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Saskatchewan anglican
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The newspaper of the Dioceses of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon and Qu’Appelle • A Section of the Anglican Journal • November 2022
Immanuel Gala and silent auction raise thousands for parish and refugees By Joanne Shurvin-Martin
Honouring Queen Elizabeth II Deacon Canon Michael Jackson, Bishop Helen Kennedy and Dean Mike Sinclair at the commendation that concluded the memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II at St. Paul's Cathedral. For the story, see page 9. For a story about memories of the Queen — who was a Second World War veteran — from Anglicans in Saskatchewan, see page 10. Photo courtesy Government of Saskatchewan
REGINA — After over two years of COVID-19 restrictions, more than 100 people were drawn to Immanuel Anglican Church, attracted by thoughts of a sit-down roast beef dinner catered by Charlotte’s, combined with a silent auction. Both the church hall and the auction areas were elegantly decorated, bringing a “wow factor” to the Gala held Sept. 17. With Michael Curley as master of ceremonies, people were entertained by the Mandemonium Ensemble and learned about the parish’s plans to bring a refugee family to the city. Simultaneously, the online silent auction raised $2,356 for the refugee ministry. The Gala dinner raised more than $1,400 for the parish, with 10 per cent dedicated toward outreach. For the past year, the Immanuel Refugee Sponsorship Committee has been raising funds to bring Muhammad AlKhatib, his wife, Haneen, and their three-year-old daughter, Celine, to Canada. Muhammad was born in Syria, and left the country during the war. In Lebanon, he worked hard and had a good job as an accountant. He met Haneen, and converted to her faith of Christianity. Their life changed suddenly when, in 2019, the Lebanese government brought in laws that prevented Syrian refugees from working in the country.
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Haneen, who has worked as an educator in the field of women’s hair and beauty salons, has been able to work occasionally, but their life is very difficult. It is not possible for Muhammad to return to Syria, because he and his family would face religious persecution. Ralph Paragg, a member of Immanuel congregation, has been involved with refugee sponsorship in the diocese for three decades. Following the roast beef dinner, he described the process to sponsor immigrants, and told the audience how this particular situation is somewhat different to the 86 individuals sponsored by parishes in the diocese in 2021. Usually there is a family connection to someone already in Canada, but the Al-Khatibs do not have relatives here. However, Paragg resourcefully contacted a woman he knew who had come from Lebanon years ago, and now operates a pizza restaurant in Wolseley, to see if she might take on the role of cosponsor, as she had helped some Syrians in previous years to come to Canada. At the time he contacted her, she was visiting family in Lebanon, and even though she advised she was not in a position to take the lead as co-sponsor, she offered to visit the AlKhatibs, as they were living close to her family’s home town in the Beka Valley. She subsequently met and spoke with Muhammad Continued on page 6