Parishes in Penticton, B.C., have been providing evacuees of the ongoing Bald Range wildfires from nearby Summerland and Peachland with hope and strength amid their horrific ordeals.

Fr. Neil Lustado, who leads St. Ann’s and St. John Vianney Parishes, told The Catholic Register that volunteers from these congregations began mobilizing not long after the province ordered, on Aug. 7, that 20,000 people evacuate their homes as an inferno that has burned over 21,145 hectares threatened the communities. Sadly, the fire claimed the life of an 80-year-old woman at the outset of the emergency.

“Some of my parishioners texted and called me about what was happening,” shared Lustado. “I told them, ‘we’re going to respond to this in a good way. We will accommodate people who are evacuating from that fire.’ ”

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It was quickly determined that St. Ann’s, the larger of the two churches, could function as a shelter and essential supply hub (clothing, hygiene items, etc.) for evacuees while St. John Vianney could host lunch and dinner each day for both the refugees and frontline responders.                                                                                                                           

Lustado proceeded to visit the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, the base of the city’s emergency support efforts, to inform officials they could direct evacuees to both parishes.                                       

Multiple families started showing up at St. Ann’s during the Aug. 8-9 weekend seeking shelter and then word began to spread about the emergency response services being offered by the Catholic parishes. Lustado estimates “more than 100 people” are turning up for food at St. John Vianney. The vast majority of evacuees hosted as dinner guests had their accommodations provided by a family home or a local hotel.                       

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The goal for Lustado is to sustain the aid for the displaced from Summerland and Peachland until they receive the green light to return home. This approval was granted late on Aug. 14 to thousands of the displaced if they are residents of the Trout Creek neighbourhood east of Highway 97, and to occupants of all properties from the Peachland and Electoral Area West area as evacuation orders were downgraded to evacuation alerts. Anyone subject to an alert must be ready to depart again on short notice if the situation worsens.                             

Different parish groups have stepped up each day to keep the meal service going. The Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s League and the local Filipino and Ukrainian communities are taking their turns.                                            

Lustado, born and raised in the Philippines himself, is lauding his Catholic flock for the way they have exemplified their faith by serving fellow British Columbians experiencing hardship and uncertainty.                                                                                          

“When we have a calamity, how do we respond to that? Surely, we respond with compassion, generosity, courage, with deepening our faith to trust God and to trust one another. I encourage them to see that in our lives. I think that's the response of our community, and I'm happy to see that,” said Lustado.                                                      

The spiritual shepherd is also personally serving as a counsellor for evacuees searching for answers amidst this calamity. One family asked Lustado if God hated them because of what has been wrought in recent days.

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“I told them, 'no, God doesn't do that (to) us,' ” said Lustado. “He always loves us and always takes care of us. He always gives us good things. But sometimes there are things that we understand that God allows. He gave us freedom and in freedom sometimes people make a wrong choice. This is not the working of God, but of course the devil around us is there. We want to encourage others. It's about love, compassion and goodness. Even in this situation, we always offer love.”

It is not yet known if the Bald Range wildfires has inflicted damage on Holy Child Church in Summerland. This house of worship is west of Highway 97 where an evacuation order is still active.