The Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada have been deeply involved in welcoming refugees/newcomers to our home from the beginning of our time in Hamilton even before Hamilton was a diocese.
This is a 21st Century story of a committee’s experience. In 2014 the Sisters in Hamilton registered with the United Nations Resettlement Program to welcome a refugee family.
Our first guest, a young woman from Eritrea, arrived 11 months ago after many lengthy twists and turns. Arafat travelled alone with no connection to Canada. I can’t imagine her anxiety during the time she adjusted to a totally strange culture: food, climate, living conditions, language, currency, transportation, clothing etc. Today she is a beautiful, confident woman speaking the language fairly well and preparing for her first job.
It wasn’t always that way. Arafat is Muslim, and initially was guarded with us, trying not to show how frightened she was. It first openly surfaced when she moved into an apartment on the 17th floor. The elevator ride was frightening because of who might be on the elevator with her. She had an extra lock put on her apartment door, and kept to herself even when other Muslim women tried to reach out to her. She only reveals her tortuous journey to Canada a little at a time.
Our committee was enthusiastic and willing, however, many were not comfortable because they couldn’t communicate with Arafat and shied away initially from one on one contact. Gradually there was a change when a retired teacher reached out to Arafat after ESL classes to tutor her, and a strong bond of friendship and trust developed.
We all learned from watching their mutual friendship grow.
Our second family arrived March 30. Mom was born in Myanmar – Burma - and the sons in Thailand. They are Buddhists. The family learned some English in the school camp so communication was much easier. Committee members were more self-confident. We divided the tasks according to interest and skills. Everyone assumed responsibility enthusiastically for a specific area: driving, health, education, banking and currency education, budgeting, clothing, furniture, public transportation, recreation. The gratitude of our families is both humbling, and heartwarming and cemented bonds of friendships for the future.
Lessons learned? Yes. Don’t assume the family will arrive on time, that plans will go smoothly, or that bed bugs will not be part of the arrival party. Just the same the second time round is less stressful more fun and gives us the incentive to go for a third family sometime in the future.
Ann Marshall CSJ