTURE: <Click Here>
CANADIAN REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM: <Click here> for the RSTP website. To read more about settlement preparation, <click here> to download the pdf version. The RSTP website has a wealth of information on refugee sponsorship and is available in both official languages.
NOTE TO ALL VOLUNTEERS: our Diocese protocol is that everyone volunteering in any capacity with the church must have a criminal records check completed in the past 5 years. If you do not have one, you need to take the "Background Check Letter" to the local RCMP detachment and have this check completed. The Hampton detachment is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 - 4:30. There is no charge to have this done and it only takes about 15 minutes. You will need two pieces of identification. The first is a driver's license or something from Service New Brunswick or Government of Canada showing your address. The second piece is another form of government issued ID such as a passport or medicare card. If you do not live in the Hampton area, you need to have the background check done by your local police detachment. Most will not charge if it's being done for a volunteer position. You must also print and complete the two "Volunteer Information Forms" and return them to Tammy Beyea at the church. *Please print all 3 of the documents below to have your background check completed.*
Background Check Letter
Volunteer Information Form
Volunteer Information Form - High Risk Positions
