Posted January 25, 2016 in the Catholic Register, Doreen Abi Raad reports that the newly appointed Syriac Catholic bishop for Canada will focus on refugees. Bishop Antoine Nassif was ordained Jan. 23 by Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan at Our Lady of Deliverance Cathedral in Beirut. He will lead the first apostolic exarchate for Syriac Catholics living in Canada, with the jurisdiction based in Montreal and Laval, Quebec. Bishop Nassif was born in Biakout, Lebanon.

The Bishop pledged, “With what is happening in our Middle East, and most importantly with the refugees — Syrian, Iraqi and others — I will put their suffering on the top of my priorities, especially their spiritual needs.” He plans to work closely with the Canadian government, particularly with Eva Nassif, a member of the Canadian Parliament, who is a native of Lebanon and a distant relative he has never met, to facilitate the settling of refugees.

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On the occasion of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sunday January 17, 2016, Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto celebrated Mass hosted by the Goan community at St. Joseph’s Church in Mississauga, Ontario. On January 22, the Catholic Register newspaper published an article by Michael Swan describing the event. The Cardinal reminded the people about the document from Pope Francis in which he announced the theme for this year as: “Migrants and Refugees Challenge us. The response of the Gospel of Mercy“. The Cardinal also spoke of the long history of the Toronto Archdiocese in welcoming migrants and refugees.

After the Mass, a reception was held in the parish hall. A number of dignitaries attended to enjoy some food, music and dancing. The Goan community presented a slide show of the beauty of their home country, the food, the beaches and the water.

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The Catholic Register, in their January 6, 2016 issue, published an article written by Michael Swan. He points out that Catholic settlement agencies will be asking the Government for more money to help settle newly arrived refugees. Catholic Cross-Cultural Services executive director Carolyn Davis says  that many people  are very interested in doing something to support the Syrian refugees. They may not have the time, energy or financial wherewithal to become a sponsor, but there may be other things that they could offer. She is referring to what was called the “Host Program” which had organized volunteers who would befriend new arrivals in Canada. The idea was that through these friendships the new arrivals would form social networks that could help them improve their English and lead them to jobs, business opportunities, educational opportunities and political and social engagement. However, it was cancelled in 2008. Host was replaced by programs titled “Community Connections.” These programs “help to lessen feelings of isolation and marginalization among newcomers,” said Citizenship and Immigration. The Government sponsored refugee settles more quickly. They have a built-in set of connections to potential jobs, to potential places to live — all those connections that help people settle.”

Carolyn Davis also indicated that Cross Cultural Services (CCCS) will also vie for a slice of $8.5 million Queen’s Park will distribute to settlement agencies in Ontario.

 

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