A Special Celebration

A Special Celebration This Year

There were twenty of us aged 5 to 91 years, Muslim, Buddhist and Christian gathered for the first time after COVID to celebrate being with one another again or meeting each other for the first time.  These were refugees associated with the Sisters of St Joseph Refugee Committee in Hamilton as well as members of the Committee.

We went around the circle and asked what each was looking forward to over the holiday time.  One woman said, ‘being with friends like you’ before tears began rolling down her cheeks.  Another woman and her son were relieved after becoming permanent residents seven years after arriving in Canada.  At this time last year, they had their plane tickets as they were being deported back to their home country even though they feared for their safety should that have happened. We are so thankful that those circumstances changed and we were able to celebrate together this year!

Everyone brought some food, and the variety was amazing.  Games were played with the biggest hit being the old-fashioned game of Musical Chairs.  Much laughter ensued.

I have the privilege of being included in many celebrations with family and other friends but this particular celebration will hold a very special place in my heart.

Image: Unsplash/Kolby Milton

May we all find and spread joy with being with others, whoever those ‘others’ may be.  This is truly the joy and hope that God promises.

-Sister Nancy Sullivan, CSJ

CANADA DAY - ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE

July 1, Canada Day: From Another Perspective

Our hard-working Refugee Committee has had the privilege of welcoming and accompanying several individuals and families settle in Canada over the past 7 years. I invited 3 individuals to share the significance of becoming a Canadian Citizen.  Their names are withheld for privacy reasons, but their stories are uplifting and instructive.

One woman from Eritrea came to Canada through Cairo, a second woman fled Ethiopia to Cairo and then on to Canada, the third a young man who immigrated from Thailand. We feel blessed to have been a part of their journey, and share their feelings this Canada Day.

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj

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Image: Unsplash/Hermes Rivera

1.       I have voted for the first time!  Canada is very important to me because I believe it is the most peaceful country in the world.  It is my country that gave me the freedom to speak and learn.  Above all, I have received equality, honor, and respect from this blessed country.  When I am in Canada, I feel much safer than in any other country. 

I want to say a lot, but I do not know enough words to describe my country, Canada, and the people in Canada.  God chose me to be a Canadian - who I could be.  I love Canada and everything about Canada and Canadians!

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Image: Unsplash/Lewis Parsons

2.       Being a Canadian citizen to me is critical. Being a Canadian citizen means, being a person who has the freedom to travel in and outside the country with respect and safety, and always knowing that you would come back home at any time. As well as having access to more opportunities in the communities. For example, having the right to vote, and working in the parliament. In addition, speaking up for your rights against the government.

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Image of Thailand: Unsplash/Panuson Norkaew

3.       This is what I have been feeling about citizenship. There is a tiny hole in my chest whenever people ask me "Where are you from?", I always answered, "I am from Thailand."  I also wanted to tell them that I'm not Thai but I am Burmese from Thailand. If I say it, it usually causes confusion, and I must explain to them why and how. So, I don't usually say it. Also, I am not really proud of myself for saying I am from Thailand because I am not a Thai citizen. I cannot really say I am Burma/Myanmar citizen either. 

I was born in Thailand and raised in a refugee camp. My parents are from Burma/Myanmar, which makes us a Burmese family. As a Burmese child who did not legally become a Thai citizen according to Thai law even though, I was born in Thailand. Also, I did not have Burma/Myanmar citizenship because I was not born in Burma/Myanmar. Legally speaking, I do not have a country until this. Now, I can say I am a Burmese Canadian proudly. Becoming a Canadian citizen will fill the tiny hole in my chest next time I get asked. I think this is why it is important to me to be a Canadian Citizen.

Sharing in the Beginnings of a New Life in Canada

November 1st will be a day of remembrance for both Sister Kitty and I.

Like elders in families, it was important to accompany our guests to the driveway of our home, as they went on their way this morning to begin their new life in Canada.  It was amazing to see that there was still some stuff that needed to fit into the car along with the parents and 2 young boys full of energy at what was awaiting them a few short blocks away. 

IMAGE: Hermes Rivera @hermez777

Their journey to Canada began back in mid-August when they got word that they could leave Afghanistan as soon as there was room on an outgoing plane.  With some delays, they were finally inside the gates of the airport and felt safe as they waited 4 more days to be called forward to board the plane with over 1,000 people all sitting on the floor in silence, praying and hoping that the flight would soon begin.  Silence overshadowed any expression of excitement as they all were fearing for their lives and the waiting seem to take forever. On August 27th after 4 days in Kuwait, the family boarded a commercial plane with a flight path to Toronto Pearson.  After landing safely, the family was asked to quarantine for another 2 weeks with only 10 minutes allowed outdoors once a day during this time.

