Six months have gone by since the earthquake, and easily our work is three times larger than it was before. We have so many new programs to meet the pressing needs. Today for the first time, we fired up our crematorium. Although I was joking that I would like to use it to make Sister Judy’s birthday cake (for her 65^th today), the sad truth is that poverty still humiliates the poor even after their death (a simple trip to the general morgue would show that to be true in a second). Our first attempt at a more dignified  burial through cremation was predictably for a child, for five year old Lori Demosthene. We said the usual prayers for the dead, and commended Lori to God, to ash, and to the earth. This is our reality. The circle of life, coming around all too soon, completed already in childhood. Our crematorium is dedicated to Our Mother of Sorrows. We have the sorrow of burying more than 50 children and 30 adults every week.  

Our new campground for displaced children is nearly ready. We have been working there all week. Instead of circling the wagons, we squared off empty containers in a huge rectangle covering 4,000 square meters. We will expand it in time. The containers themselves will soon be dormitories for the children, and the area for meals, schooling and activities will be in the shadow of the containers with the help of large awnings. There are about 350 children waiting to come in. There will be an area for small children dedicated to St Ann, the grandmother of Jesus, and a section for older children dedicated to St Louis. We hope to open July 27, on the feast of St Ann. In the meantime, the program for kids in tent cities, called Fr Wasson’s angels of light, is going strong and fast becoming an informal school system and nutrition center for 3000 children.  

We have started another eight street schools over these six months. One of them is for blind and deaf children. The school they used to attend, St Vincent’s in Port au Prince, was destroyed by the earthquake, so we made a simple school for them until St Vincent is rebuilt. Our first ten children are already in this simple school.We named the school for the late beloved founder of St Vincent’s, Sister Joan Margaret. Our other 23 schools are all in session, some in tents and some in undamaged buildings, and all of them will be rebuilt slowly. We have a campaign in progress for this.  

The program for prosthetic s and rehabilitation called St Germaine  is well underway, and many people leave our gates with crutches, wheelchairs and artificial limbs  just a little bit stronger and a little bit more able after every therapy visit. The mothers are so beautiful and patient with their children, but sadly sometimes the mothers also are disabled or missing a limb from the earthquake. Hope springs eternal.    

Our St Luke field hospital for adults and children has saved a few lives already. It looks like something from Gilligans Island but it works for now. We are making a prefab surgery room at the moment, and doing our best to make it a family environment. We have a portable CT Scan already, and a portable Digital XRAY in the planning, most important since we receive terrible trauma injuries.  Our ability will be greatly increased by this equipment which will be used in an air conditioned container! Just today, we received the donation of an ambulance for the field hospital, from the government of Spain.  

On July 23, our original orphanage (as of 23 years)  we will receive 40 children from the earthquake. It will bring the population there at St Helene to 400 children.  

We are still very busy with distributions of food, clothing, water, tents, and thousands of shoes donated in memory of Molly Hightower, one of our deeply mourned volunteers killed when our headquarters  at Petionville collapsed. The distributions are difficult but important, since Port au Prince hardly at all much improved from the original catastrophe six months ago. I think many of you saw the pictures of the memorial we made for our deceased children, staff, volunteers and colleagues from the earthquake. It is at St Damien Hospital. It is our new cornerstone.  

At St Damien hospital, our cancer program is improving, the surgery center is very active, the new maternity and neonatology programs and struggling but doing well, and we now can do digital electroencephalograms and have them interpreted abroad. This is to monitor the seizure activity of our patients. It is a huge advance in our treatment of seizures. Also, just today, little Anabel returned to Italy to have part of her skull replaced, finally, after losing it in the nightmare of January 12, 2010.  

I will find a way to get pictures of many of these activities on the website of Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos and Compassionweavers.com as soon as I can.  

Many thanks to all of you for your prayers, donations, encouragement !    

Fr Rick Frechette July 20, 2010

Below Fr. Rick Frechette shares on how faith has given him strength during this tragic situation.

