Hi Denise, Fr. Jadotte is here with me. CRS is sending a shipment of food
but the logistics keep changing so he is reorienting people as plans
change. The rectory is not habitable and will cost an estimated $14,000
USD to repair. I have the estimate. Love, Pat and Pe Jadotte
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Dear Pat Robertson, Please read John 9:3
3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Monday, January 25, 2010
Television Interview
We will be on channel 22 Cookeville tonight at 7:00 pm for an interview on Haiti. Tune in if you can.
Bob and Denise
Bob and Denise
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Information from the Sisters we work with in Gros Morne
The Religious of Jesus and Mary - U.S. Province
RJM
Get Involved: Haiti Disaster Relief Donations Needed
UPDATE JAN. 20, 2010 We just heard on the news about the strong aftershock (6.1 magnitude) to hit outside of Port-au-Prince. We have heard, as of 1:30 p.m., that Sr. Jackie, Sr. Isa and Brittany are fine in Port au Prince. As we live in the mystery of this heart-wrenching tragedy, please know that the RJM community continues to be grateful for the tremendous outpouring of donations to the RJM earthquake relief fund ? P A P E R ( Port-au-Prince Earthquake Relief).
Hait MapJAN. 20, 2010 - As you know from the news, the needs of the Haitian people were overwhelming prior to the earthquake and continue to be so today. The scope and depth of this tragedy continue to call for both immediate and sustained, long-term intervention. Our commitment to serve in Haiti remains strong. We intend to be there for the long haul.
The Religious of Jesus and Mary, a Roman Catholic Congregation of Sisters, have ministered in Haiti since 1997. We know that our six sisters, two candidates, and one volunteer are alive, and we count that as a blessing. Our present situation is the following: Sister Vivian is receiving medical help in Rhode Island. Sisters Jackie and Isa and our volunteer, Brittany, are in Port-au-Prince helping with relief efforts in and around Sacre Coeur Hospital. Sister Pat is coordinating communication from Gros Morne ? a place that now has 3000 refugees.
Haiti Disaster
Photo by Sean Barth
Efforts are underway in GM to get food, medical help and sleeping mats. Sisters Nazareth and Rose have provided a bus to bring Jean Rabel people from PAP; they are also involved in meetings to access the needs and to see how best to respond. Gardyne, our candidate, sadly lost her brother in the earthquake and is with her family. Middia, our pre-candidate, is still in need of orthopedic care and several people are working to find her the needed assistance. Our convent in Port-au-Prince has been severely damaged by the earthquake.
We are committed to sharing ourselves and our goods with our Haitian brothers and sisters for as long as we are able. To this end, we invite and welcome your prayers and financial support. No donation is too small!
The RJMs have set up an earth quake relief fund ? P A P E R ? i.e. Port-au-Prince Earthquake Relief. Donations can be sent directly to that fund:
c/o Sr. Janet Stolba, RJM
Religious of Jesus and Mary
125 Michigan Ave. N. E. 4th floor
Washington, DC 20017
Or you can donate online through our website:
Donate to Haiti Disaster Relief
Select "RJM Haiti Fund" in the Program Designation drop-down menu, and your donation will go for immediate disaster relief.
Correspondence regarding RJM Earthquake Relief may be sent to Sr. Janet Stolba at:
rjmearthquakerelief@yahoo.com.
Notre Dame in Haiti: Before and After
Photo by Sean Barth
Haiti Presidential PalaceL before and After
Photo by Sean Barth
You can also donate through other relief organizations such as Catholic Relief Services.
For those interested in volunteering, please phone
Theresa Patterson at (615) 673-3501, as she organizes volunteer groups. Or Google search PTPA (Parish Twinning of America).
Plans are underway to have a special Mass for the victims of the earthquake.
Go to the The Religious of Jesus and Mary U.S. Province website.
RJM
The Religious of Jesus and Mary - U.S. Province
Friday, January 22, 2010
Fr Jadotte update
Just heard that the rectory where Fr. Jadotte stays in Gros Morne on Mondays and Tuesdays was severely damaged. Gros Morne is the city that is closest to the villages where he works.
from Voice of America
Haitian Government to Relocate 400,000 Displaced by Quake
Photo: AP
Displaced people camping in the streets awake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 21 Jan 2010
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Haitian government officials say an estimated 400,000 residents displaced by last week's earthquake will be moved to new villages to be set up outside the devastated capital, Port-au-Prince.
Officials said Thursday they will provide transportation for the residents and hope to begin moving them as soon as possible. The 7.0 magnitude quake left an estimated 1.5 million people homeless, and earthquake survivors have been living outside in overcrowded camps with little or no sanitation.
