Global Sisters Report a project of National Catholic Reporter Sign up now Ghaith is dressed up for an observance of the International Day of Peace in the community's chapel later that evening Manal Mohammad Alazzam with her children Ghaith residence of the School Sisters of Notre Dame They are in Alazzam's home on the campus of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton residence of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton chair of Wilton Interfaith Action Committee the agency collaborating with the sisters in assisting the family walk from Alazzam's home to the Villa Notre Dame the residence of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Wilton observance of the International Day of Peace in the community's chapel Manal Mohammad Alazzam puts together a Dampit View Author Profile Editor's note: This week (Jan. 7-13), the U.S. Catholic Church celebrates National Migration Week "an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants and victims and survivors of human trafficking." To commemorate the week GSR brings you the story of a Syrian family that has found a home in Connecticut Syria natives Mohammad and Bisan Alazzam excitedly recounted their visit to New York City the previous night The 14- and 13-year-old siblings had traveled with school friends from the southwestern Connecticut town of Wilton to see their first Broadway show Speaking over each other in a mixture of English and Arabic they described Times Square and gossiped about their friends That kind of opportunity — a carefree outing — was just what their mother, Manal Mohammad Alazzam, hoped for when she began working toward resettling her family in the United States. Since March 2016, Alazzam and her five children have lived on the Wilton campus of the School Sisters of Notre Dame The housing arrangement reflects a community living out the Gospel call to welcome the stranger a Christian imperative the sisters see as increasingly urgent amid the global refugee crisis and President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies "It was never a question if we would take them in. They were a family who needed help," said Sr. Leonora Tucker, who coordinates the congregation's work with Alazzam and her children. The sisters are partnering with the Wilton Interfaith Action Committee More than 100 volunteers provide transportation They stop by the cream-colored house across the yard from Villa Notre Dame dropping off food or picking up the children for school or an activity "It's a huge undertaking," said Steve Hudspeth Alazzam is grateful for the support and has grown to trust Hudspeth and the sisters often looking to Tucker or her older children for help She tells the story of her long journey from war-ravaged Syria to this quiet corner of Connecticut almost mechanically "My kids were scared of the bombs," she said "Sometimes we slept in the grass," she said Alazzam kept her eyes down and avoided interactions on the trip She knew she and the children were especially vulnerable traveling without a man in a Muslim country but Alazzam did not want to share more than that "they did not understand single woman and five children." She filed paperwork seeking refugee status and waited dreaming of a life where her children were safe she got word the family would be resettled in the United States "America a big surprise for me and my kids," she said "I like America for the kids and for college That's the atmosphere the sponsors hoped they could create People brought gifts and clothing and bikes," Hudspeth said "And we have rules and regulations about where they can ride the bikes," Tucker added quickly The pair's easy banter suggests a long relationship a retired lawyer and Episcopalian who lives down the road from the villa met the sisters only when they began planning to welcome Alazzam and her children "Getting to know the sisters has been a tremendous gift," Hudspeth said and it would be more difficult for a family of six the School Sisters found themselves with an empty house on their property which is home to the nuns' residence and Lourdes Health Care Center A former School Sisters employee had recently moved out of the house and they had heard the Wilton Interfaith Action Committee needed housing for a refugee family The School Sisters of Notre Dame had been discerning their response to Pope Francis' September 2015 call for religious communities to take in a family of refugees asks us to be near the least and the abandoned have patience!' " the pope said at the time The pope's comments came after photos of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi's body washed up on a Turkish beach. The startling image shocked the world and focused attention on Syria's brutal civil war and the dangers people encountered as they fled the violence. By the time Alazzam and her children arrived in Wilton, more than 250,000 Syrians had died and more than 11 million others had been forced from their homes Connecticut had already established itself as open to refugees. In November 2015, Mike Pence, then governor of Indiana, was one of 26 state leaders to bar Syrian refugees from entering their states. In response, Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut welcomed a Syrian family scheduled to resettle to Indiana; the family settled in New Haven (Federal courts later struck down Pence's order as discriminatory.) government would act more compassionately toward those seeking refuge in this country," said Sr "We have to find a way for people to remain with us in a way that comports with our laws but this country was built on immigrants and people who need a better way of life." Welcoming Alazzam and her children was "natural for us," she said "Our community is accustomed to responding to the urgent needs of our time especially to the needs of the poor and marginalized." The sisters were not concerned that the family was Muslim "It just mattered we were able to provide this kind of ministry and care to a family," Krohe said "They've developed a beautiful relationship especially Leonora with Manal," said Dominican Sr who coordinates the province's justice and peace office "What's really striking is how the affection is part of the healing It's been beautiful to watch the gradual unfolding of her new life." Although it's challenging to keep track of the children and their busy schedules "it's good to see them romping around," Krohe said and those children bring a sense of joy and life to the property." enjoys playing grandfather to Alazzam's children often exchanging a few Arabic words with a local gas station employee One taught the kids to swim in the villa's pool Alazzam works full-time at Dampits International a small local business that makes humidifiers for string instruments and she's started a sewing business to earn extra money The sisters originally committed to providing temporary housing — six months to a year — for Alazzam's family the family is on track to self-sufficiency "We want the family to succeed," Krohe said "We'll give them as much time as they need." [Renée K. Gadoua is a freelance writer and editor in Syracuse, New York. Follow her on Twitter: @reneekgadoua.] Global Sisters Report