At a special Refugee Week event hosted on 20 June 2025 by the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency (MECA) at Blacktown City Council’s Civic Centre, the story of one Syrian family stood out as a powerful reminder of what true welcome looks like.
After years of hardship fleeing conflict in Syria and enduring life in a refugee camp in Jordan, the Safour family arrived in Australia with no sponsors, no relatives, and no access to formal settlement services.
But thanks to Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains – the Diocese of Parramatta’s social welfare agency – and the compassion of local faith communities, they were not alone for long.
Rather than each parish working alone, parishioners from St Anthony of Padua, Toongabbie, and Our Lady of Lourdes, Seven Hills, teamed up—together with the Uniting Church in Blacktown—to form a new model of refugee sponsorship through Catholic Care’s Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) program.
“I had approached both parishes several times, but we couldn’t form a separate group in each,” said Rita Hakkoum, Catholic Care’s Community Outreach Worker for Migrants and Refugees.
“Then someone suggested, ‘Why not do it together?’ So, they did.”
What they created was something unique. The group opened the invitation to everyone—not just a core team. Parishioners, other church members and people in the wider community were welcomed into the effort, offering not just funds but hands-on help. They promoted the program during Mass, shared flyers, and gave everyone real responsibilities.
The Safour family (centre) with members of Catholic Care’s Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP) program. Image: Blacktown City Council/Supplied
“They did everything for the family,” Rita said.
“They were deeply committed—school enrolments, Centrelink, bank accounts, groceries, even the right Arabic coffee. They thought of everything.”
When the family arrived, they were greeted with balloons, toys for the children, and a warm, home-cooked dinner that blended Australian and Arabic dishes.
Before the Blacktown event, other refugee families were invited to tour the area by bus and connect. As the bus was leaving one group member couldn’t bear to leave.
“She looked at the family like she was leaving her own behind,” Rita recalled.
“She said, ‘It feels like I’m leaving a part of my heart.’”
That, said Rita, is the heart of the CRISP program.
“This isn’t just a project. These aren’t just refugees. They’re family.”
As for the Safour family – officially welcomed by Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting—they now have more than shelter. They have a community.
Refugee Week shines a light on these stories of hardship, hope, and the quiet work of parishioners and Catholic Care, building a more compassionate Australia one family at a time.
We thank Blacktown City Council for helping to share this story and acknowledge the faithful work of Catholic Care, as they continue to “go into the deep” (Luke 5:4) and offer care where it is needed most.
For more Refugee Week events, search ‘Refugee Week’ in Events.
To find out more about how the Diocese of Parramatta supports refugees and migrants, visit Support for Refugees and People Seeking Asylum. This call to missionary discipleship falls under the priorities of Mission and Community, which are embedded in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.
