From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Under U.S. law, a refugee is a person located outside of the United States who is forced to flee their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of being persecuted on account of their nationality, race, religion, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Refugees do not voluntarily choose to migrate but instead do so due to civil unrest or violence.
...by Shari Allwood
I’ve had the honor of being involved with Joseph House forwell over 20 years – frankly, closer to a quarter of a century.The vast majority of those years were served alongside Caryn Rickelman, who helped bring to life a home for refugees from the idea stage to a wonderful
...By Michelle O’Donnell
Over the past few months, most of us have learned more about refugees than we ever knew before. By definition, a refugee is an individual who has fled his or her country of origin and who meets the United Nations’ criteria of having a “well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.”
...By Sharon O’Flaherty
A study published a few years ago in the Journal of Happiness Studies (yes, there is such a thing!) examined data from 70,000 people over an 18 year period regarding volunteering habits, mental health, distress and functioning in every day life. The conclusion was that not only does volunteering make us happier- it can also improve our mental health over time.
...By Stane Kuhar
Janez would not live to see three months. He was born in a displaced camp in southern Austria, son of fleeing Slovenian immigrants from the ravages of a civil and world war that had been raging his home country for over five years. His problem? There was not enough of a “new medicine” that could save his life after he had been born in a small wooden building. The young doctor told the mother that the “new” medicine, penicillin, was not available to treat her new born child.
...By Sharon O’Flaherty
Joseph House is 7,519 miles from Kathmandu, Nepal. On a quiet summer morning, I and a few of my colleagues sort through and hang some of the newly donated clothes in our clothing bank. We catch up on family news and current events while anticipating the arrival of the refugees, who are coming to Joseph House for some basic needs- clothing and shoes.
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