St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

Sanctuary Refugee Sponsorship

Providing refugees the support they need to successfully integrate into Canadian life and establish a new home in a peaceful, caring community.

About Us

St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide refugees the support they need to successfully integrate into Canadian life and establish a new home in a peaceful, caring community. We believe everyone deserves to live in safety and dignity, and we are committed to making that a reality for our sponsored families.

Who We Are

Rooted in Jesus’ teachings, St. Paul the Apostle Parish, together with other local refugee sponsor groups in 2015, sponsored a family fleeing the horrors of Syria’s civil war. Our first application, under auspice of Anglican Diocese of Ontario Refugee Support (DOORS), was that September. Our first family, two parents and their four children arrived in December. In that first year of sponsorship, with a wonderfully dedicated and effective settlement team, we provided housing, food, clothing, medical and educational assistance as asked of sponsors by the government.

Since then, we’ve been approved for two more sponsorships. A third sponsorship was cancelled a few days prior to the family’s expected arrival under ambiguous circumstances. Our most recent sponsorship was approved November, 2019 but placed on hold with the pandemic. That family, which had lost everything of their home, suffered an extended refuge in Lebanon. During that time we were able to provide them with basic support. The process restarted in November 2021 and the parents and three children, then aged 15 to 21, arrived in Kingston in September 2022.

Currently, we have received allocation from DOORS to sponsor two more families (both, daughters and families of our recent sponsorship). While we await processing of their applications by the federal government, we are focused on raising the money that will be needed to support them for their first year.

Settling in a new country is an enormous challenge… new people, new culture, new language. We are only able to help these newcomers with the generous participation of our volunteers, the generosity of our donors and the help of community partners. We extend sincere appreciation to everyone who has, and continue, to make our work possible, in accordance with Jesus’s teaching.

Then the King will say to those on his right: “Come, you who are blessed by my father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. A stranger and you welcomed me. Naked and you clothed me. Ill and you cared for me. In prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him and say: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and we fed you or thirsty and gave you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothed you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visited you?” And the king will say to them in reply: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did to me.”

~ Matthew 25:34-40

Dedication

To Mary Campeau, an appreciation

Right from the beginning of Sanctuary Refugee Sponsorship at St. Paul the Apostle, Mary was fully engaged in the leadership, fundraising and our family settlement efforts of this ministry. But far more than ensuring all the necessary tasks were attended to, Mary became a dear friend to everyone involved during her seven years in sponsorship.

Whether with settlement teams, donors and supporters, or the families who started new lives in Canada through her work (to whom she became “Mama Mary”), we all were, and are, beneficiaries of her unfailing energy, kindness, generosity, and loving care. Sanctuary was but one of Mary’s endeavours. She was a successful business person, a well known philanthropist in her community, and an accomplished academic, earning a PhD from Queens in her spare time. For all her many contributions Mary was awarded

Our continuing work in refugee sponsorship is both an appreciation of Mary’s great
personal faith, and a testament to her love of neighbour.

Sponsorship

How We Help Sponsored Families

Since 2015, St. Paul the Apostle Parish has been engaged in refugee sponsorship, applying to bring refugee families to Kingston, and supporting them through their first year, and beyond, in our community. Our current sponsored family, the Mari’s (mother, father and their three children) arrived in September, 2022. Providing for their apartment rent, groceries, winter clothing and medical/dental, and other needs, our settlement team supports them as they work to learn English and adapt to living in a new country and a new culture.

Settlement Plans

We work closely with the family to create a personal settlement plan, including accommodation, food, clothing, financial assistance and regular visits to help them integrate into life in Kingston. In time, employment training and work placement are also arranged.

Education and Language

Our education volunteers work with schools and/or adult education to organize class coursework and English as a Second Language for each family member. For children, and adults, who have not been able to attend school for many years, this is a huge challenge, requiring constant and ongoing support. But our experience has been that these newcomers are anxious to learn and to do well in their new home.

Health Support

We work with the local medical community; doctors, dentists and pharmacists, and any other specialist the family may need, to address healthcare concerns often neglected during the many years they were in refuge. We are most appreciative of those healthcare providers who have stepped-up to assess and then attend to individual needs.

Family Stories

Appreciation

Are You Able to Help?

Interested in Volunteering?

We’re always grateful for people who want to make a difference. If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out the form below and let us know how you’d like to get involved. Whether you have time, skills, or a willingness to help where needed, your support truly matters.


    Other Ways to Help

    Like many families right now, we are facing significantly increased costs for all the support we provide. If you’re able to assist, we would be grateful for your donation, whether as a one-time gift or a monthly contribution. To support our parish’s refugee sponsorship efforts, click the button below to donate.

    As a registered charity, St. Paul’s will provide a tax receipt for your contribution.

    Donate with e-Transfer or Cheque Donate through Canada Helps

    But a Samaritan while traveling came near him and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper and said: “Take care of him and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” He said: “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him: “Go and do likewise.”

    ~ Luke 10: 33-37