They came into a place where they didn’t
speak the language. They hadn’t eaten the cuisine before and they didn’t know
the customs. But local Catholics still could enjoy a cup of tea and simple
conversation while delivering bags of food to the homes of recent immigrants.
“On June 20, we celebrate World Refugee
Day, welcoming and praying for all refugees, asylees, special immigrant visa
holders, and other secondary migrants who were forced to flee the violence or
destitution of their homelands,” said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge in a statement. “As we raise
awareness for newcomers who have recently arrived in our country and Diocese,
may we also stand with refugees and commemorate their courage, resilience and
perseverance. May we always remember to ‘treat the stranger who sojourns with
you as the native among you, and … love him as yourself, for (we) were
strangers in the land of Egypt’ (Lv.19:34).”

Bishop Burbidge and several other
volunteers from the diocese distributed culturally appropriate food to families
resettled by diocesan Catholic Charities, primarily people from Afghanistan who
previously worked for the U.S. government. Stepping into the shoes of the
newcomers, native Americans spent time learning about the Islamic holiday Eid
al-Fitr and nibbling on cookies and apricots.
One of the families lives in a two-bedroom
apartment in Alexandria. As the volunteers walked in, an Afghan music video was
on the television. The youngest of their nine children was playing with toy
trucks.

The father, Sayed Jan Aqa Paikar, said the
family lived in Philadelphia for four months but were unable to find permanent housing
until Catholic Charities here helped them. Using a wall rug that pictured Afghanistan,
he gave his visitors a quick tour of his homeland.
Bishop Burbidge, who
visited a family from El Salvador living in Manassas, invited all to pray for those
starting a new life in the U.S.
“Join us as we show solidarity with
refugees by remembering that they are here to flee from discrimination,
violence and destitution,” he said. “We can extend God’s love to these
individuals by supporting the work of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of
Arlington, whose Migration and Refugee Services office (CCDA MRS) has resettled
more than 29,000 refugees and helped them successfully find jobs and integrate
into our communities since 1975.”