“I pour all of myself and my love into my art,” said Fowza Abdullahi Abukar, a Somali artist and refugee. “Sometimes it’s hard to let it go.”

Fowza, a member of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) community for nearly 12 years, is the artist behind JRS/USA’s 2024 Christmas card. Her painting depicts candles drifting on a stormy sea, their flickering light reaching toward a bright moon.

Through her art, Fowza aims to inspire hope, for refugees, immigrants and disadvantaged communities. “The candles in the storm represent resilience,” she explained. “No matter where people come from, I want to be a source of hope.”

When she was just seven years old, Fowza fled Somalia to the United Arab Emirates with her family. Later, in 2011, she with her mother, two brothers, and sister sought refuge Jordan. The family sought refuge in Jordan.While she doesn’t remember much about her early days in Somalia, her love of art has been a constant. As a child, she spent hours sketching cartoon characters, using whatever materials were available and teaching herself techniques through YouTube videos.

In Jordan, a friend introduced then-16-year-old Fowza to JRS’s Education Program. After completing her studies, she became an English teacher, instructing a wide range of students – from teenagers to seniors. “I grew so much during that time, emotionally, intellectually, and creatively,” she said. “My students have taught me many things; I learned from their cultures, which made me more open-minded and empathetic and helped me to evolve into an advocate for the rights of others.”

Once she saved enough to buy her own art supplies, Fowza began experimenting with oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Her artistic abilities grew, as did her work with JRS Jordan, where she eventuallyjoined the Communications and Advocacy team. Her projects included a community the art club, JRS committee and the annual Festival of Encounter, an event that showcases the talents and cultural richness ofthe refugee community.

“The festival is closest to my heart,” Fowza said. “It’s a reminder that refugees are more than their legal status, they have talents, vocations, and stories worth celebrating.”

The Communications and Advocacy Officer connected Fowza with JRS/USA about 1 year and a half ago when Fowza moved to the United States.

Today, Fowza is completing an online degree from Creighton University and working as a beauty consultant. And when she is not studying or working, she is painting.

Christmas Eve kicks off the Catholic Jubilee Year, a time of pilgrimages, prayer, reconciliation, and rejuvenation. Pope Francis has declared the Jubilee’s theme “Pilgrims of Hope.”

Just like the candles and moon in her painting, Fowza embodies hope and peace. As our Christmas cards reach the mailboxes of supporters, may we look towards Fowza and the forthcoming Jubilee and be pilgrims of hope in 2025.