It is traditional in the Catholic faith to celebrate mass in remembrance of the dead after one month has passed. Today throughout Haiti, at 7 am, in what is left of the parishes of Port au Prince, this mass will be celebrated for the estimated 200,000 dead from the earthquake. In addition to these masses, President Preval has declared today to be a day of national fast, and the beginning of three days of national mourning. We are participating in this act of solidarity by offering mass at 7 am at Titayin, together with Bishop Dumas, at the burial place of the indigent and unknown dead from the earthquake. We ourselves have buried about 2,500 people there in the last 30 days.

After weeks of frenetic activity, we are returning to a state of equilibrium. Our hospital had become a trauma MASH unit, as had all other medical centers in Port au Prince that are still standing. We were able to offer about 30 surgeries a day at four sites (two in our hospital, one on our hospital grounds in a tent, and one at the St. Camillus Hospital, which we staffed for the emergency.) Many of these, sadly, were amputations – sometimes two for the same adult or child. 

To give an idea of the size of the problem, it is likely there are about 20,000 people now who have been amputated or who have orthopedic hardware screwed through their skin to the bone. Port au Prince has about 20 Haitian orthopedic surgeons, and visiting teams to Haiti will soon leave. All 20,000 need to be followed closely for removal of hardware, control of infection, reevaluation of the amputation, and of course for artificial limbs and rehabilitation. Obviously 20 surgeones will not be able to handle this load. We have worked closely with the St. Camillus Hospital so as to return our St. Damien Hospital to a pediatric center and to have a growing center for adults at St. Camillus. We hope tobgether to be able to keep good tabs on the patients we have operated on, and hoep to be able to provide well for them in the future. 

In collaboration with the Papal Nuncio, the president of the Haitian bishops conference, the local CARITAS office and the Italian Protezione Civile, we are setting up seven positions in the provinces, (especially since about 30% of the population has abandoned the capital) to be able to help enable access for these people to a medical system. We can do our best to follow a certain number patients from these sites, return them to Port au Prince for needed attention- by helicopter or land,- and use these points as well for large distributions of food and educational materials for schools. We hope to continue to partner with St. Camillus and the Haitian bishops to strengthen a similar response within Port au Prince as well.

At Francisville, we are making a center for production of artificial limbs. Gena Hergaty hosted a meeting two days ago of30 non-governmental organizations at our St. Germaine program, to determine the best collaboration for all those eager to invest in rehabilitation and physical therapy.

On the home front, Erin Kloos has made an exceptional recovery after being dug out of our crumbled Fr. Wasson Center. The funeral of her brother Ryan will be later this month in Phoenix. Fr. Craig Hightower celebrated the funeral of Molly Hightower, concelebrated by Fr. Phil Cleary. I hope I can arrange to leave Haiti for a few weeks at the end of February to see my father, and to visit both families for mass in their homes. 

We offered mass last Saturday for Molly and Ryan on top of the rubble of the Fr. Wasson Center on an altar made of fallen block, using chant and incense to honor Molly and Ryan and all who died in the earthquake, and to show our faith and hope, and determination to rebuild and continue our life giving mission.

 The Fr. Wasson Center is being cleared by heavy government equipment, and we will rebuild a central administration center on the site, with a metal instead of cement framework, which are fast becoming popular here. We will also make an artistic monument to stand prominently on the corner, by a famous Haitian artist, dedicating the new center to Ryan and Molly and honoring all the victims of the earthquake.

In Tabarre our three areas of destruction were the perimeter walls, the tower, and the chapel. The Italian Protezzione Civile is clearing the debris, reinforcing the tower, rebuilding the chapel and rebuilding the walls. Additional internal, non-structural damage to the hospital is being repaired by the Italian companies that made the initial installations (especially the central oxygen supply). The new maternity and neonatal program, born of necessity during the traumatic days following the quake, is following a good and logical course, and the rest of the hospital is returning to normal. 

