In the words of Pope Francis, let us focus “towards an ever wider ‘we’”. The St. Peter Refugee Mentoring team is working with Catholic Charities of the Charlotte Diocese to welcome and mentor seven refugee families. Martha Schmitt leads this team. Here are some items needed by refugees - if you are able to donate, please contact Catholic Charities directly. Contact the CCDOC volunteer coordinator

• New sheets, unopened (twin bed sheets are priority)
• Pillows
• Car seats
• Funding: CCDOC has a $56,000 hotel bill to pay.
• Gift cards for groceries at places like Food Lion or Walmart.

Refugee Resettlement: Catholic Charities Refugee services. Volunteer opportunities link>>

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS/USA)

This is who the Catholic Church is. This is what we as Catholics do. This is pro-family, pro-life.
Pope Francis invites us to be part of a culture of encounter as we welcome, protect, integrate, and promote immigrants and refugees in our midst.

• Immigration is about real people who are trying to find a better life and a new beginning. It’s about more than statistics, it’s about families. As Pope Francis stated, “Each migrant has a name, a face and a story.”
• Welcoming immigrants is part of Catholic Social Teaching and reflects the Biblical tradition to welcome the stranger.
• The Catholic Church has been welcoming immigrants and refugees to the United States since the nation’s founding and has been integral to helping them integrate into American culture.
• "Why It's Important to Advocate for Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees?" Click here for 3:40 Video