The following comes from a September 1 National Catholic Reporter article by Monica Clark:
Franciscan Br. Michael Minton had already been attending Friday prayers at a local mosque to further his understanding of Islam when he read an urgent appeal from Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay. They desperately needed temporary housing for single Muslim male refugees, whom the agency was charged with resettling. Immediately Minton, director of San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, knew this request was the answer to prayer.
Minton felt comfortable offering some rooms at the 80-bedroom retreat center, knowing that the gesture would help the young men adjust to life in the U.S. and would bridge some of the Christian-Muslim divide.
The first refugee arrived at the hilltop retreat last summer. He stayed for three weeks while his permanent placement was being readied. One day he was spotted on the center grounds with his laptop raised in the air. “I’m Skyping with my mom,” he told a staff member. “I want her to see how safe I am.”
The next two men stayed for seven months while they found jobs, learned English, and became self-sufficient. One of them asked Minton on the first day, “I really get to live here?”
“As long as they are working towards their goals and those goals are compatible with our values, they can stay here as long as needed,” said Minton, who joined the Franciscans nine years ago at the age of 44.
He asks each refugee living at San Damiano to pay $200 a month in rent once they are earning a paycheck — part of teaching the men how to budget and live within their means.
Minton said refugees who arrive without other family members need additional emotional support to achieve long-term stability. He’s noticed that once the adrenalin high of finally coming to a safe place and having a normal day-to-day routine begins to wane, some issues related to the trauma of violence and war begin to surface. He provides a listening ear and referral to more professional help when needed.
From the beginning, the interfaith community reached out to help. Mormons gave food, Muslims provided clothing, a Methodist church stepped up with funds, and members of an Episcopal congregation have offered rides.
Offering refuge “has given us the opportunity to be the best of humanity that God has created,” said Minton. “There is a rebirth and something new happening here,” he added, saying that his retreat center is becoming a “house for all people.”
Br. Dhimmi.
Br. Dhimmi is correct Hymie, it is how amazing how many dhimmis are out and still don’t understand they would be the first to be killed by the religion of peace. He should be converting them to the TRUE FAITH not going to the local mosque. Less than 1% of the Syrian refugees let into the U.S. are Christians, Obama had his plan to flood the U.S. with Muslims and he has completly succeced. For those out there who don’t know what a Dhimmi is please google it, you will see the word used often over at the great and brave Robert Spencers webiste JihadWatch.
what American woman will feel safe making a retreat there?
Interesting. ..the Muslims in the community can provide clothing but the Catholics, Jews and Christian denominations always provide the money, housing, food, education, employment, medical, to bring these majority Muslim young men ( of fighting age) “refugees ” to our country Where are the Imams and Muslim community “welcoming” and supporting their own? The “interfaith ” churches and clergy, laity are very naive and ignorant to what is truly happening. And shame on any Catholic, especially one who knows better such as brothers, monks, cletgy, etc for stepping foot in a mosque or any other non Catholic place of worship. Read your Catechism and Canon Law. But this has been the “new, revised, modernized” Catholicism of Vatican…
Close, but no cigar, Larry. ‘Though Orwell would appreciate your efforts.
Moslems see this as neither charity nor welfare, but as Jizya (protection money paid by non-Moslems to Moslems. To quote one imam: “The normal situation is to take money from the Kafir. You work, give us the money. Allahu Akhbar.”