Holy Spirit Parish in New Farm has achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first in the Archdiocese of Brisbane to successfully fundraise for and welcome a refugee family. This pioneering effort was carried out through the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot, with New Farm being the first parish to officially support the Refugee Sponsorship Initiative program.

Parish priest Scalabrinian Father Luis Antonio Diaz Lamus credited the achievement to the parishioners who supported the decision to use previously raised funds to help a Catholic family from Latin America. Fr Lamus, whose Scalabrinian Missionaries order is dedicated specifically to migrants and refugees, noted that the initiative aligns perfectly with their charism.

The parish committed to providing robust support, funding the family’s rent, ongoing expenses, and a weekly allowance until they move onto government benefits. Fr Lamus emphasized the deep bond being formed, stating, “The idea is that for a year at least we are the family for them,” with hopes of continuing the friendship for a long time.

A ‘Christmas Miracle’ in New Farm

The family, who has been settling in for a few months, shared their immense gratitude. One of the children, Diana (whose name was changed to protect her identity), described their resettlement as a “Christmas miracle of their own”. She recalled the difficulty of life in their previous home, explaining, “The salary in the country that we used to be in before was really low, so we were not able to buy a Christmas tree”. Now, the family is eagerly looking forward to buying and decorating one this Christmas.

Diana noted that their journey to Australia had taken two years, and it was their faith that sustained them. “God will never let you be in the rain forever. We knew (there) was going to be a rainbow soon,” she said.

Diana is already integrating into the community, learning to navigate public transport, attending English lessons at TAFE, and completing a degree online. She previously participated in charity drives back home and hopes to become more involved with the Church in Brisbane. She added that the family now has “a home that we can call a home”.

Goodwill Extends Beyond the Parish

The effort benefited from significant community generosity. Fr Lamus oversaw the finding of the family’s first rental, aided by connections within both the Latin American and parish communities. All necessary household items were donated.

Evelyn Chapman, one of the five members on the resettlement committee, witnessed this immense goodwill firsthand. She recounted that when she went to buy new beds and mattresses, the shopkeeper gave them to her for free after learning they were for a refugee family. Similarly, when she went to pick up two used bikes, a neighbour learned of the cause and donated a table and a TV, all at no cost. There has simply “just been goodwill,” Mrs Chapman said.

Steph Jorna, Inclusion project officer, celebrated the parish’s success, highlighting the power of generosity to build relationships and transform communities. She hoped that other parishes and communities would be inspired by New Farm’s example to support refugee settlement in their areas. Fr Lamus shared this hope, urging other parishes to join the initiative.

This local achievement occurs as Australia prepares to welcome its one millionth refugee since the Second World War by the end of 2025. Church leaders have encouraged Australians to respond to the growing immigration debate with compassion and hope, reminding the public that social cohesion is central to making Australia “a good place”.

Source: catholicleader.com