A new home in Lake Highlands
St. Patrick Catholic Church, with a congregation that makes its home at the busy corner of Walnut Hill and Ferndale, took some of Sudan’s Lost Boys under their wing.
The Lost Boys encompassed more than 20,000 young males who were displaced by the 22-year Second Sudanese Civil War, which didn’t end until 2005.
Of the estimated 20,000 boys, 3,800 resettled in the United States, and a few landed in Lake Highlands.
Ten years and over 600 refugees later, and now including those from Burundi, Burma, and other sub-Sahara African countries, the St. Patrick Refugee Outreach Program is fully fledged.
It serves folks weekly with a common thread: these refugees are fleeing their war torn homes on the other side of the world, looking for safe haven.
They continue to find it in Lake Highlands, at St. Pat's church (as many of the locals call it.)
How did this program come to be?
Parishioner Therese Sabine explains.
"When the Bishop asked if anyone would welcome some of the Lost Boys, I knew the St. Pat's community would."
"These families lived in the Lake Highlands area. After about six months, some of their benefits, like rent and medicine, were running out. What was to happen to them then? We became their safety net."
"This program is absolutely a give and take," she continues.
"The refugees we support add so much to our community. It’s not a one way thing. We are indeed blessed with this extended family. They've given as much to us as we’ve tried to give to them."
Sabine’s family analogy is on point.
At the April 10th weekly "after mass meal" in the school’s cafeteria, dozens of hugs and conversations were exchanged between her and just about every member of the program.
She personally knows these folks.
And thanks to a Girl Scout Gold Project courtesy of Catherine Buskmiller, upon entering the cafeteria all refugees and volunteers pick up laminated name tags, complete with photos, to further the process of everyone getting to knowing each other.
"Our refugees have lost their homeland and their families," says Sabine.
"They’ve also lost their identities. These folks were doctors and lawyers. They are educated."
"We know their stories, so we know specifically how to help them. Certainly job search assistance, ESL and computer classes are all important services. But getting to know these people as human beings is more important."
The Refugee Outreach Program is overseen by a 12 member board – all volunteer.
It's a vast group effort within the church and vigorously includes the community, as well.
Headed up by Maureen O’Brien, who has a bead on every aspect of the many coordinated efforts once refugees are directed to St. Patrick, usually by the Catholic Charities or the International Rescue Committee, O’Brien and the many volunteers take the ball and run with it.
"We are the welcoming arms of Christ for people who have been forced to leave their native home and suddenly come to a land so unfamiliar to them."
