11/03/2026
A simple greeting, offering the opportunity to ask questions and creating a welcoming place for people to gather can make a meaningful difference for someone navigating life in a new community and country.
Those opportunities are at the heart of ‘Bridges to Wellness,’ a new program of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Scranton that collaborates with immigrant and refugee communities across northeastern Pennsylvania.
Through wellness education, peer support, community gatherings and creative activities, the program seeks to help people build connections, find resources and develop healthy ways to support their overall well-being.
Over the past year, the Bridges to Wellness Program has hosted activities for Afghan, Congolese, Haitian, Hispanic/Latino, Nepali/Bhutanese and Ukrainian communities.
Its most recent event was a community health fair for the Congolese community which was held on Oct. 31, 2026, at the Scranton Enterprise Center. Participants had the opportunity to ask health-related questions, receive basic wellness guidance and learn about health habits with the assistance of students from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
“One of the things that we recognize through our community outreach and conversations with Congolese families is that access to healthcare is challenging,” Ruth Cuinica, Bridges to Wellness Program Supervisor, said.