Also on Thursday, U.S. military announced it had reopened the heavily damaged seaport in the Haitian capital to help improve the flow of aid to earthquake victims.
The commander of the U.S. Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser, said the port should be able to handle the movement of about 150 containers of relief daily.
The port's capacity is expected grow to at least 250 containers a day Friday, when a commercial vessel arrives.
Debris around the port, wrecked roads and congestion at the damaged main airport in the capital have made delivering relief to earthquake survivors difficult.
Fraser also said three new airports have opened in Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic for relief supplies.
Meanwhile, U.S. aviation authorities say they have sent a temporary control tower to Haiti to help with the flights bringing in earthquake aid from around the world. The tower will come with two diesel-powered generators and supporting fuel tanks.
Separately, aid workers on the ground in Haiti say they are making progress getting food and water to survivors, but the death toll could rise because of untreated injuries and disease. The aid group, Doctors Without Borders, says patients are dying of sepsis (an infection in the blood) from untreated wounds and that some of the group's surgical sites have 10- to 12-day backlogs of patients.
The January 12 quake killed an estimated 200,000 people and affected 3 million people -- about one-third of Haiti's population.
The U.S. Defense Department said Thursday that the number of American troops taking part in relief efforts will grow to 20,000 by Sunday, including troops on the ground and on the many ships in the area.
The U.S. Navy ship, USNS Comfort, reached Haiti Wednesday and its crew has treated more than 230 patients from 10 hospital sites.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
News From FR Jadotte!!!
Denise just recieved this email from SrPat and FrJadotte
Denise, This is Pat writing with Fr. Jadotte. Along with other
Montfortains, Fr. J barely got out of their house before it collapsed.
One of their Priest is still buried in the rubble. They lost nine of
their seminarians at CIFOR- the theology school. IN Riviere Mancelle the church and the rectory are cracking. They will try to repair
the rectory. The school which was in bad shape is worse. The students
can't go on the second floor. They are using leave coverings outdoors.
The 5th and 6th graders are in the church. In the other chapels the
schools are open. ( Pat says compliments to them--other schools are closed
even thought they could open.) However the price of food stuff has risen
so they will need more money to feed the children.. Do you know anything
about the gator parts?? Father wants you to know the rocket stove is
working very well--people are very happy with it--in less than 30 min rice
is cooked and less smoke. (I'm jealous) The cooks like it very much.
Thanks for all your prayers. Fr. Jadotte and Pat We have a web site
www.rjm-us.org and you probably have received the HPTP updates
Denise, This is Pat writing with Fr. Jadotte. Along with other
Montfortains, Fr. J barely got out of their house before it collapsed.
One of their Priest is still buried in the rubble. They lost nine of
their seminarians at CIFOR- the theology school. IN Riviere Mancelle the church and the rectory are cracking. They will try to repair
the rectory. The school which was in bad shape is worse. The students
can't go on the second floor. They are using leave coverings outdoors.
The 5th and 6th graders are in the church. In the other chapels the
schools are open. ( Pat says compliments to them--other schools are closed
even thought they could open.) However the price of food stuff has risen
so they will need more money to feed the children.. Do you know anything
about the gator parts?? Father wants you to know the rocket stove is
working very well--people are very happy with it--in less than 30 min rice
is cooked and less smoke. (I'm jealous) The cooks like it very much.
Thanks for all your prayers. Fr. Jadotte and Pat We have a web site
www.rjm-us.org and you probably have received the HPTP updates
President Preval article follow link
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/01/haiti-earthquake-after-a-week-preval-speaks.html
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Information from Mattew 25, The guest house in Port au Prince
Earthquake Update on Matthew 25 House ETC.
Dear All,
Thank you for your concern for Sr. Mary, Pat, Vivian, Domond and his family and the clinic at Petite Riviere de Nippes. I received news early last evening that Domond and his family were okay, but was not able to get any word from Matthew 25 until very early this morning. Gras a Dieu, thanks to God, everyone is safe and well. I am going to copy below some of what Sr. Mary has written. I am communicating with Dr. Gil Irwin in Manassas, VA to see if there is a way that we can mobilize medical people to go into PAP, such as through the military. I have had many calls from medical personnel offering to go to Haiti, but the first obstacle to hurdle will be how to get into the country in these next few days. Sr. Mary has indicated that they could potentially have visiting medical personnel sleep in the soccer field and the land behind Matthew 25. She said that they are in great need of medical supplies, bandages, betadine, analgesics, etc. Just as soon as I have any information, I will share it with you.
