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In the 1940s, with the world at war, Catholic relief agencies across the U.S. designed a refugee program to help Polish, East German, and Russian citizens come to America and start a new life. More recently in Albany, the diocesan Catholic Charities program helped settle people fleeing Eastern Europe in the late 1970s. 

Years passed as did the need. Then the climate changed after the terrorist attacks of 2001 led to precautionary restrictions on immigration. 

"After Sept. 11, refugees weren't coming because it was so difficult," said Sister Maureen Joyce, RSM, chief executive of the diocesan Catholic Charities office. Now that agency is working with other groups, including the Islamic Center of the Capital District, to bring 60 refugees from Iraq and Burma to the Albany area. 

Broad effort 
The initiative is national. "We are one of 100 dioceses across the country doing this," explained Sister Maureen.

Expected among the arrivals are a small family of four from Iraq, an Iraqi couple with a newborn baby, and three single Iraqi men, who are set to arrive on March 3. Others will be from the Karen people of Burma, an indigenous group who have suffered repression under that country's military regime.

Sister Marianne Comfort, CSJ, has been working with a number of other groups to make sure these refugees receive the help they deserve.

"This is different than immigration," she said when explaining the process. "These people have designated status" from the U.S. State Department as refugees.

Bringing the refugees to the United States is only the first part of the process. 

After that, a number of volunteers and groups will work to make them feel at home and get their lives on the right track.

"We want to make them feel like they're welcome," said Sister Marianne.

Sister Maureen added, "Anything the person needed we would try to help with."

Solution-seekers
By anything, Sister Maureen meant everything.

From buying groceries to finding a job to seeing that the children receive an education, Catholic Charities and its network of agencies, parishes and volunteers plan to provide help and direction. 

Deborah Damm O'Brien is the executive director of Catholic Charities' housing office. She is one of the many whose job it is to give the refugees a common lifestyle.

"Our mission," she explained, "is to work with people who are homeless, people with low income, and people with emergency assistance."

The refugees will come to America with these and other needs. That is where Mokaya Bosite, director of emergency services, comes in.

"Our role is to stabilize people who are in crisis," said Mr. Bosite.

To do so, Mr. Bosite and his crew will find housing, guest services, health care, and address other needs and skill sets of the refugees.

"These are individuals with individual needs," he explained. "They're very dedicated and enthusiastic about what they want to do with their life."

Another group helping out is the Islamic Center, located in Schenectady. Genghis Kahn, a member of the center, is one of those who will help move furniture, provide transportation, and other generic things for the refugees. 

Though a Muslim, Mr. Kahn said the effort had less to do with his faith than with the basic humanitarian impulse to re-solve conditions faced by the refugees. 

"Iraqis face basic economic problems," he said. "The fact that it's a spiritually oriented organization helping is just icing on the cake."

He pointed out the long, positive history that Muslims have had with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and Catholics in the Diocese.

"There's always been an open encouragement on the part of Catholic Charities [concerning religious sensitivities]," he said. "One of the things we've noticed is when you look at the resources available, an organization like Catholic Charities makes a lot of sense."

Still, Mr. Kahn pointed out that religion was secondary in importance to the cause.
"I think anything having to do with religious sensitivities will be less important than the basic things," he said.

Though the contract only runs for 90 days or, in some cases, 180 days, Catholic Charities intends to help long afterward.

"You want to develop a relationship," said Mrs. O'Brien. "You want them to be independent, buy you also want to continue a relationship with them."

With this process, the staff of Catholic Charities and everyone involved hope that it not only helps the refugees, but creates a strong bond among them.

Said Sister Marianne, "We see this as an interfaith effort and reaching out."[[In-content Ad]]

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