Holy Spirit Parish in New Farm has become the first parish in the Brisbane Archdiocese to successfully fundraise for and welcome a refugee family. Source: The Catholic Leader.
Parish priest Scalabrinian Father Luis Antonio Diaz Lamus said credit went to the parishioners who supported the idea of using previously raised funds to help a Catholic family from Latin America.
The family has been here for a few months and is settling in.
In a Christmas miracle of their own, one of the children, Diana (name changed to protect identity), said: “The salary in the country that we used to be in before was really low, so we were not able to buy a Christmas tree. We’re looking forward to buying one and decorating the house this Christmas.”
Fr Lamus said all the necessities that a household needed were donated. He oversaw finding the family their first rental.
“We were blessed because of the connections with the Latin American community and the parish community,” he said.
One parishioner who went to buy new beds and mattresses got them for free after she told the shopkeeper it was for a refugee family.
Fr Lamus said the parish funded the rent, ongoing expenses and the family’s weekly allowance. They then move on to government benefits.
“The idea is that for a year at least we are the family for them. We hope to continue the friendship for a long time,” he said.
He was impressed by Diana’s eagerness to be part of the liturgy when he spotted her using a translator during Mass.
Diana said she was learning how to use public transport, is taking English lessons at TAFE and completing a degree online.
She used to be involved in charity drives back home and hopes to become more involved with the Church here.
“Now we have a home that we can call a home, and we know we’re not moving from this country – I hope not,” she said.
She said the parish committee helped make the family feel welcome.
The committee worked with the federal Government and Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia to deliver the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot.
The committee was supported by Brisbane’s Archdiocesan Ministries.
FULL SOTRY
How a Brisbane parish helped resettle a refugee family (By Kymberlee Gomes, The Catholic Leader)