I have received a lot of inquiries also as to how one can help. As I have done on many other occasions, such as with the hurricanes in Gonaives, I directed money I received to the Bishops or sources where I thought the funds would be utilized best. For now, I feel medical needs are going to be a priority. Long-term, we will also need to make repairs to the house. As Sr. Mary has indicated in her e-mail below, the upstairs of the house has been damaged and we cannot have people stay in those rooms. A lot of reconstruction and rebuilding, particularly in Port-au-Prince, is going to be a necessity in the aftermath of the earthquake.
My word from Petite Riviere de Nippes is that the clinic essentially withstood the major quake and tremors. Our Clinic Administrator writes today that fissures or cracks have occurred in numerous places in the clinic as a result of all of the aftershocks. Otherwise, all of the employees are fine physically, but very disturbed emotionally. Most of them have families back in Port-au-Prince. The medical personnel living at our staff house spent the entire night outside for fear of the building collapsing from the aftershocks. They are prepared today to treat anyone needing medical assistance.
I will stay in touch with Sr. Mary and others in Haiti to assess where we can help most. And, I will also keep you apprised of any information worth sharing. If you know of anyone wishing to make a donation, they can direct it to Parish Twinning Program and put on the memo line for "earthquake relief" -- or if you are able to assist with medical treatment and repairs at Visitation Clinic, you would make a check out to Visitation Hospital Foundation with the same information on the memo line.
Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.
Blessings,
Theresa Patterson
Parish Twinning Program
Visitation Hospital Foundation
FROM SR. MARY FINNICK IN PORT-AU-PRINCE:
We are all OK physically at the house. We were home when it hit. The downstairs part of the house stood up well, does not appear to be any serious structural damage. But, there has been some considerable damage upstairs. Matthew 25 cooked up 4 big pots of soup for the people coming for treatment, and we served as a triage and treatment center. We were able to climb over the fallen bookcases and shelves and retrieve a lot of meds and supplies we had in our depot.
Sr Mary, Vivian and our 6 guests performed superbly in treating many injured. Eventually, 3 Haitian doctors showed up, I think when they heard we had supplies. Worked til about one in the morning. We were also one of the few houses to have power with our inverters and batteries, so we set up 3 or 4 lights on the soccer field to help with the treatment. The hospitals are either badly damaged or destroyed and have stopped taking patients as they are overwhelmed.
Pray for our sisters and brothers.
Pat, Viv, Sr. Mary
It is morning and I can give you a better assessment of the house. The first floor is covered with all the things that came out of the closets but there isn't any big structural problem. The divider between the depot and the store fell in as did most of the other book cases in the office and in my room. The 2nd floor is different The side facing the soccer field has more damage and the cement walls and some of the boards have been knocked around. The 3rd floor stairs are just hanging there. The cement in front of the bathroom is badly damaged. On the other side the bathroom wall on the outside is damaged but there doesn't seem to be as much structural problems. The wall between us and the neighbor has quite a large hole. I don't know yet what to tell folks about coming but I don't think we can use the rooms upstairs. I've been trying to answer and reassure folks we are ok.
We used everything I had as I triaged along with 3 MD's and our guests. Vivian and Pat had the important job of getting to our supplies as that whole area is under debris; making pots of soup etc. We finally cut up pillow cases for bandages. I think planes are flying out today but I haven't heard from the folks who are in country and supposed to return to PAP. Our electricity continues but the container holding 12 of the batteries is damaged. All the cars survived.
Domond just came over and said his house is not safe because of the damage upstairs. He did ask to have you contact any medical groups planning to come to see if they still planned to and then ask if they would stay in PAP as this the most needy place right now. We can use the soccer field and out back for sleeping area and the kitchen for cooking in the back is OK. But there is a great need for medical supplies, suturing, betadine, analgesics...everything... and personnel to bring it.
Dear All,
Thank you for your concern for Sr. Mary, Pat, Vivian, Domond and his family and the clinic at Petite Riviere de Nippes. I received news early last evening that Domond and his family were okay, but was not able to get any word from Matthew 25 until very early this morning. Gras a Dieu, thanks to God, everyone is safe and well. I am going to copy below some of what Sr. Mary has written. I am communicating with Dr. Gil Irwin in Manassas, VA to see if there is a way that we can mobilize medical people to go into PAP, such as through the military. I have had many calls from medical personnel offering to go to Haiti, but the first obstacle to hurdle will be how to get into the country in these next few days. Sr. Mary has indicated that they could potentially have visiting medical personnel sleep in the soccer field and the land behind Matthew 25. She said that they are in great need of medical supplies, bandages, betadine, analgesics, etc. Just as soon as I have any information, I will share it with you.
