WARWICK — Parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi Church showed the true spirit of Christmas when they welcomed two Nepalese refugee families—who have never experienced a New England winter—to a festive celebration of faith and family.
Council members and parishioners of the Hillsgrove church generously presented members of the Rai and Tamang families with warm hats, gloves and scarves, seasonally wrapped in bright holiday paper. Each family also received gift cards to local retailers and two snow shovels to help them prepare for winter.
Father John A. Kiley, pastor of St. Francis Church, was grateful for the enthusiastic support that his parishioners offered to the resettlement outreach project.
“The parishioners’ thoughtful and generous donation to St. Francis Church during the year greatly helped to put smiles on the faces of the Nepalese families our parish is assisting,” he said.
“It is so good for us as Catholics to welcome our new friends to Rhode Island as they celebrate their first Christmas in the United States,” said Stella Carrera, diocesan coordinator of Immigration and Refugee Services.
“I thank St. Francis Parish for their generosity and for welcoming these families to the community,” she continued.
According to Kathleen McKeon, program supervisor in the Office of Community Services and Catholic Charities and president of the St. Francis of Assisi parish council, the group helped to sponsor the refugee families when they arrived in the Ocean State last February by donating kitchen and housekeeping supplies and making a cash donation that was used to purchase necessary items as the grateful families got settled. The families were among thousands of individuals forced to live in camps because of religious differences.
“Because of our sponsorship, we decided to invite our families to our Christmas potluck celebration,” said McKeon. “I am very happy that they can share our hospitality in addition to the assistance that we have given them this year.”
Youkta Rai, age 6, said he liked Santa Claus. “His suit is red,” the little boy exclaimed.
Interpreter Bhim Tamang, age 20, said that the families were surprised to see so much snow when they arrived in the Ocean States last winter. He explained that the families lived in a camp located in a valley where there was little precipitation during the winter months and it snows only in the higher elevations.
“It is cold here,” he observed. “In my country, it isn’t cold like this.”
Tamang said that several Nepalese families who have been resettled in Rhode Island are adjusting well.
“It is good here,” he said. “The people are nice. I am learning to speak English.”
Mikael Gustafson, a member of the parish council, was happy that the families could share in the festivities.
“It’s nice to share the holiday and the gift of Christmas and it’s nice to share these gifts, especially with the children.”
