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May 27, 2022

‘God opens the door’ to Pakistani Catholic refugee family

Younis Gil with his family his new home in Mississauga, Ont. The Pakistani refugee and his family fled his homeland due to a made up charge of blaspheny, first to Thailand and now in Canada, where they arrived earlier this year.

Younis Gil is a small man who struggles with English. Years of stress, uncertainty and hard labour have left an imprint. But he squares his shoulders, straightens his back, meets your gaze and smiles. With his wife Saleema Bibi and surrounded by three of his adult children plus a son-in-law, he is a proud pater familias embracing a life that a few months ago was hard to imagine.

Published in Features
November 5, 2019

Bangkok asylum seekers appeal to Pope Francis

Pakistani asylum-seekers in Thailand hope Pope Francis will recognize their plight during his Nov. 20-23 visit to Thailand.

BANGKOK -- When Pope Francis celebrates Mass in a Bangkok sports stadium Nov. 21, tens of thousands of Catholics from across Thailand will congregate to celebrate with him.

Published in International
September 25, 2019

Canadians respond to refugees’ plight

Joshua is a member of one of the 65 Pakistani families looking for a new home in Canada. The families are hiding out in Bangkok after fleeing Pakistan’s blasphemy laws. The Office of Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto has made a pledge to sponsor 18 of the families and has sent word to other dioceses across Canada appealing for them to offer sponsorships.

Catholics from coast to coast are rallying to answer a call to help resettle Christian Pakistani refugees stuck in Bangkok.

Published in Canada
August 6, 2019

Archdiocese reaches out for helping hand

Peace Samuel holds a crucifix given as a gift from the Office of Refugees, Archdiocese of Toronto.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- For 63 families, the strangers from Toronto represented something they’ve lived without for years — hope.

Published in Canada
August 6, 2019

Living in the shadows: Families hide and hope

Joshua is the youngest in a family of seven living in a 400-square-foot apartment in Bangkok, where about 1,500 Pakistani Christians are living illegally and seeking asylum.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- It’s not Joshua’s fault. He was born into statelessness more than three years ago in Bangkok and immediately suffered a stroke that left him seriously brain damaged. But Joshua scares the rest of his family daily.

Published in Features
August 6, 2019

Editorial: They need our help

Born in Thailand to Pakistani assylum seekers, 16-month-old Ariana is stateless.

Wanted: 63 Canadian parishes with the resources and the heart to rescue 63 Christian families who are huddled in a nation which scorns them as outcasts but who are too scared for their life to go home.

Published in Editorial