Our surgical capacity will still be challenged as we tend to many postoperative children and new traumas. The cancer center got quite a boost, thanks to Sister Judy, as it is now a partner with the Danny Thomas Children’s Cancer Hospital in the USA. This will bring quite a help for development, diagnostic, training, material and medicines.

The St. Helene orphanage in Kenscoff was largely spared, but we were glad to see so much charitable activity on the part of the children, coming to the hospital to visit injured children and distributing food and supplies in the tent cities.

The Family Services team has been very attentive to vulnerable children in the tent cities and has elaborated a good plan for continued involvement. Future reports will be given on all these points I mention in this summary by the people involved.

We are still gathering the names of those who have died or disappeared in the rubble. We hope soon that Daniela, our temporary home correspondent, will be able to make a memorial page on the NPH website. We are very much struck with sorrow by the deaths of our colleagues or deaths in their families.

The St. Luke program has been valiant and tireless, and we suffered the loss of some staff and directors. We also suffered the loss of one third of our 18 street schools. We will resume school in tents, as soon as we have enough, and thanks to Artists for Peace and Justice, we are studying all aspects of rebuilding.

Everywhere around us there are huge social problems: woundedness, homlessness and hunger. There are wounded, homeless and hungry among our 800 employees (all programs combined, including St. Luke). This is made more dreadful by the advance of the rainy season. We had our first rain yesterday.

In a separate letter over the next few days, I will outline the investment we hope to make in addressing these three social problems and the rebuilding and advance of our own programs.

For today, please join us in mourning. Join us in prayers for the dead, for the living, for the future.

Thank you and God bless you.

Fr. Rick Frechette

• Deuteronomy 26:4-10: At a harvest festival the people offer first fruits and confess a creed enumerating the great moments of Israel’s salvation.
• Romans 10:8-13: The Baptismal formula confesses that Jesus is Lord, raised from the dead. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.
• Luke 4:1-13: The temptation of Jesus in the desert according to Luke’s Gospel

Quotes from Pope Benedict XVI, Message for Lent:

• In the face of the terrible challenge of poverty afflicting so much of the world’s population, indifference and self-centered isolation stand in stark contrast to the “gaze” of Christ.  -Benedict XVI, Message for Lent 2006
• By drawing close to others through almsgiving, we draw close to God. -Benedict XVI, Message for Lent 2008
• Fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live. ….Voluntary fasting enables us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes to the help of his suffering brother. -Benedict XVI, Message for Lent 2009
• Giving to the poor for the Israelite is none other than restoring what is owed to God. -Benedict XVI, Message for Lent 2010

Thoughts for your consideration: by Hugo Esparza, CP

We begin our First Sunday of Lent just a month and few days after the earthquake in Haiti. How many powerful survival stories have we heard of people that made it alive after weeks under the rubble, the outpouring of love, charity and service from around the world towards the people of Haiti. In the midst of this worldwide mobilization, however, we are also confronted with the misery of the human spirit:

• Governmental corruption, which makes people question whether or not any help will truly reach those in need;
• the militarization of the country by foreign soldiers, which may bring a sense of an occupation rather than help to this desperate people;
• the population shift as Haitians will be forced to migrate to pursue economic opportunities elsewhere;
• the controversy whether international loans are better than a cancellation of debt for the Country;
• and the presence of those who will take advantage of the chaos for their own benefit.

The earthquake that has devastated Haiti has clearly brought forth the power found in the human community, the power to bless and the power to divide.

Jesus’ journey, as we hear in Luke’s account, into the desert to be tempted moves away from the clear-cut presentation of salvation that both readings for this week present us. The liberating power of God as retold in Deuteronomy can almost dismiss the “affliction and toil” lived experienced under oppression by the people of Israel for in favor of the enchanting sound of the “land flowing with milk and honey”. Or Paul’s exhortation to confess with our mouth and believe in our hearts for salvation can almost cause forgetfulness of the much needed personal metanoia, the change of one’s mind, and, as we know now, its life long process. Jesus’ temptation reminds us of the journey that we, at times reluctantly, must embark on as we seek to wrestle to overcome the power of evil that seeks personal prestige or the political or spiritual domination of others.

