Jacksonville, Fla - On Friday, June 15, Catholic Charities will help the planet celebrate World Refugee Day 2018 with a naturalization ceremony and parade of flags at the Balis Community Center, followed by a celebration at Southside Baptist Church.
World Refugee Day – a United Nations Refugee Agency event for the past 18 years - is officially celebrated on June 20. Its purpose is to raise global awareness and responsibility for refugees by honoring the strength and courage of those who have fled their homelands due to conflict, war or natural disaster.
“World Refugee Day is the perfect opportunity for Catholic Charities Jacksonville to showcase how it’s transforming lives every day, says Lauren Weedon Hopkins, Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Jacksonville Region. “The ceremony and celebration not only shows how those from other countries are making a positive impact on our nation, they also highlight the diverse contributions refugees have made right here in our local communities.”
The naturalization ceremony and parade of flags will be held from 10-11 a.m. followed by the celebration at 11:30 a.m. with food trucks and fun “The Catholic Charities team helps immigrants and refugees start new lives by offering assistance with employment, housing and educational opportunities so they are able to provide for themselves and their families,” says Hopkins.
For more information about these events, please call Michelle Karolak, Director of Refugee Resettlement at 904-354-4846 ext 226.