The New Canadian Centre in Peterborough, a settlement agency that works with the Canadian Government to assist Government sponsored refugees is responsible for this family.  Temporary housing was offered in one of the hotels so that the family could get vaccinated and begin looking for permanent housing etc. as well as beginning the journey of learning about Canada and what would be required of them. 

Sister Kitty and I received a phone call in mid-October asking if we could assist with a 4 day stay for the family because the hotel rooms in the city were all pre-booked due to a weekend hockey tournament.  When the 4 days ended, New Canadian Centre asked about them staying with us until the 1st of November when they would be moving into their own apartment.  Offering short term hospitality to refugees was “why we moved back to Ontario in August 2020” – so we were delighted to assist with this request!

As the days went by, the family became more comfortable with us, and it was nice to hear giggles and laughter coming from the two little boys in the basement apartment.  Mom wanted to learn some English while she was with us – and came up to the dining room to learn the days of the week; the denominations of money; the alphabet; the months of the year.  It was evident that she is eager to learn English and is anxious to begin her classes sometime in November.  The children were busy and went to the park nearby often to play soccer and play on the swings.  Dad can speak English and hopes to get registered in the Community College and learn a trade so that he can support his family.

One of the things we learned is that – leaving family members and all of the life they knew was a huge sacrifice yet as the days unfolded here in Canada there seemed to be nothing that could change their hope of providing a safe life for their children and no obstacle was going to stop them going forward.

                   May those who live with us uprooted from their homeland,

                   find a new home in our country where their history is respected,

                   their gifts and graces celebrated, and their fear lessened.

                   May we be their home and the ones who open our hearts in welcome.

-Sister Ann MacDonald, csj

WORLD REFUGEE DAY - June 20th

WORLD REFUGEE DAY - June 20, 2021

“For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the stranger, providing them food and clothing.  You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”  Dt. 10:17-19.

World Refugee Day, what does that title bring to your mind?  The many Syrian refugees who made it to Canada in the last 7 years or so, or the endless stream of Rohingiya that fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh? Do you know that there are more than 79.5 million refugees and displaced people worldwide?

The UNHCR – the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – established by the General Assembly of the UN in 1951 and ratified by 145 states, works in 135 states trying to help stateless people and refugees displaced by violence, conflict, and persecution. Climate change also brings about more and more refugees but no legal path for their safety has yet been established.

The latest wave of refugees has come from the city of Goma, Province of North Kivu, and its surrounding area, in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, an area already plagued by many problems.  There, on June 1st the Nyiragongo volcano erupted, causing some 450,000 people to flee.  The UNHCR is preparing places for some of these refugees in neighbouring Rwanda at the Busamana Congolese refugee site. 

Let us also not forget the over 72,000 Palestinians from the Gaza strip displaced by the Israeli-Palestinian hostility last month. That probably brings the total number of displaced persons and refugees to 80 million.

Half of the world’s refugees are children. In 2019, more than two-thirds of all refugees came from just five countries: Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South Sudan and Myanmar.  Currently, Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees, 3.6 million and Colombia is hosting 1.8 million Venezuelans. In 2019 only half a per cent of the world’s refugees were resettled and last year, because of Covid-19, the number was most likely much less. Over the past decade, just over one million refugees were resettled, compared to 3.9 million refugees who returned to their countries. As always 85% of refugees are being hosted in developing countries. What does that picture tell us?

“Wealthier countries aren’t doing nearly enough to share the cost of protecting people who have left everything behind. Appeals for humanitarian assistance for refugees are consistently – and often severely – underfunded.” (A.I.) “Many wealthier states continue to prioritize policies that will deter people from seeking asylum and finding ways to stop people coming altogether”. (A.I.) This, in turn, leads to desperate refugees having to take greater risks, such as handing themselves over to traffickers, getting into unseaworthy vessels, etc.

Manyovu Transit Camp

Canadians have tried to do their best, especially through sponsoring many Syrian refugees.  That is to be applauded but it is only a drop in the bucket!   For example, 2 years ago, a Karen sponsored refugee family, that had been living in refugee camps for 20 years, – all their children were born in refugee camps – came to St. Michael’s R.C. Parish.  What an endless time of languishing and hoping, hoping and hoping…Thankfully, they are settling in more and more!

Have you ever noticed how some of the Psalms speak of what refugees go through every day?  Pray these Psalms for them to keep up their courage.

How does the lack of money given to UNHCR show in the everyday life of refugees? From personal sponsoring experience with four young adult refugees, regarded as a family, I can tell you how small and extremely simple their food ration is: for one month they receive: 40 kg of cornflower, 12 kg of beans, 1 litre of vegetable oil and 0.4 gr. of salt. That is it for food for one month for a 4-member adult family!  They also receive 1 small piece of soap each for 2 months!  No feminine hygiene products are provided. 

