ASHEVILLE — Parishioners of St. Eugene Church are taking to heart Matthew 25:35: “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”
As an act of charity for the diocese’s 50th anniversary, the parish sponsored an event Sept. 24-25 to broaden awareness of the need to assist refugees in the Asheville community.
Monica Blankenship and several volunteers from the Loving Neighbors ministry greeted St. Eugene parishioners after all Masses on Sept. 24-25, distributing pamphlets about the refugee assistance efforts by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and nearby St. Mark Lutheran Church in the area.
Volunteers from both churches work together to form a “Circle of Welcome” around refugees resettled locally by the two charities to help them acclimate to life in the United States after arriving from places such as Afghanistan, the Republic of the Congo and Ukraine. St. Eugene parishioners donated $3,700 in cash and gift cards, which was split evenly between the charities.
Parishioners also made greeting cards welcoming refugees to the community. Father Pat Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Parish, says this was an effort everyone could get behind.
“The Christian calling is to serve however and whomever God puts in our path. What better way than to welcome someone to our community? The mountains here have a therapeutic history and a reputation to heal. We intend to keep celebrating that as part of our culture at St. Eugene Parish.”
— SueAnn Howell. Photos provided.