By: Musleh Amjaad (AJ), Bethlehem University Student Intern
On June 21, 2014 Catholic Charities of Diocese of Camden celebrated its annual salute to the courage of refugees at the 4th Annual World Refugee Day Celebration.
World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations to honor the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and violence. Many refugees who live in the States come from different countries of the world. Some come from Pakistan, some from Iraq, some from Burma, some from China and some from Vietnam.
The celebration’s hosts were Ms. Kaitlyn Muller, Program Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, Refugee and Immigration Services and Francis A Pau, Bilingual Case Manager Aide. Ms. Muller and her fifteen employees celebrated this day with 150 members of the refugee community in South Jersey. The event was held in Stratford, NJ, with great thanks to Fr. Joseph Capella and Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish for their hospitality over the last four years of the event.
Highlights of the 2015 World Refugee Day Celebration include seeing every group’s traditional clothing and dances, as well as a potluck lunch of traditional food made by the refugee community. Additionally, Catholic Charities recognized children in the Refugee School Impact Program and participants of the Inaugural Refugee Community Gardens with gifts and certificates.
Mr. Kevin Hickey, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden, shared the message throughout the day that refugees are not numbers. They’re not even just refugees. They are mothers and daughters and fathers and sons – they are farmers, teachers, doctors, engineers, they are individuals. And most of all, they are survivors – each one with a remarkable story that tells of resilience in the face of great loss. They are the most impressive people and they are also some of the world’s most vulnerable. Stripped of home and country, refugees are buffeted from every ill wind that blows across this planet. Catholic Charities’ Annual World Refugee Day Celebration is a time to pause and celebrate the individuals, families and communities that endure refugee crises across the world.