We have regularly scheduled Sunday activities that follow the 10:00 Mass. After Mass, program participants are offered a luncheon (served by members of various parish ministries, groups, or interested persons).
In addition to these regularly scheduled Sunday activities, the Program also offers other types of support and events:
- Distribution of donated food, clothing, school supplies, computers, etc.
- Opportunities for social events;
- Informational speakers on topics such as Money Management, community safety, etc.;
- St. Patrick Christmas Angel Tree provides presents each Christmas to all program families;
- College information and assistance with applications;
- African and Burmese Catholic Liturgy, every “5th Sunday” month.
Ways to Serve
Refugee Outreach is run by volunteers, and without dedicated people who are willing to work on Sunday mornings, there would be no program. We are so grateful that you are interested in serving. Thank you.
The Refugee Outreach program meets 25 times during the school year on Sunday mornings, from September through April. Volunteers arrive in the St. Patrick School Cafeteria around 11:00 am and stay until 1:00 pm when the program ends. Volunteers who are signed up to serve the lunch meal should arrive in the kitchen at 10:00 am and report to the kitchen manager.
Here are some of the areas in the Refugee Outreach program that need volunteers:
- Babysitting: Generally, 7th and 8th grade teens are assigned to help in the Pod with child care. Babysitters assist with caring for children up to 3 years of age. Two to four adults are needed to supervise this area each Sunday.
- PreK-Kindergarten: Adults teach and teens assist in activities for this group.
- Faith Formation: Elementary Grades Adults teach Sacrament preparation/Faith Formation and teens serve as classroom Aides.
- High School Youth Group: Adult volunteers work with refugee teens.
- ESL: Qualified adult volunteers conduct classes to teach refugee adults basic and practical English language skills.
- Computer Classes: Refugees who have a working knowledge of English and do not need ESL classes may work in the school Computer Lab, creating resumes, looking for jobs, using the internet to learn about what’s going on in their country, etc. Volunteers provide computer assistance, if needed.
- Sacramental Preparation: Outreach helps prepare refugee adults and children to receive necessary sacraments using material provided by Faith Formation. Adults and teen volunteers are needed to help with class instruction and supervision.
History
St. Patrick Refugee Outreach Program was started in 2001 to address a significant increase in the settlement of refugees from the Sudan into the Dallas area. Many of the “Lost Boys of the Sudan” and other Sudanese families were the program’s first participants. Since that time, the Program has served refugees and immigrants from many countries, such as Burundi, Congo, Burma, Rwanda, Eritrea, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Since its inception, over 1,000 refugees have participated. The program offers about 200-250 refugees an opportunity to gather each Sunday for fellowship. Whether it is through English language classes, citizenship classes, playing soccer with teens, or volunteering in the kitchen, the Refugee Outreach program seeks to build a sense of belonging and community to all its members!