In late winter of 2022, Russia had launched a vicious attack on the people of Ukraine and the little congregation of All Saints Anglican Church in Dunham, Quebec – like most of us – looked on in shock and horror as shells and rockets rained down. The congregation asked themselves; “What can we do from half a world away?”.
It was quickly obvious that huge numbers of Ukrainians would be displaced and would be seeking refuge away from war. At All Saints, declining numbers and a retiring minister meant the rectory would be empty by August. In March, it was unanimously agreed that the big old house with its five bedrooms should be offered to needy refugees. The word was put out to our Federal MP and to the community at large.
Nothing happened initially and the path ahead was unclear.
Then, a Ukrainian Canadian couple who had chosen to have their two children baptized at All Saints suggested a connection with a private charity which was sympathetic to the project. Then in mid-summer, the community grapevine brought forth a Ukrainian Canadian, Anton, from a nearby town who asked if he could see the rectory because he had contact with an extended family seeking to escape the war. He sent photos to the family who had hoped to find a quiet, green destination that could accommodate all nine of them, two grandparents, five related adults and two teenagers. It was an instant fit.
This family had sought refuge beneath the Mariupol Steel Works amidst the merciless Russian bombardment. It was from there that an evacuation team extracted them under cover of darkness on a perilous escape across an active war zone to Poland where Anton had managed to secure a small apartment. Charities stepped forth with airfare, and, with help from our MP, paperwork was eventually completed for their immigration to Canada.
Meanwhile, back in Dunham, the rectory was vacated in mid-August and a small army of volunteers collected and delivered all the donated furnishings needed for the big house. Brooms and paintbrushes were busy.
The first three family members arrived to help organize the house in late August and the remainder made their way to Dunham by mid-September. All of the family members were profoundly relieved and grateful though quietly traumatized by their ordeals. None spoke much English or French but they were eager to learn so they could become self-sufficient as quickly as possible.
Four months later, the father – who is a master electrician and mechanic – was employed full time in a local sawmill. Three of the women are working at a local ski resort. The granddaughter, who was studying medicine in Ukraine, has found part time work in a retirement home and the two teenagers are enrolled in high school. Adult Education has set up language courses in the church hall. The grandfather spends his time searching for things to fix at the rectory and he is very skilled. Plans are afoot for a vegetable garden in the spring. Two cars have been donated so the family can travel to work and back.
The aging congregation of All Saints can no longer muster the energy to continue its long and popular tradition of homemade community dinners, but the local folk turned out to put on a ‘full house’ welcome dinner at the church for our new Ukrainian friends.
Even in their darkest hour, with the loss of their minister and a dwindling flock, this congregation was able to turn a new page and live a real Christian experience.
