St. Patrick - St. Anthony Church and the Franciscan Center for Urban Ministry
a Roman Catholic faith community in the Franciscan Tradition
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Welcome the Stranger: One Parish’s Refugee Ministry Story
June 15, 2023 @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
A surprise visit…it was just that.
According to the dictionary, the word surprise “can be an unexpected or astonishing event”. For the parishioners of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Edgartown, MA, as well as many of the inhabitants of Martha’s Vineyard, the arrival of 50 Venezuelan immigrants on September 14, 2022 was both “unexpected” as well as “astonishing”, ultimately. These Venezuelan immigrants had been promised that the plane ride they took from Florida would ultimately bring them to Boston where they would find people to help them and they would have jobs. So, these Venezuelan individuals and families were surprised to find themselves on Martha’s Vineyard, and it didn’t take long for them to comprehend that their arrival was unexpected. These individuals also came to quickly sense that they would be amazed by the outpouring of hospitality, support, and compassion they received from both this parish community as well as the residents of Martha’s Vineyard.
Come meet the people of faith who embodied a motto near and dear to us at SPSA, “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”! The pastor along with some parishioners of St. Andrew’s will join us virtually on Thursday, June 15 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. for a fascinating sharing of their story of radical hospitality and kindness. They will recount the challenges of language, available shelter, access to nutrition and legal assistance. The pastor shared that their intent was “to show the migrants what a community based on caring and love looks like.” And, what they ultimately provided them with was the greatest gift anyone could have given them, they “gave them hope.”
You don’t want to miss this opportunity! Register below to receive the Zoom meeting link and JOIN US!
Free Will Offering can be made payable to “St. Patrick-St. Anthony Church” and mailed to 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT 06103, Attn. Pat Curtis.
