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St. Agnes parishioners reach out to refugees

Ashleigh Kassock | Catholic Herald

Jean Shirhall, St. Agnes migrant and refugee outreach coordinator, speaks with a parishioner after Mass at St. Agnes Church in Arlington Oct. 1.

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St. Agnes Church in Arlington is taking Pope Francis’ call to
help refugees literally and has initiated a new program to connect parishioners
with the 250 refugee families that will start arriving in the area this
October.

 

Father Frederick H. Edlefsen, pastor of St. Agnes, was inspired
to start the program after Pope Francis’ example and after talking with several
immigrant families who attended parish events during the past year.

 

“They have suffered a lot and their stories are very interesting
and can give you quite a bit of empathy,” said Father Edlefsen. “We have to get
ourselves out of our own little world and imagine what it is like to lose
everything and not have a place to stay.”

 

St. Agnes unveiled the new program after all the Masses Sept. 30
and Oct. 1. Catholic charities workers Beth Fitzpatrick and Gregory McKinney
spoke during the Masses.

 

According to McKinney, Catholic Charities Migration and Refugees
Services office supervisor, the single biggest group that the Arlington MRS
helps is people from Afghanistan who served alongside the U.S. military.
“Financial support ends four months after arrival,” said McKinney. “Our ability
to extend support depends on parishes like St. Agnes.”

 

He encouraged parishioners to sign up for at least one of three
volunteer opportunities: donating household items; financial donations and gift
cards; or one-on-one opportunities to work directly with the refugees.

 

Some of the direct volunteering would involve transportation and
mentoring. Driving them to medical appointments and job interviews, tutoring or
helping them through legal matters.

 

“This is not a matter of asking for money,” said Father Edlefsen.
“This is a matter of asking people what they can do.”

 

Because of the sensitive nature of some of the work, all
volunteers who want to work directly with the refugees will need a background
check, and those working with children must go through Virtus training,
according to Jean Shirhall, migrant and refugee outreach coordinator for St.
Agnes. 

 

Shirhall has been a parishioner for 40 years and in that time she
has never seen this kind of outreach program. She is confident her fellow
parishioners will jump at the opportunity.

 

“They just overwhelm us with how responsive they are so we
anticipate that they will give,” she said.

 

Some 40 parishioners signed up to assist the incoming refugees,
and several made financial contributions, according to Amber Roseboom, director
of development, outreach and communications for St. Agnes.

 

“This is just the beginning, as we will continue to sign up
volunteers as we accept donations,” said Roseboom. “The effort is a key
priority for Father Edlefsen, looking to have a great impact locally by
welcoming the stranger.”

 

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