Page 40 - Spring 2019 Extension Magazine

IGNITE
40
Donor Profile

Partners in

the mission

Donors in Texas
appreciate the
immense contributions

of immigrants
to the Church
J udy and Tony Sarsam chat

easily about immigration
and the Church. For them,
the issue is personal, practi-
cal and ethical. “We need to
discuss and help immigrants
because they are part of our
cultural fabric, critical to our econ-
omy and it is our duty as Ameri-
cans and Catholics,” Tony said. He had a Ukrainian friend who There are 65 million
started a Catholic Church in “
Growing up their neighborhood in Phoenix, refugees in the world now.
with the immigrant Church mainly for immigrants. Her family ... As Americans, and as
Tony’s father emigrated from attended this church, embracing Catholics, we can’t ignore
Iraq to attend South Dakota State, its foreign community, and learn-
where he met Tony’s mother. ing about faith traditions from this issue.”
Tony’s family moved often with other countries. —TONY SARSAM
his father’s work, and they found After meeting in high school
new churches with each move. and attending Arizona State
In the Church, his family found a University, where Judy stud- who need a stable home. So now
gathering place of immigrants. ied accounting and Tony stud- they are parents to eight.
Judy’s father believed in the ied chemical engineering, they “The immigration culture is the
universality of the Church and married and extended the same foundation of our country,” Tony
encouraged his family to meet open-mindedness to their family. said. “The American Dream is
people from other countries. After having two biological daugh- woven into our history and cul-
ters, they adopted three siblings ture. It is devastating to ignore
from Kazakhstan. Additionally, the plight of immigrants; we need
they have welcomed three young to bring them into our society.”
people, friends of their children,