Not sephardim but Karliner was more Kiev Ukraine. Our old name was "Karliner" as per a great great grandfather was a rabbi in Kiev. From my grandmother and a LOT of research I was told of(shhhhh) our Jewish heritage. I don't know the whole story but there were a number of pogroms and somehow they made it to America and became Catholics under the name,"Karlin." My granny was a staunch Catholic and only told me the last year of her life. Lot of Karlin's in Kansas and Illinois. So the Hassid's didn't fair much better.
Wow!
Wonderful story!
God Bless you & your family!