Holy Trinity Parish helps Afghan families

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press

Muslims fleeing Afghanistan found new homes in a local parish center, in private homes, and in parishioners’ hearts.
While awaiting a young Afghan couple expecting their first child, the social justice committee at Holy Trinity Parish in Harvard/Bolton was called on to assist two more families; one with eight children and one with seven.
When the large families came to live in temporary quarters in Harvard last December, “we managed a ‘non-Christmas’ party for a group of Muslims,” recalled Sharon Shepela, Holy Trinity’s social justice committee chairwoman. A Harvard resident knitted sweaters for the children, who also got toys and books.
Since spring, the parish has been housing the two families – 19 people – in its former St. Francis Xavier rectory.
“I’m very pleased and happy that the parish has welcomed them while they stay in the parish house,” said Father Terence T. Kilcoyne, the pastor.
Terry Symula, the social justice committee member leading this resettlement, said Father Kilcoyne got Bishop McManus’ permission for Holy Trinity to temporarily house them while they awaited housing in a town building. Use of that town building has been cleared and renovations are being done so the Afghans can move out of the parish house. That will allow Holy Trinity to return to using its parish center for religious education classes this fall.     
This past spring, the Muslim children wanted their teachers and friends to join them for Eid al-Fitr, the end of Muslims’ Ramadan fast, said Mrs. Symula. So, parishioners helped local Muslims and others organize that celebration.
“It’s been a joy for us … just to meet people you would never have come in contact with,” social justice committee member Jane Venditti said of the Afghans. “They’re very gracious and we have fun.” She said that at first “we had to just meet their needs; now we’re trying to teach them … finer details of how to navigate the world” here.
When there is a catastrophe, it is helpful to be able to do something, said Ms. Shepela, noting, “My religion calls us to help one another.”
These Afghans and others are here because some members of their families worked with the United States government in Afghanistan, explained Mrs. Symula. They were evacuated for their protection last year after President Joe Biden ordered the United States military to withdraw from Afghanistan after two decades. During the withdrawal the Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, took back the country. The refugees went to U.S. military bases overseas and in the United States, then places where volunteers resettled them. They can live in the U.S. temporarily.
“They would love to become citizens” of the United States, Mrs. Symula said, and she wants Americans to urge legislators to pass a law that enables them to do so.
Resettlement is not new to Holy Trinity.  In 2017, the social justice committee, concerned about refugees, talked with Father  Kilcoyne, then worked with Ascentria Care Alliance (formerly Lutheran Social Services) in Worcester. Ascentria has been doing resettlement and other social service work for decades, and has teams work directly with refugees, Mrs. Symula said. Back then the parish group connected with a family from Democratic Republic of the Congo, whom some members stay in touch with.
In the fall of 2021, Mrs. Symula said, she attended a fundraiser for Afghan resettlement. She recruited people to help and started raising money and seeking housing and formed a neighborhood support team.
Currently about 70 people, including about 20 actively involved parishioners, 20 interested parishioners, and others, including Protestants, Muslims, and Jews, are involved with the team.
The team signed up to resettle one Afghan family and was given a couple expecting a baby, she said. In January, Ismail and his wife, Nagina, came to live with a couple in Harvard, and now live in an in-law apartment attached to the home of a Muslim family in town. (Only first names of the Afghans were given to The Catholic Free Press, for their safety.)
Mary Skorczeski, a Holy Trinity social justice committee member and a retired nurse midwife, said Mrs. Symula asked her to help, since Nagina was pregnant. Mrs. Skorczeski gave her prenatal education, took her to doctors’ appointments, was with her when she gave birth. She provides parenting education, using simple words and gestures because of the parents’ limited English.
Despite having to escape Afghanistan and giving birth in a foreign country, they go with the flow, and are grateful, Mrs. Skorczeski marveled; “I’m still a welcome guest any time I come.” They say she is grandmother to their daughter, Khadija.
Mrs. Symula said Ismail introduced her to Zarif, another newly arrived Afghan man, who spoke English and agreed to translate for her team.
Team members found Zarif a job and Ms. Shepela lent him a car. He and his father live in a condominium donated by a team member in Harvard.
He has asked to go to church with Mrs. Symula.
“I liked that people were very friendly, the priest was very friendly,” Zarif said. “The source is just one. All of the people are searching for God.”
Mrs. Symula said the children at the parish center sometimes ask her to take them into St. Francis Xavier Church next door. There she tells them about the saints. They knew about Jesus and his mother, she said; one girl, seeing a Marian statue, said, “That’s my Mary.”
While The Catholic Free Press visited with the Afghan families living in the parish house, Zarif translated.
“We are very happy; we receive a lot of help,” said Nasim through the translator. His wife, Nafissa, said it is like a family, with people helping.
“Both of these women are phenomenal cooks,” Ms. Shepela said of the Afghan mothers. “It’s hard to come into the house without being offered a meal.”
Tahir said that any time the Afghans call for help, team members come. His wife, Eqlima, told of once living where tents each housed about 100 people.
Mrs. Symula is attached to the youth living in the parish center, who call her “grandmother.”
“Everyone is good,” one of her “granddaughters,” Behishta 17, said in English.
“I’m very happy,” said another, Shayesthe, 15. “United States is good,” with jobs, schooling and “lots of friends.”
A third, Hawa, 16, expressed gratitude for her teachers’ help.
Mrs. Symula said resettlement volunteers want to help the Afghans become independent and remain their friends.
She would encourage other parishes to help resettle people; “it brings the parish community closer together.”