Parish in Italy Honored for Aid
Episcopal News Service. December 11, 1986 [86269]
FLORENCE (DPS, Dec. 11) -- Florence is known around the world as a city of extraordinary beauty, a gem of Italian cultural life and history. While it is all of that, it is also the home of a growing refugee community.
For a significant number of these refugees, their memories of Florence will not be of the priceless paintings, the monumental statues or the magnificent buildings. They will remember the small group of parishioners of St. James Episcopal Church who gave them food and clothing and helped them find shelter. St. James, Florence, has become a beacon of hope for refugees throughout that ancient Italian city.
Recently, the Institute of St. Martin of Tours presented St. James with a bronze medallion. Chosen out of a field of 300 nominees, St. James was honored for its ministry to refugees. The parish, part of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe, began its refugee ministry at the suggestion of the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief in response to the needs of students and others from developing countries, some fleeing religious and political persecution, who turned to the Church for help.
With an initial grant of $17,400 from the Presiding Bishop's Fund, the rector of St. James, the Rev. Samuel H. Hartman; the program coordinator, Martha Sprecht; and volunteers from the parish expanded the program to include not only emergency aid but also resettlement assistance and help in solving the problems of immigration and coping with the demands of the Italian bureaucracy. Subsequent support from the Fund has meant the continuation of this work at St. James, which is the only place in Florence currently providing assistance to refugees.
In his report to the most recent convention of the Convocation, the rector wrote, "With the help of the Presiding Bishop's Fund, we are learning how to help in material ways; some parishioners and friends of the church are responding with help and money generously. We are learning about law and politics and their limitations. Most of all, perhaps, we are learning about courage, hope and perseverance amongst the strangers, without home or country, within our gates."