Finding faith in humanity

BY BILL DOYLE 

CFP CORRESPONDENT 

WORCESTER - This is a story about people of different faiths having faith in humanity. 

Catholics and Lutherans found a home in Worcester for a Muslim family of refugees from Afghanistan and are helping resettle them. 

Parishioners from Blessed Sacrament Parish are working with members of Trinity Lutheran Church and Concordia Lutheran Church to relocate an Afghan family of eight. 

“It says that we all care about human beings,” Blessed Sacrament parishioner Paula Bushey said. “We don’t care what their religion is or their nationality or anything else. People are people, they need help and it’s just important as humans to help whenever we can.” 

More than 40 people from the three parishes volunteered to help resettle the Afghan family.  

Since American forces left Afghanistan in August and the Taliban regained control of that country, the U.S. has evacuated more than 75,000 Afghans and more than 50,000 of them have been placed in communities. 

Social agencies Ascentria Care Alliance and WelcomeNST (Neighborhood Support Teams) worked with the parishes to resettle this Afghani family in Worcester. 

Seeking privacy, the family asked that their names not be used in this article. The parents and their six children arrived in Worcester on Jan. 12. They spent a week at the Residence Inn on Plantation Street before moving into a four-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood behind Chandler Elementary School. A retired Lutheran pastor who lives next door learned that the apartment had recently become vacant. The volunteers will pay the rent until the family can afford it. 

The family left Afghanistan with a few suitcases of clothing and nothing else. So volunteers furnished the apartment. Some items were donated and others, including mattresses, were purchased. The kitchen was stocked with food. 

In addition, a winter coat drive was held and volunteers took the family shopping for winter boots. They helped register the family for Social Security cards and health care, and enrolled three boys and three girls, who range in age from 7-18, in school. They’re also trying to find jobs for the father and the oldest son. 

“I can’t believe the generosity,” Ms. Bushey said. “It’s one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever had.” 

The volunteers have raised more than $40,000 to help the Afghan family. Blessed Sacrament held a second collection the week before Christmas and raised about $4,000. 

Ed and Bess Sproul of Spencer lead the volunteers. He’s a retired Lutheran pastor and they belong to Trinity Lutheran Church. Mr. Sproul said the goal is that within a year, the family will be speaking English passably, the father and oldest son will be working and the family will be able to support itself. 

The father of the family helped the Americans guard a prison in Afghanistan. 

“They helped us when we were there and now we can help them coming here,” Mr. Sproul said. 

Blessed Sacrament formed an English as Second Language class at the church for five Afghan families. Daycare is provided for the children while the parents take the class. 

Everything is new for the family. The first night they stayed at the hotel, Ms. Bushey spent 15 minutes teaching them how to insert the key card in the door. She was afraid they’d get locked out after she left and wouldn’t be able to communicate with anyone. The family speaks very little English. 

“I think they’re adjusting pretty well,” Ms. Bushey said. “Of course, it’s very overwhelming. The communication situation is difficult, but they’re very grateful for what is being done for them.” 

Many of the volunteers type questions for the family into an app on their phones that translates them into the Afghan language of Pashto. Unfortunately, only the oldest of the six children can read Pashto. The others hadn’t had any education. 

Ms. Bushey is compelled to help because she feels for the Afghans. She’s still haunted by the sight of desperate Afghans trying to climb onto a departing airplane and pleading not to be left behind. 

Each morning, she drives the middle four children to school at the Dr. James A. Caradonio New Citizens Center. None of them went to school in Afghanistan and they didn’t understand why they need to attend now. 

“That first week was difficult for them,” Ms. Bushey said. “We had to explain to them that it’s the law in this country for children to go to school.” 

The youngest sibling attends Chandler Elementary Community School and the oldest is enrolled at the Adult Learning Center. 

When Ms. Bushey deliver-ed groceries one day, the family insisted she stay to eat with them. 

“They do like you to join them,” she said. “They’re very hospitable people. It was fun.” 

Ms. Bushey teaches confirmation preparation at Blessed Sacrament and she expects her students to help out once they undergo background checks. 

Deacon Roy and Denise Briggs of Blessed Sacrament lead the medical team of volunteers. Deacon and Mrs. Briggs are both nurses. 

With the help of the refugee program at the Family Health Center, the Briggses registered the family for medical insurance with MassHealth. Mrs. Briggs also accompanied the mother to an X-ray appointment to address knee and back pain. 

“I see God’s presence working among all of us,” Mrs. Briggs said, “and that brings you joy and happiness.” 

Mrs. Briggs said two of the first words the family learned in English were “thank you.” When she ate with the family recently, they bowed and placed their hands on their hearts. 

“It’s been very exciting,” she said, “because you feel like you’re helping these people who have lost everything and now they’re in a strange place, but they seem to be trying very hard to adjust. They’ve been very pleasant to us.” 

Father Richard F. Trainor, Blessed Sacrament pastor; Rev. Nathan D. Pipho, Trinity Lutheran pastor; and Deacon Briggs led a recent prayer service at Blessed Sacrament for the family, and blessed the Sprouls, who represented the volunteers.  

It’s been a lot of work, but Mr. Sproul said some of the volunteers would consider helping another refugee family. No wonder Mr. Sproul said the word that best describes the volunteers is compassion. 

Donations can be sent to Blessed Sacrament, 551 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA, 01602; Trinity Lutheran, 73 Lancaster St., Worcester, MA, 01609; or Concordia Lutheran, 86 Murray Ave., Worcester, MA, 01610. Make checks payable to one of the three churches and include a notation that they are meant for the Afghan refugees.