Once again, this Lenten Season we open ourselves to journey into the desert to encounter the possible evil of which we and our world are capable. Yet, we do it in a spirit of hope, for we know that we too have been filled with the Holy Spirit that continues to assert the primacy of God’s Reign in our own life and in our world rather than someone’s private interest. For this reason, we actively trust that God’s Peace and Justice will become a reality in what at times may seem as a raucous journey in the process towards the dignified reconstruction of the Nation of Haiti.

• A Universal and life protecting Health Care Bill 
• A Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill  
• U.S. aid for poverty reduction programs specifically for:
  • Haiti
  • Afghanistan

The details of the legislative asks were put forth in a letter that was called the Catholic message to Congress and you can find a copy of that letter on the Passion for Justice Blog post that preceded this one.

This year the weather was less then helpful as we approached the lobby day with an amazing snow storm system having shut down DC and another great snow storm on the way. Many representative and fellow advocates either never came or chose to leave early because of the impending storm. In fact I prepared to leave early as well by taking the last train out on Tuesday night rather then Wednesday afternoon. However a couple of us from NY did manage to meet with both NY Senators.

The meetings were very interesting. From our end we presented the letter and the points from two perspectives. The first perspective was based on the principles of Catholic social teaching which affirms the preferential option for the poor, the promotion of global solidarity, and the dignity and rights of all humans to have basic social needs including the immigrant community. The other perspective that we shared was based on religious experience as missionaries or Catholic agencies to share the stories and concerns of these issues from the vantage point of being a witness to those whom we serve. When we discussed our concern for Haiti I shared the mission experience of Fr. Rick Frechette, CP and his ministry of providing basic health and medical care to a very poor Haitian community. When we discussed immigration again I shared the work that the Mexican Passionist sisters (the “Hijas de la Pasion”) do in providing basic services to a migrant community that is fractured and marginalized in this country. The impact of our testimony was that we were not just some theoretical think tank that offered positions from academic posturing but instead we offered a living witness to the national and global issues that are affecting real people who we come across in our ministries.

The results of our own state advocacy was impressive but not a complete success. In the case of NY we were received well with social issues on the national and global level but we had to remind both Senators that the Healthcare Bill had to be free from providing any funding for abortion or else it will not be supported by the Bishops and a majority of the Catholic Community. This is a point that we will continue pressing as this issue moves further. With immigration we were well received but of course we were made aware of the broader political climate and the existing opposition to this issue which meant that compromises had to be made. We were also well received on the international issues by both Senators.

Passionist are known for their retreat and preaching ministries. My experience on the Hill reminds me that a preacher is not confined to a Church venue. We are a community that preaches the Word of God in society. I find it curious that the Church building we call Basilicas were originally designed by the Romans as a political building for the people to hear and discuss legislative decrees. In preaching on spiritual matters you cannot omit the social implications that our Christian faith calls us to by virtue of the moral message. Events like the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering and the upcoming Ecumenical Advocacy Days are opportunities for communities like us to Preach the Passion in the Basilica of Capitol Hill.

Catholic leaders from across the country come to Capitol Hill to offer hope at a time of fear and uncertainty, to safeguard human life and dignity at a time of economic crisis and continuing war, and to bring “charity in truth” to those in power. Our message reflects old values in new times.

• Put the needs of the poor and jobless first in our public priorities and economic recovery efforts.
• Pass health care reform that protects the life, dignity, consciences and health of all.
• Fix a broken immigration system by adopting compassionate and comprehensive reform.
• Invest in long-term recovery and development of Haiti.
• Work toward a responsible transition in Afghanistan.
• Reform and strengthen development assistance to promote a better, safer world.

