(The Orants of the Assumption are one of the five main branches of the Assumption Family, founded in 1896 by Fr. François Picard, one of Fr. d’Alzon’s first disciples. This past September, 80 Iraqi and Syrian refugees were welcomed at the Orants convent an hour outside of Paris in Bonnelles, France. One month later 20 Afghanis arrived. The sisters have joined hands with Habitat and Humanism [a French NGO], State and local government agencies, and many volunteers, to give these war-weary, malnourished, and desperate refugees hope and peace.)

by Sophie Lebrun

Sr. Monique, superior of the local community, tells me, “September 9, the day that the first refugees arrived was quite a day; all at once, our convent, rather calm the past few years, became a beehive of activity. Having arrived from Germany, the refugees were haggard after a long and daunting trek from Syria and Iraq. The local prefect and mayor were here to welcome them as well as the bishop, firemen, the Red Cross…. After a few days you could hardly find place to walk in the lobby; it was chock full of clothes and other items donated by neighbors and townspeople.”

The men, women, and children --- eighty of them at first, half of whom were still there a month later --- had settled into every available corner of the former retreat center, hidden on the wooded 30 acres of land next to the Rambouillet forest.

“Two per room,” explained Sr. Monique. “That’s what the Red Cross advised us. “And parents with children in a separate wing apart.” At its height in the 70s, when first opened, until it closed in 2000, the center accommodated some 80 retreatants….university students, confirmation classes, national pilgrimage staff, etc. Once it became clear that the building was no longer up to the new building codes and the sisters did not have the funds to renovate it, they put the building up for sale five years ago.  Just as they were in negotiations with Habitat and Humanism for a possible sale, the refugee crisis erupted.

“At the request of the local prefect, we decided to open our doors,” Sr. Monique continued. Every day you can hear the sounds of hammers, drills, and saws echoing through the building. Habitat and Humanism had decided they would transform the facility into a welcome center for homeless Tibetan refugees. Now they have mobilized to handle the present crisis, instead. There are two salaried workers active on site, together with two young full-time volunteers and a volunteer cook. Balthasar, one of the two salaried staff members, remarked, “We also have some one hundred volunteers helping us out from the Chevreuse region where this project has been warmly received.”

The morning of my visit, a dozen or so French teachers, all volunteers, were at their posts for two hours. Another cohort of a dozen would arrive in the afternoon for two more hours. One of the ones I met, Nadia, had settled into her place next to one of the refugees, a fifty-year old man, who answered her in his broken French, “Good morning. My name is Mahmoud. How are you?” He had arrived from Syria after a chaotic journey crossing Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, and finally Germany…. by boat, by bus, by train, on foot….”My wife, who is ill, stayed in Turkey with our children,” he said. “I have to work so that we can pay their school fees there and especially so that I can pay their way here.” This talented tailor is very disciplined at the task at hand of learning French. Many like him had to leave their loved ones at home or in neighboring countries so as to protect them from having to brave the icy waters of the Mediterranean, the beatings of border guards, and the indignities of the prisons of Eastern Europe.

Armed with a small smile and an artist’s pencil next to his notebook, Malik* was doing what he does best, drawing. He was a caricaturist in Damascus. Sam*, seated next to him, 52 years old, was a museum guard in Homs. Malik wanted to come to “the country known for its art.” Since his arrival, he has been attending sessions organized by painters in the region. He has already had a small exhibit and sold three paintings. Sam says that he “is just happy to be able to live in peace. That’s all I ask in life --  to live in peace and to be able to work.”

In a room nearby, Odile, another volunteer, was reciting a number of French phrases, articulating them slowly and distinctly. Three Afghanis were seated next to her, one of which, an elderly gray-haired woman, had a big smile. They were all using cellphones and recording the session so as to be able to practice later. The French government transferred some thirty Afghanis who had been holed up in a Paris high school last October. One of them, Ahmad*, who had been a computer science student before he had to flee, commented simply, “I would just like to continue my studies.”

After classes ended, workbooks made way for dishes as everyone lent a hand setting up the tables for lunch served by a catering company. “It’s the State that provides the meals, “Balthasar explained. The Habitat staff, as well as the sisters, all acknowledge with gratitude the involvement of the French government. “They have really gone out of their way to respond to the needs of these refugees. They promised their help and the protection of the French government and they have come through as promised.” These refugees like others who came to France two years ago are hoping to receive their official documents and find permanent housing also.

Sr. Monique adds, “Our mayor has not remained distant. He calls regularly to see how the newly arrived are doing.”

In conjunction with volunteers, Habitat and Humanism has not only organized French classes and the meal program but has helped every one of the refugees to compose a c.v. in view of finding work. “This is a big bonus we are offering them, “Balthasar adds. “Some of them have already received interviews by local employers.”

After lunch, it’s time to relax.  Ping-pong tables, lent by the neighboring high school, are seeing some action. Under a pale sun some of the children are outside racing around the grounds on their bicycles. Other people are walking around glued to their Smart-phones communicating with loved ones far away. On the front lawn Mahmoud*, Ahmad*, and Sam* are vigorously engaging in some soccer maneuvers as their companions root them on.

*Names have been modified.