Iraqi refugee Samiya Bashir receives a welcome kiss from her son Shamil Toma of Dublin upon her arrival at the Oakland Airport, Aug. 27. Mrs. Bashir and her three daughters fled their home in Fallujah after their home was destroyed by shelling. They arrived in Turkey in April 2005. Catholic Charities of the East Bay sponsored their application for refugee status. Another son is still waiting in Turkey. Toma, his wife and children are members of the Catholic Community of Pleasanton, worshipping at St. Elizabeth Seton Church. The Bashir family is the first of several refugee families being sponsored through CCEB.

Greg Tarczynski photo