At a time of economic crisis brought about by irresponsible action, we call for new responsibility and solidarity. We support budget, tax and economic policies that assist and protect “the least among us,” offer decent jobs at decent wages for the unemployed, and increase investment in development and assistance for the poorest people on earth. The everyday experience of Catholic parishes, Catholic Charities, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services makes clear the moral and human costs of the economic crisis, the lack of health care, shortsighted international policies, environmental neglect, and global poverty, hunger, and disease.

We have a number of other important concerns beginning with the consistent defense of unborn human life and assistance to pregnant women and their children, and including other priorities: providing welfare, nutrition and housing assistance for Americans that respects their dignity and gives them hope; U.S. leadership for an effective two-state solution that brings a just and lasting peace in the Middle East; peaceful implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan; climate change legislation that protects and assists the poor in our own country and around the world who contribute least to the problem but will suffer the most; and a host of other issues touching human life and dignity.

In a spirit of “faithful citizenship,” we come to Capitol Hill to urge action in three specific areas:

 Human Dignity in Economic Recovery: Creating Jobs and Providing Health Care for All

There are 27 million workers unemployed or underemployed. The number of uninsured continues to increase. There are now nearly 50 million people without health care coverage. New jobs need to be created so that workers can provide for themselves and their families through the dignity of work. At the same time, our nation still needs to reform health care and provide an adequate safety net as the economy recovers.

Catholic teaching insists health care is a fundamental human right, an essential protection for human life and dignity. All people should have access to comprehensive, quality and affordable health care. Health care should not depend on their stage of life, where or whether they work, how much they earn, where they live, or where they were born. Despite the new political context, health care reform remains a national priority and moral imperative. Whatever the legislative process, the Catholic bishops continue to urge

Congress and the Administration to adopt legislation that:

1. ensures access to quality, affordable, life-giving health care for all;
2. retains longstanding requirements that federal funds not be used for elective abortions or plans that include them, and effectively protects conscience rights;
3. protects the access to health care that immigrants currently have, removes current barriers to access; and
4. restrains costs and applies them equitably across the spectrum of payers.

Human Dignity of Immigrants: Effective, Compassionate and Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The nation’s immigration system is broken and needs fundamental reform and repair. Almost 12 million undocumented persons live “in the shadows” in our country, working in an underground economy, fearful that their loved ones will be taken from them by federal enforcement officials. They work in important industries, such as agriculture, construction, and service. Immigrants contribute much to our economy and society, but they do not enjoy the protection of the law.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) calls for humane reform of our immigration system, including:

1. a legalization program for the undocumented, which includes a path to citizenship;
2. the creation of legal avenues for migration, so that migrant workers can enter and work in the U.S. safely and legally;
3. family-based immigration reform, so that families can reunite in a more timely manner;
4. restoration of due process protections for immigrants; and
5. policies to address the root causes of migration, such as international assistance and economic development.

International Assistance and Development: The Big Picture, Haiti, and Afghanistan

U.S. international assistance is an essential tool to promote human life and dignity, reduce poverty, advance solidarity with poorer nations, and enhance national and global security. U.S. foreign aid has improved the lives of many, but it needs to be better integrated into a comprehensive strategy with trade, agriculture, climate change and other policies to advance human development, reduce poverty, and improve national and global security.

1. improve these poverty-focused programs and increase their funding toward the Administration’s goal of doubling international assistance by 2015: the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); development and humanitarian assistance and emergency programs, including Title II Food Aid; the Millennium Challenge Account; debt relief; peacekeeping; and migration and refugee programs.
2. We thank members of Congress for supporting immediate relief efforts for Haiti and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months to eligible Haitians in the U.S.; and urge substantial and sustained longer-term recovery and development, including: sustaining international assistance; broadening trade preferences (e.g. HOPE I and II); ensuring total debt relief; and extending TPS for additional periods as necessary.
3. Support a “responsible transition” in Afghanistan and early withdrawal of U.S. forces consistent with this goal. Strive to reduce further loss of life; address humanitarian and refugee needs; help rebuild the country; protect human rights; support good governance; and promote sustainable development. Restrain the use of military force and ensure that civilians are not targeted, and address the root causes of terrorism rather than relying solely on military force. Whenever possible, direct development assistance through civilian channels and local projects to promote sustainability.

