ASHEVILLE — Parishioners of St. Eugene Church are taking to heart the verse from Matthew 25:35: “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.”

As part of the 50 Acts of Charity for the diocese’s 50th anniversary, the parish sponsored an event the weekend of Sept. 24-25 to broaden awareness of the need to assist and accompany refugees in the Asheville community.

Parishioner Monica Blankenship and several volunteers from the “Loving Neighbors” ministry greeted St. Eugene parishioners at the front entrance after all Masses Sept. 24-25, distributing pamphlets about the refugee assistance efforts jointly done by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and nearby St. Mark Lutheran Church in the area.

Volunteers from both churches work together to form a “Circle of Welcome” around refugees resettled locally by Catholic Charities and Lutheran Services, to help them acclimate to life in the United States after arriving from places like Afghanistan, the Republic of the Congo and Ukraine.

Over the weekend of Sept. 24-25, St Eugene parishioners donated $3,700 in cash and gift cards which was split evenly between Catholic Charities and Lutheran Services. Parishioners also filled out greeting cards welcoming refugees to the community. More than 13 people signed up to volunteer to assist refugees.

Father Pat Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Parish, says this was an effort everyone could get behind.

“The Christian calling is to serve however and whomever God puts in our path. What better way than to welcome someone to our community? The mountains here have a therapeutic history and a reputation to heal. We intend to keep celebrating that as part of our culture at St. Eugene Parish.”

— SueAnn Howell