By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

The diocesan coordinator of the Office of Migration, Dr. Jan Bigland-Pritchard, has been busy preparing “arrival packs,” and joining refugee sponsorship committee members from a number of parishes at the Saskatoon airport to welcome the arrival of newcomers – often in the wee small hours.

A spate of recent arrivals means a lot of coordination and sharing of information – and a lot of nurturing of the new arrivals who have spent many months and even years, waiting to arrive in Canada as privately-sponsored refugees through the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, a federally-approved Sponsorship Agreement Holder.

For instance, the “arrival packs” include important forms and documents that will help in the first days in a new country – including a link to download a “Welcome to Saskatchewan” app created by the International Women of Saskatoon. – LINK.

“The app has everything a newcomer to Saskatchewan needs,” says Bigland-Pritchard.

After a “drought” in arrivals, there have been several since September, she notes. “In the midst of all the difficult stuff it is just terrific to have these shafts of light.”

Refugee sponsorship teams in parishes have therefore also been busy, welcoming and walking with newcomers – part of a one-year commitment of support undertaken in private sponsorship.

There is also a need for new, younger committee members who will come forward and benefit from the skills and mentorship of long-time volunteers who may soon be stepping back, notes Bigland-Pritchard. “It can be tons of fun, but it is also hard work. Most important things are. You are changing someone’s life by helping.”

Parishes in the diocese of Saskatoon currently actively involved in refugee sponsorship include Holy Family, Holy Spirit, St. Philip Neri, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Mary, St. Augustine (Saskatoon), St. Paul, St. Francis Xavier, Saint Anne, and Sts-Martyrs-Canadiens. “We also have one sponsorship by special arrangement with St. Eugene’s parish Nipawin, along with two Orthodox churches, several Protestant churches and one community group.”

For more information about joining a refugee committee contact your local parish or email migration@rcdos.ca

Support the Office of Migration through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal – dscf.ca/baa  

What is the impact? – “My appreciation to you all”

[Editor’s Note: The following message was recently sent to the Office of Migration and refugee committee representatives at St. Mary and St. Philip Neri parishes from new arrival Yvonne Byendimbwa Simbo.]

Dear Representatives and Coordinator,

May I express my humble gratitude to you all for allowing me to take your time in an attempt to add a voice in the fight that you made against the bitter life that refugees are experiencing where ever they are in refugee camps. I might also, with your permission, use this opportunity to voice my deep-felt appreciation for the contribution which you all made for my family to be resettled in Canada and be settled peacefully here in Saskatoon. My family will always remember your efforts dearly; thank you, my representatives and coordinator, and through you, I thank the other members of your Special Committees, both present and absent.

Reading from the book of Matthew 25:35-36, it says: 35 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me….”

Nelson Mandela once said: “Wounds that cannot be seen are more painful than those that can be seen”. I left my home country The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) because of the insecurity that I carried with me all my life. My children were subjected to constant discrimination and did not live in peace since the day they were born and that has even affected my grandchildren. Even when we were in the refugee camp in Zambia, we faced several challenges such as intimidation and rejection by my country men and women, even filing and applying for immigration status as refugees was another nightmare, but God paved our way.

When you the representatives and coordinator came into our lives while in Zambia, for me and the children it was as if the sky opened for us. The tough life that we were living in Zambia was changed when you gave us food, you gave us some thing to drink, you clothed us, you looked after us when we were all sick. Even up to the point of seeking permanent residence for us here in Canada you were with us. Now the children and I are living a normal life, like anyone else in this country. As we became acquainted with different cultures and local languages, we rapidly got integrated in the social structures of Canada.

You took us to the hospital any time we needed a doctor, you have shown to us different places where we can go keep out the anger which holds us back, you bought us food, you paid our rental and helped to pay our flight bills, you even show us the church where we go to pray and praise our Almighty God together for all the wonders He has given us and other believers. May God richly bless you all who intervened to assist us in different ways all along the path from Africa to here in Canada.

In nutshell, my poor family does not have anything to reward you with but we will always kneel down in our daily prayers, praying for you all so that God may rewards you all in different ways in your lives for the good deeds that you are doing for those who are suffering, like me. For a full year you have assisted us with joy and much love. Sure, your love went beyond the borders.

I would like to conclude by a word of God from 1Corinthians 13:1-13 it says: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing…. Love never fails….”

You have healed my unseen wounds, what shall I say again? May God richly bless you all!!!

We thank you so much and through you, we thank the government of Canada for granting us permanent residence here where we have peace of mind and security.

Once more, together with my grandchildren we say thank you to you all.

Sincerely yours,
Yvonne Byendimbwa Simbo

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon – rcdos.ca.