Miracles Happen: Refugee Response Team Embraces San Mateo “Bathroom Project”

by EDOW | Sep 12, 2024

Latinos represent more than one-third of the population of Hyattsville, Maryland and more than one-fifth of the population of Prince George’s County. When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in our area, the Latino community was hit especially hard across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Churches throughout the DMV responded, and St. Matthew’s Episcopal Parish/Iglesia San Mateo — and its Senior Priest, Padre (Father) Vidal Rivas — quickly became known for their role with Food Justice DMV, a ministry devoted to providing food staples, fresh produce, and more to families in need.

Then, in mid-2022, buses started arriving from Texas. First through CASA of Maryland and later by word of mouth, San Mateo became a refuge to more than 100 people over the following 18-plus months: individuals and young families, some for a night or two, others for a week or more. San Mateo did this with just two toilets in its church basement (one stall each for men and women). Instead of a real shower, a “modesty screen” was provided for people to stand behind as they used buckets of water in the basement stairwell. Parishioners and neighboring churches responded with food, blankets, clothes, and whatever else was needed, while Father Vidal helped them in their interactions with the US immigration system and in finding jobs.

While the flow of buses has ended (at least for now), San Mateo continues to open its arms to Spanish-speaking refugees and other immigrants who live near and/or worship at the church on Sundays. What was an emergency situation is now the ongoing challenge faced by many lower-income Latinos: to secure and retain housing and jobs, to access health care, and to enroll their children in school.

Looking to the future, San Mateo’s leadership knew that the emergency of 2022-2023 could easily be repeated and decided to prepare. In April of this year, having raised more than $150,000, the parish Vestry authorized the start of construction of new and enlarged bathrooms in the church basement that include showers, changing tables for babies, and multiple sinks and toilets. Soon, San Mateo will soon be able to provide dignity and privacy to those in need with brand new sanitary facilities.

The San Mateo faith community is rich in talent and time — which it gives in abundance. But it was the financial support of the larger faith community, foundations, and individuals from across the DMV and beyond that made this renovation possible. With donated architectural services and the involvement of church members, including some refugees, the demolition of the old toilets began at the end of April. The new facilities are expected to be ready in mid-October — almost two months ahead of the original schedule.

Now, members of the Diocesan Refugee Response Team (RRT) and Washington National Cathedral Sanctuary Committee are partnering with San Mateo to help fill the remaining funding shortfall of about $65,000. As part of this effort, a breakfast fundraising event was held earlier today on Thursday, September 12, at San Mateo. And, if all goes well, a formal “toilet-paper cutting” ceremony for the new bathrooms will be held on Sunday, October 13, in conjunction with the church’s annual Corn Festival.

“Miracles happen at San Mateo,” said Father Vidal. “We moved forward in faith when the Vestry approved the project in April. Now we see our faith affirmed by the tremendous support from the Sanctuary Committee and RRT. We look forward to welcoming them and all who have helped bring this project to completion when we unveil the bathrooms in October.”