Passionist spirituality has reflected on this question from the lens of our own Charism that is devoted to the memory of Christ Crucified. We see the Passion of Christ as a redemptive moment for all humanity. This moment suffering and death was a gift of God’s love to us all. It was a moment where God, through Jesus, took on our own suffering, injustice and pain. God’s incarnation with humanity was complete as it touched on all aspects of our humanity including our moments of suffering, despair and death. But even with this theology we continue to witness unimaginable suffering where we wonder what redeeming purpose could possibly come out of it.      

With this topic I would like to offer the Book of Job as a suggestion for theological reflection. This was exactly the question that the Jewish community faced with the Babylonian captivity because until then they thought that God’s action were always good and just (from their own perspective of what is good and just) and where equally confused about the actions of God when this cataclysmic event took place in their own time. The Temple was destroyed, many had been killed and executed including the entire royal family, and the remnant where exiled to Babylon where they thought they would perish. Out of this comes the Book of Job. In this Book the Israelites rework a new theology about how God can function in a way we can appreciate when evil events indiscriminately are allowed to happen. Job asks the question: “We accept good things from God; and should we not accept evil?”

In this book Job ultimately breaks down and becomes angry with God. Many of us can feel this anger with God right now. In Chapter 38 God responds back to Job by humbling Job back into his place within creation:

“Who is this that obscures divine plans with words of ignorance? Gird up your loins now like a man: I will question you, and you tell me the answers! Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its size; do you know? Who stretched out the measuring line for it? Into what were its pedestals sunk, And who laid the cornerstone?”

This may strike us as harsh but basically God is telling Job and reminding us all that we cannot measure the greater good and evil from our own narrow vantage point. The evil that Job faced, the evil that Israel faced and the evil that Haiti faces today has some purpose. We cannot imagine what purpose could possibly justify such an action but since we are not the authors of Creation (as God reminds Job) then we are to relegate this into the realm of faith.

As Lord Alfred Tennyson had said: “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.”

In the principles of Catholic social teaching we are taught about the common good in this way. We are taught that God alone is good (Luke 18:19) and of course God is the sole author of all creation. The good we seek as Catholics is not our own good but the common good that “embraces the sum total of all those conditions of social life which enable individuals, families, and organizations to achieve complete an effective fulfillment.” (Mater et Magistra #74) Whatever universal good can possibly come out of this event God alone only knows, but we are left with doing what we can to build the common good in a place and with a people that have been absolutely devastated. The earthquake took place, and we are powerless to control what has already taken place. The issue for us is not to dwell on this but to act. We must act to promote the good to our Haitian brothers and sisters who are currently suffering from so much evil.

Hello Friends,
After driving by night to Kennedy Airport January 12th, and flying to the Dominican Republic January 13th, Conan and I arrived to Haiti this morning in the helicopter of the President of the Dominican Republic. This ride was due to the reputation of NPH in the Dominican Republic, NPH Italy, a reputation enhanced in the DR by Andrea Bocelli not long ago.

Our first tasks were the medical evacuation of one of our American volunteers, the medical evacuation of one of our Cuban doctors and the evacuation of the body if one of our American visitors. The search still continues in the rubble for another missing American volunteer, Molly.

We also had 18 funerals today. One for John who works at our St Luke program. We miss John very much. He often stopped to at my door to tell me the milestone of his developing baby, which delighted him no end. John ran our computerized language lab. Another was for Johanne?s mother. Joanne is one of the Directors of the St Luke program. All the others were of unknown people who were sadly rotting by the wayside.

Other sadnesses? the death of Immacula, our only physician assistant, who worked at our huge outpatient side of our hospital. The death of ALL but one of Joseph Ferdinand?s brothers and sisters, the death of the husband of Jacqueline Gautier as he was visiting a school which fell and all the students (all died), the death of our ex-pequeno Wilfrid Altisme who was in his 5th year of seminary for priesthood. Other stories of deaths of people who are dear to us keep coming in.

