MEDIA ADVISORY
Attn: News/Assignment Editors

Archdiocese of Toronto Launches “Office for Refugees”

TORONTO (November 21, 2008) Responding to the increasing number of refugees looking to call Canada and, specifically, the Greater Toronto Area home, the Archdiocese of Toronto is pleased to announce the launch of a new pastoral ministry, the “Office for Refugees”, effective January 1, 2009.

This diocesan office will be located at Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS), a Catholic Charities agency with more than 50 years experience reaching out to immigrants and refugees, serving all those in need regardless of religious or political affiliation. The initiative will be led by Dr. Martin Mark, assisted by Yosief Araya and Nicole Desmarais, all of whom have worked extensively with CCS on issues related to uprooted people.

Archbishop Thomas Collins commented on the announcement of the new diocesan office:

“One of the greatest gifts of our Archdiocese is the unique blend of cultures and diversity of those who call our community home. We are called to extend the hand of friendship and care to those who need our assistance in their early days as our neighbours. This tangible sign of outreach will help our parish communities to mobilize and assist those who look to Canada for peace and prosperity.”

The “Office for Refugees” will allow the Catholic community to:

• Strengthen its ability to link more than 220 Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto with refugee sponsorship through the Canadian Private Sponsorship Program.

• Focus efforts to assist the displaced as well as network and advocate on global social justice issues both regionally and internationally.

• Allow for an increase in capacity and resources to be used to respond better to refugee crises such as the one now being faced by Iraqi Christians. The crisis in Iraq has forced millions from their homes, leaving many in the small community of Iraqi Christians persecuted and targeted on the basis of their faith.

Over the past year, the Archdiocesan Refugee Sponsorship Program has tripled the number of
sponsorships initiated by parishes and religious orders. Across the country, the Canadian Private
Sponsorship Program has given faith and ethnic communities the opportunity to assist some 200,000
uprooted people in need of safe haven.

In addition to providing spiritual services in more than 30 languages each week for 1.7 million Catholics, the Archdiocese supports initiatives which benefit and strengthen the whole community. Churches serve a geographic area that stretch from Toronto to Midland and Oshawa to Mississauga.

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Media Contact
Neil MacCarthy, Director, Public Relations & Communications –
Archdiocese of Toronto (416) 934-3400 x 552 (416) 879-2846 (cell)
neilm@archtoronto.org
www.archtoronto.org