Middle Eastern families have found peace and a sense of belonging in New Westminster.
St. Joseph Orthodox Church is a small congregation currently operating out of a two-storey converted house in Queensborough.
“We are a small, growing parish with less than 50 families. Our growing church community is comprised of members from Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine,” Susan Kafeety, a member of the congregation, said in an email to The Record. “We have many new immigrants attending, as well as many of the church members who have been a part of our community since the ’70s. We provide a place to come together and pray as one family. We all have family suffering in the terrible anti-humanitarian conditions in the Middle East.”
The church held a recent Middle Eastern Food Festival that focused on Middle Eastern food and cultural heritage and the Greek Orthodox faith reflecting the parish’s roots. Grilled chicken and ground beef kabobs, crispy falafels, baklava pastry and semolina bars drizzled in orange blossom syrup were among the tasty items being served at the July 20 events.
“We love food. We love food so much,” Kafeety laughed. “We love to share our food with others.”
The Middle Eastern Food Festival also featured face painting and crafts for kids, raffles, and instruction on how to play the hand drum, as well as tours of the church. St. Joseph Orthodox Church is working on plans to build a church on the site of its current converted home.
“We are growing,” Kafeety said. “We are trying to build a church. We are raising money to build a church. We have been here for years.”
Along with services, St. Joseph Orthodox Church is a place where members of the congregation can chat informally, share common experiences and welcome newcomers.
“We are very welcoming,” Kafeety said. “We are very hospitable. We are a peace-loving people. We just want peace in the world.”
