Pope Francis and Sister Brendalee Boisvert

Syrian refugees: Martha concluded that fate or something more powerful was telling them the big, empty home had a higher purpose, according to CBC. In September, within a few weeks of Pope Francis urging more parishes to take in Syrian refugees, the nuns had turned their attention to making the house available when a call came from a local group thinking the same thing. "Maybe it wasn't meant to be sold," says Sister Brendalee Boisvert, the order congregation leader. "Maybe this was always in the mind and heart of the Holy Spirit — that we would always have a family enjoy this home that we enjoyed for 87 years." With the help of the religious order, volunteers with the Tri-Heart Society are now preparing for the arrival of a privately-sponsored Syrian family of six who have been living in a camp in Lebanon. "They're going to come carrying what it feels like to be displaced, but this community is ready."- Sister Brendalee Boisvert The volunteers have been told the family 43-year-old father is an electrician and welder, and his 39-year-old wife has secretarial skills. Andrews, N.S., had been for sale for more than a year when the Sisters of St. They have three sons — ages 16, 13 and six — and an eight-year-old daughter. Tri-Heart has raised more than $30,000 for living expenses. Little else is known about the family, except that they speak Arabic and the eldest son speaks some English. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.