We all know that the UN can only do what its member states agree to.  It seems even worse with UNHCR: UNHCR depends on the goodwill of the country in which it is operating. For example, to get refugee identity papers corrected can take forever if the country you landed in, is not favourably disposed to refugees or to a certain nationality, and who can blame them if they are carrying a much heavier weight than countries that have greater means to support refugees?

We are getting to the root of the problem.  As A.I. puts it: “In short, the world urgently needs a new, global plan based on genuine international cooperation and a meaningful sharing of responsibilities.” Doesn’t that echo Pope Francis’ encyclicals of Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti?

We need to use our power as citizens in lobbying for worthwhile humanitarian causes and bring them to the fore in election periods. We need to be aware of what our federal budget is used for and what Canadian foreign policies can help stem the flow of refugees. And next, are regulations set in place to prevent human rights and environmental abuses, for example in Canadian mining companies operating globally - being observed, controlled, and enforced if not?

We need to support refugee agencies financially, if able.  The Covid-19 recession is expected to push 115 million people into extreme poverty.   During this month of June there is a chance for UNHCR and/or Development and Peace and probably A.I. as well, to win $ 20,000.00 if you donate to one of these organizations on the Canada Helps platform.  Or again, try to be ready to help with government or privately sponsored refugees, as this last part of 2021 could well overwhelm supportive agencies if, to make up for the sponsorships postponed or delayed because of Covid-19, too many refugees arrive all at once. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by your newfound friends!

And in the spirit of anti-racism, if you can, give a refugee a job, no matter from what country they come! Their hard work will please you and will quickly make up for any early language barriers you may have to struggle with.

Through your companionship with refugees or your work for refugees on whatever level, may you experience Christ’s promise:

“Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing….

Lord, and when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?

And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.”  Mt. 25: 34-35; 38, 40.

-Sister Maria van Leeuwen, C.S.J.

 [Basic statistics and information based on UNHCR-Canada, Amnesty International, Development and Peace, plus personal experience.] 

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June 20 is World Refugee Day. See how you can get involved in refugee support with this toolkit from the UN Refugee Agency. #WorldRefugeeDay

https://www.unhcr.org/609553414/world-refugee-day-2021-toolkit-pdf

A Labour of Love

Amina and her 3 boys

Amina and her three boys, Abdulahi, 13, Abdihakin, 12, and Abdihamid, 8, arrived in Canada, October 20, 2017.  For the first couple of days they lived with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamilton before moving into a 2 bedroom apartment. In a Zoom interview with the family I learned a little about their adjustments to Canada.

Q. Where did you live before coming to Canada?

We lived in Camp Kakuma, in Kenya with thousands of other refugees in tents and we went to school in the Camp. (Camp Kakuma is considered one of the largest refugee camps in the world according to statistics published in 2019)

Q. What do you miss most about Kakuma?

All three boys said emphatically, we miss our friends!  We used to play a lot of tag, hide and seek, and soccer.  After we finish our education we will go back to Kenya for a visit to reconnect with our friends.

Q. What do you like about your home in Canada?

All agreed it is so comfortable here. In Kakuma we didn’t have so much stuff.  We had to walk to get water.

Q. Have you played hockey yet?

I love hockey but I find it hard to control the stick, said Abdulahi.  Basketball was the most popular sport with all three boys’ because we can play it at the park with our friends. Abdihakin spoke most enthusiastically about sports. He is involved with track and field and a Checkers Club.  He has travelled on tournaments. Snow is especially fun for Abdihamid as he likes to go sledding.  All three liked snow ball fights. We have many friends who live in this neighbourhood. Drawing is a passion for Abdulahi. 

Authentic Canadian Poutine

Q. What is your favorite Canadian food? Poutine was the loud answer. Abdihamid immediately added pancakes with syrup, and burgers.  “It is all nice food.”

Q. Are you looking forward to Christmas and the holidays? The family is Muslim and celebrates Eid, so Christmas is not too familiar to them. However, Amina said that the boys are open to presents just the same.

I asked Amina, What do you find most difficult living in Canada? To which she warmly replied, “I don’t find anything difficult because of you people.  All you people on the Refugee Committee are so wonderful.  You reached out in help each time I or the children needed help. You are our friends in this new country.”

Amina is referring to the Sisters of St. Joseph Refugee Committee that has been supporting refugees seeking asylum in Canada for many years.

Assisting refugees is a labour of love and demanding, but the joy and determination that each of our families has shown makes the work so fulfilling. It also makes us very aware of how fortunate we are to live in Canada – COVID or not.

-Sister Ann Marshall, csj