Ministry Profile

Saint's Place assists refugees from war-torn countries seeking asylum in the United States. They are legal immigrants arriving in Rochester, New York through the Refugee and Immigration Department of the Catholic Family Center. Approximately 700 refugees arrive in Rochester each year from all around the globe.

These weary people arrive with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, having escaped from war-torn countries. Some have lived in refugee camps for up to seven years waiting for a country to sponsor them.

We cannot even begin to imagine the horrors of life that these people , our brothers and sisters, have had to endure. Since its inception in 1998, Saint's Place has supported the resettlement of hundreds of refugees each year.

Saint's Place relies on local financial and material resources to ensure that newly arrived refugees are provided adequate initial housing and support services. Donated furniture, household goods, appliances, and clothing are stored until needed, and then used to set up an apartment for each newly arrived family.

In October, 2001, Saint's Place opened a Tutoring Center to offer much needed on-going support to refugee school-age children and their parents.

Saint's Place also helps to support other agencies in the area. We support Freedom House, a residential substance abuse treatment program, by providing clothing to the men while in the program and household goods upon graduation from the program. In addition, the men are given the opportunity to work with Saint's Place as furniture movers.

Saint's Place also shares surplus donations with other agencies including; Head Start, ABVI Goodwill, Matthew's Closet, Hillside, DayStar, Elizabeth Ministry, House of Mercy, Green Acres, Bethany House, ReStart Substance Abuse, Birthright, St. Pauley Textile, SafeHaven, LollyPop Farm, and the YWCA.

violent conflict and the
denial of dignity and rights
to people anywhere on the globe
diminish each of us