Julian, FCJ Companion in Mission from Edmonton, describes a visit to the FCJ Refugee Centre in Toronto
While visiting family in Toronto last month, Maria and I had the pleasure of a royal tour of the FCJ Refugee Centre. We met Sr. Lois Anne fcJ and Loly Rico, the executive director of the centre [and also a Companion in Mission]. The offices are located in an old Toronto vintage house and upon entering, there is a buzz of activity with many people burrowed in nooks and crannies, tending phones, conducting interviews and serving refugees one to one. This complex, hospitable organization offers a wide range of service separate from bureaucratic agencies and all the services are free.
It was a good thing we had Lois Anne and Loly to guide us through this large house as it is subdivided to maximize every square inch in the service of taking care of those they serve. At every stage of our tour, despite the industrious buzz of the workers, each person paused to greet us with warm smiles and greetings of welcome. Loly explained there are over 40 paid employees and as many as 90 volunteers, a staggering operation to organize and at every step of the tour, one could see how joyfully and productively the work was being done.
To keep the worker bees sustained, a big pot of home-made soup and fresh bread was in abundance in the tiny kitchen. A rotating sign up sheet for food prep keeps the menu varied and the troops fed!
The centre offers a wide range of services and supports to ease the safe transition for new comers to our country. Such offerings as settlement and integration programs, youth and access to education programs, anti-human trafficking programs, assistance for shelter and food security. After touring the operation of this rambling, well utilized old house an image came to mind of a rabbit’s warren! Every nook and cranny was in use and it wasn’t uncommon to open a closet to discover a make shift office with someone hunkered over doing the good work! On the deck outside a crew of people were busy sorting bins of fresh vegetables and groceries, making up food hampers to support folks in need from the neighbourhood.
Our final stop of the tour was the “Francisco’s Dream Room”, a beautiful freshly renovated conference room that is used for youth programs, staff meetings and numerous other functions. Once a garage, this room has been transformed into a modern, functional space and is in honour of the beloved Co-Director of the FCJ Refugees Centre, Francisco Rico-Martinez, who passed from this world three years ago. His words that resonate throughout the Centre still bear witness today, “I am just a dreamer that, since the time of arrival, I keep looking for soulmates to make it possible.”
Well, Francisco, Maria and I can attest that we experienced an army of “soulmates” who have kept your dream alive!