We spent the rest of the time managing the countless people with serious and severe wounds, coming to our hospital. We are doing our best for them, under trees and in the parking lot with ever diminishing supplies. We will work throughout the night and beyond. No stores are open, no banks are open. Diesel is running out. Will be out in two days if we don’t find a solution, which will mean no power at all. The hospital is without water since there is some broken line between the well and the water tower.

Structural damages to the hospital seem superficial at first glance, but about half the outer perimeter walls have fallen. The old hospital in Petionville is in ruins, and teams of workers, led by Ferel, and been digging for Molly non-stop around the clock.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Haiti’s Smallest Victims, Click Here to see an ABC News report from Friday January 15 on Fr. Rick Frechette and his Haitian Mission

While we wait for more specific information the two Passionist Provinces in the United States have organized emergency funds that will supply Fr. Rick with the financial resources he needs. Both funds will give 100% of your contributions to the Passionist mission in Haiti. It does not matter which fund you go through as both Provinces will promptly transfer the funds to Fr. Rick and the team in Haiti. Please help the Passionist community as they minister to God’s people in their greatest time of need.

St. Paul of the Cross Province Haitian Emergency Fund

Holy Cross Province Haitian Relief Fund (choose Haitian Relief under specific Passionist ministry)

As soon as we get further information on other ways to donate or contribute further resources to this emergency mission we will keep you informed on this blog.

We are pleased to announce that the Hollywood organization Artists for Peace and Justice is also raising fund for Fr. Rick’s emergency efforts in Haiti. Fr. Rick received the Hollywood Humanitarian Award this summer after Paul Haggis (director of Crash) came to know Fr. Rick and was deeply impressed by his service to the Hatian community. Below is the video clip of Fr. Rick receiving the award. Click here for the CNN report on the Hollywood contribution to the Passionist emergency fund for Haiti.

The Passionist response to the Haitian Crisis

The Passionist community has served the Haitian area in coalition with the “Friends of the Orphan” program and Compassion Weavers. Fr. Rick Frechette, CP is a Passionist missionary that serves the Haitian community as a Priest and a Medical Doctor. Fr. Rick ministers at two Hospitals in Haiti and with the St. Luke’s medical mission he goes out to offer medical care to people who have no access to get to a hospital. He also works alongside the Sisters of Mother Teresa in their centers for the sick and destitute dying. This video that was produced in 2008 will highlight the Haitian ministry that he has engaged with. This is a very powerful video on a reality that almost seems unreal.

This week, members of the Passionist Community will go with Fr. Rick to examine the damage done to the Hospitals and to the community that they serve. Fr. Rick is going to be asking many of us who have supported these ministries before to financially help him with the devastation to the hospitals that serve an immediate need for a people that are facing unimaginable suffering and physical pain.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. The need at this time cannot be underestimated. In the spirit of Justice our first response is to address the suffering that is being experienced at this moment and when we hear back from Fr. Rick I will immediately post the specific needs that the community requires in serving our Haitian brothers and sisters.

Poverty and Debt

Let us also keep in mind however that Haiti’s financial predicament was also connected to an odious debt situation in which the nation could no longer create any necessary infrastructures such as hospitals and schools. The organization Jubilee USA was proud to post some great news when this summer the United States organized to cancel the debts that Haiti had not only with our nation but also with the International Financial Institutions (Click here to read about the Haitian debt cancellation Press Release.) At this time Congress is considering the following Bill titled the Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation (HR 4405) which will forgive the debts of so many other poor nations. In Passionist spirituality the Cross is a vehicle that brings us to a new life in the Resurrection. May the Cross that Haiti is experiencing renew in us a commitment to serve our poorer Brothers and Sisters directly and politically. Please visit the Jubilee USA action page to advocate for debt cancellation.