CCOP is Co-Sponsoring a Refugee Family

​We hear news stories about the plight of refugees, but these reports fail to fully communicate the magnitude and severity of the crisis for the world’s ten million refugees.  Pope Francis has called on Catholics throughout the world to bring God’s mercy to refugees by alleviating their dire situation.
 
CCOP continues to co-sponsor a refugee family with Catholic Charities of the East Bay (CCEB).  Through a CCOP refugee sponsorship committee, we are assisting the family in many ways, including setting-up their apartment, stocking the pantry, orienting them to the area, etc. 
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Parish groups such as Knights of Columbus, Small Christian Communities, WINGS and others have taken on certain tasks, but all are welcomed to assist as well.  We invite you to join us in this effort to share God’s mercy with the strangers in our midst.  
UPDATE!
09/12/2016
 
An Update on Our Refugee Family
Thank you for your generosity and continued prayers for the refugee family that CCOP is cosponsoring.  They are most grateful to all who donated items or assisted in various ways to help them start a new life here.  They are well settled in a Dublin apartment.  Hamed is doing well at his job.  Benazir is attending ESL classes four morning per week while parishioners babysit for their seven-month old son, Haseb, who is doing very well. 
 
While most essential items have been donated, a small microwave is still needed.  As winter approaches, boys cold weather clothing in 9-12-month size and up will be needed for Haseb.  For more information, please see the Refugee Sponsorship Page.  If you have questions, please contact Dan Hughes at (925) 462-0481.
 
Thank you and God bless you!          
Deacon Joe Gourley
​Some Basic Facts About The Refugee Crisis
The United Nations defines a refugee as a person who flees their home country due to a "well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion."
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  • Millions of people become refugees each year.
  • They leave everything and everyone they know.
  • They travel long distances, going without.
  • ​They wait and wait.....
  • 17 years is the average time spent in a refugee camp. 
  • 11 to 12 million refugees wait in camps or temporary placement.  Approximately one half are children.
  • Less than 1% get a new start in a new country.
  • ​June 20th is World Refugee Day.
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View A Sponsorship Experience And See The Faces Of Refugees In These Videos
​An uplifting look at how one church helped a refugee family from Bhutan.
Inspirational stories from the US refugee community.
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We Are Called To Bring God’s Mercy To Refugees
Quotes from Church teachings on the rights of migrants and refugees
Scripture Quotes Related to Refugees​

Learn More About Refugee Resettlement And Co-Sponsorship

USRAP Refugee Priority Groups Flow Chart
This document summarizes the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services process for refugee referral, review and resettlement 

​Summary of Refugee Admissions as of December 31, 2015
This document summarizes the number of refugees historically resettled in the U.S. by year and by region of the world they originate from (based on nationality of the principal applicant).

Catholic Charities of the East Bay - People Organized to Welcome Refugees Guidebook
​This guide provides an overview of the process involved in cosponsoring a refugee family