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BUFFALO, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2011 – The new Herkimer Street site of Catholic Charities of Buffalo Immigration and Refugee Assistance program welcomed a special visitor Sept. 19 when Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez, president of Caritas International, the global umbrella organization for Catholic Charities’ agencies, paid a visit to the recently renovated center, taking the opportunity to speak with students and staff.
The cardinal, who is Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, leads Caritas International, a confederation of 165 Catholic relief, development and social service organizations operating in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. He was in town to honor Holy Cross Parish in Buffalo for its 97th year and the Jubilee of Ordination of Monsignor David Gallivan, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Buffalo, and a member of Catholic Charities Board of Trustees, who was celebrating 45 years as a priest. Gallivan worked with Rodriguez when he represented the United States at the Bishops Conference in Latin America.
Cardinal Rodriguez asked the students enrolled in the advanced English as a Second Language class what they thought about living in Buffalo.
“Food,” said one native of Bhutan. “We have enough food to eat.”
“The housing we can afford and it is a real house, not a tent,” responded a woman who lived in a refugee camp for two years.
“School,” said another woman. “I have never been to school, yet here I learn to speak English. My children all go to school.”
Case managers at the center explained the resettlement process to the cardinal, also stating how long they had been living in the United States and how their families were adjusting.
“What a joy it is for me to see the end result of the refugee resettlement process,” said Rodriguez after learning the children of resettled refugees were now attending colleges and universities.
“I sit in international meetings to discuss how we can send resources to displaced persons around the globe,” said the Cardinal. “Rarely do I have the opportunity to see the end point of this work, the resettlement of refugees in a safe country and the movement of their children to become part of the fabric of life in that country.”
As he left, Rodriguez asked a blessing on those who work for Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Assistance Program works to serve thousands of displaced immigrants and refugees, providing them assistance with housing, food, clothing and employment. Since 1980, Catholic Charities has also provided English as Second Language training for all refugees in this area, regardless of the voluntary agency through which they arrive. Last year, Catholic Charities resettled approximately 570 individuals, giving them the opportunity to rebuild their lives shattered by war and hatred.
Catholic Charities is the most comprehensive human service agency serving all eight counties of Western New York, with 70 programs and 61 locations. Founded in 1923, Catholic Charities also provides, without regard to religious affiliation, comprehensive counseling services for children and families, anti-domestic violence programming and emergency services, among other social and mental health services.
Students who are part of Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Assistance program listen intently to Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez, president of Caritas International and archbishop of Tegucigalpa, left, who is joined by Monsignor David Gallivan, center and Sister Christina Pecoraro.
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