CHARLOTTE — The hope of a better life in America has attracted immigrants to our shores for generations. From the Pilgrims in 1620 to today, the pursuit of the "American dream" has meant religious freedom, refuge from violence or injustice, the ability to work and live freely, and the chance to give one's children a better life.
Today, refugees fleeing persecution and hardship include the Lap family, who arrived in Charlotte last month after suffering years of persecution in their homeland of Myanmar.
Ram Lap, 33, and his 28-year-old wife Di Me escaped from Myanmar in 2009. With no other living relatives to leave behind, they fled a military-run forced labor camp and made their way to Malaysia. There, they applied for sanctuary in the United States and meanwhile earned United Nations work permits. Ram worked in a Chinese restaurant and Di Me worked as a waitress. The American government recently approved their resettlement request and in June, the Laps landed at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.
There to welcome the Laps with open arms were staff from Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte's Refugee Resettlement office. With help from the staff, the Laps moved into a modestly furnished two-bedroom apartment in Charlotte, began taking English classes, and – importantly – received help in applying for and getting a job to help them settle into their new life here.
"When we got to the airport ... we felt freedom," Di Me recalls. "We are happy to be in the U.S.!"
The two-bedroom apartment feels uncomfortably luxurious, she adds, as they are not used to such spacious living quarters.
Refugee families receive a monthly stipend, $181-$349, depending on the number of people, but only for a limited time. Within three to four months, they are expected to be able to live on their own and have their own incomes.
Beyond just the basic necessities like a place to live, Catholic Charities' Refugee Resettlement Office provides critical job training and counseling services to these refugees. Last fiscal year, they helped 258 refugees find jobs and start down the path to independence.
"The employment staff assists refugees obtain employment and become self-sufficient," says Leon Shoats, employment specialist for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. "Upon arrival, refugees receive an orientation to the local work environment. Included in the orientation is an assessment of education, training and work experience. An employability plan is developed for each new arrival. Additionally, they receive an explanation of the hiring process and instruction in job seeking and keeping skills."
Catholic Charities staff also provides ongoing job counseling and helps the refugees in their job search. They contact potential employers and help the refugees navigate the application and interview process.
"After they are hired, post-employment counseling and ongoing support services are provided to maximize their chances for success and integration into community life," Shoats says. Refugees can get help for up to five years after arriving in the U.S., if needed.
Ram and Di Me went through the employment orientation a couple of weeks ago and are waiting for job opportunities to open up for them.
"It was a good orientation," Di Me says, speaking in Burmese through Catholic Charities interpreter Naomi Leng. "We are still scared because of the language barrier."
Leng finds great satisfaction in taking the Lap family and other refugees to their appointments and helping them navigate their new lives in Charlotte. "I come from Myanmar. I have been here four years. It is very hard to learn English," Leng says. "This is kind of my dream job. I really love to do this job."
Susan Jassan, acting Refugee Resettlement director, sees the dedication of the Catholic Charities staff firsthand.
"I know our employment teams work tirelessly to find appropriate placements for incoming refugees," Jassan says. "Our team is very selective in choosing employers for our clients, trying to create a match that will benefit the client and suit the needs of the employer."
When asked what they hope for the future, Ram and Di Me are in agreement.
"We hope for our child to go to school, to get an education," Di Me says. "We hope to buy a car soon, to get jobs, build good credit and buy a house in two to three years."
Thanks to Catholic Charities, the American dream is now within reach for this immigrant family.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Refugee employment
Catholic Charities Employment Staff works with Charlotte-area employers to provide workers from a diverse labor pool of skilled and unskilled applicants who are eager to work. Refugees are employed in commercial bakeries, food processing, woodworking, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, recycling, and warehouse distribution work.
All refugee assessment, screening, referral and placement services are free. Also, the employment staff assists with translation and interpretation services, transportation, new employee orientation and support services after the refugee is hired.
To learn more, contact Catholic Charities Employment Staff at
704-370-3285 or 704
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces the appointment of Father Richard F. Sutter as in residence at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte effective May 1.
An Atlanta native ordained initially in the Congregation of the Legion of Christ, Father Sutter comes to Charlotte from the Diocese of Savannah, Ga., but he is not unfamiliar with the Charlotte diocese.
He graduated with honors from Belmont Abbey College in 1991. While there he served as student body president and captain of the cross country team. He was also an Army R.O.T.C. cadet at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and member of the Army National Guard in Morganton.
After college he served six years as an U.S. Army Infantry Officer with the 1st Armored Division in Germany and the 10th Mountain Division in New York. Prior to his first assignment he completed the U.S. Army Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault Schools. He earned his Expert Infantryman's Badge while serving as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Platoon Leader in Germany, and he received the Meritorious Service Medal.
Following an honorable discharge as captain, he worked two years as a corporate IT project manager in New York before entering the Legionary of Christ Summer Candidacy Program in 1999.
He completed his theology studies in Rome and was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Jugis at Our Lady Help of Christians Basilica at Belmont Abbey on May 11, 2009. He was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 12, 2009, at the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls in Rome.
From 2009 to 2011, Father Sutter served as chaplain of Christian Brothers' School in New Orleans, chaplain of Acadian Oaks Catholic Youth Retreat Center in Lafayette, and Conquest Boys Club Youth Section Director for the state of Louisiana.
He moved to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 2011, where for three years he served as chaplain at Pinecrest Academy High School and five years as the Catholic chaplain for the Atlanta Braves.
Father Sutter's cousin is a priest with the Savannah diocese, so in 2014 he asked to discern some time there where he served from 2014 to 2016 as chaplain of Aquinas High School in Augusta, Ga.
Earlier this year he spent several months of discernment at Belmont Abbey, during which time he said he sensed a call to serve in the Charlotte diocese.
He has been in residence at the cathedral since May 1 and will serve a temporary summer support assignment from May 28 until mid-August at St. Joseph Church in Bryson City.
Besides his priestly ministry, Father Sutter said his favorite activity is training for Ironman Triathalons. This year he is scheduled to compete in three Ironman 70.3 races, one of them being a 70.3 Ironman World Championship slot earned while competing in Ironman Augusta 70.3 this past September. He holds a high Ironman All World Athlete rank as an amateur in his age group.
He said he finds swimming, cycling and running a great means of praying, as well as a concrete way to evangelize non-Catholics.
"Our Blessed Lord comes to meet all of us in the today of our life as He did His first disciples on the Sea of Galilee," Father Sutter said. "He desires to remain in our boat as we navigate the waters of our daily life. I find Him often and He finds me in these brief moments of recreation amidst the beauty of His creation."
— Catholic News Herald