I have received a lot of inquiries also as to how one can help. As I have done on many other occasions, such as with the hurricanes in Gonaives, I directed money I received to the Bishops or sources where I thought the funds would be utilized best. For now, I feel medical needs are going to be a priority. Long-term, we will also need to make repairs to the house. As Sr. Mary has indicated in her e-mail below, the upstairs of the house has been damaged and we cannot have people stay in those rooms. A lot of reconstruction and rebuilding, particularly in Port-au-Prince, is going to be a necessity in the aftermath of the earthquake.
My word from Petite Riviere de Nippes is that the clinic essentially withstood the major quake and tremors. Our Clinic Administrator writes today that fissures or cracks have occurred in numerous places in the clinic as a result of all of the aftershocks. Otherwise, all of the employees are fine physically, but very disturbed emotionally. Most of them have families back in Port-au-Prince. The medical personnel living at our staff house spent the entire night outside for fear of the building collapsing from the aftershocks. They are prepared today to treat anyone needing medical assistance.
I will stay in touch with Sr. Mary and others in Haiti to assess where we can help most. And, I will also keep you apprised of any information worth sharing. If you know of anyone wishing to make a donation, they can direct it to Parish Twinning Program and put on the memo line for "earthquake relief" -- or if you are able to assist with medical treatment and repairs at Visitation Clinic, you would make a check out to Visitation Hospital Foundation with the same information on the memo line.
Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers.
Blessings,
Theresa Patterson
Parish Twinning Program
Visitation Hospital Foundation
FROM SR. MARY FINNICK IN PORT-AU-PRINCE:
We are all OK physically at the house. We were home when it hit. The downstairs part of the house stood up well, does not appear to be any serious structural damage. But, there has been some considerable damage upstairs. Matthew 25 cooked up 4 big pots of soup for the people coming for treatment, and we served as a triage and treatment center. We were able to climb over the fallen bookcases and shelves and retrieve a lot of meds and supplies we had in our depot.
Sr Mary, Vivian and our 6 guests performed superbly in treating many injured. Eventually, 3 Haitian doctors showed up, I think when they heard we had supplies. Worked til about one in the morning. We were also one of the few houses to have power with our inverters and batteries, so we set up 3 or 4 lights on the soccer field to help with the treatment. The hospitals are either badly damaged or destroyed and have stopped taking patients as they are overwhelmed.
Pray for our sisters and brothers.
Pat, Viv, Sr. Mary
It is morning and I can give you a better assessment of the house. The first floor is covered with all the things that came out of the closets but there isn't any big structural problem. The divider between the depot and the store fell in as did most of the other book cases in the office and in my room. The 2nd floor is different The side facing the soccer field has more damage and the cement walls and some of the boards have been knocked around. The 3rd floor stairs are just hanging there. The cement in front of the bathroom is badly damaged. On the other side the bathroom wall on the outside is damaged but there doesn't seem to be as much structural problems. The wall between us and the neighbor has quite a large hole. I don't know yet what to tell folks about coming but I don't think we can use the rooms upstairs. I've been trying to answer and reassure folks we are ok.
We used everything I had as I triaged along with 3 MD's and our guests. Vivian and Pat had the important job of getting to our supplies as that whole area is under debris; making pots of soup etc. We finally cut up pillow cases for bandages. I think planes are flying out today but I haven't heard from the folks who are in country and supposed to return to PAP. Our electricity continues but the container holding 12 of the batteries is damaged. All the cars survived.
Domond just came over and said his house is not safe because of the damage upstairs. He did ask to have you contact any medical groups planning to come to see if they still planned to and then ask if they would stay in PAP as this the most needy place right now. We can use the soccer field and out back for sleeping area and the kitchen for cooking in the back is OK. But there is a great need for medical supplies, suturing, betadine, analgesics...everything... and personnel to bring it.
Re:what we are doing
If you are following the news about the people fleeing to the country side, then you know the secondary problems that are starting there. Please pray for all of the people in Haiti.
God bless
Bob and Denise SDS
God bless
Bob and Denise SDS
Monday, January 18, 2010
This is news about Fr. Jadottes order in Haiti.
AMERICA/HAITI - Monfortians: 9 seminarians dead, one priest missing
Fides ^ | Januay 16, 2010
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2010 1:21:14 PM by NYer
Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) - "It is a time for tears; there is desolation everywhere, and the Montfortians have not been spared," writes Fr. Maurice, SMM, from Haiti, where the Montfort Missionaries (Company of Mary) have been present since 1871, with a dozen communities and about 50 religious priests. In addition to them are some 20 students in various stages of their formation. According to information sent to Fides from Fr. Alfio, the Provincial Secretary of the Montfort Missionaries, 9 seminarians are dead and there are fears for the fate of a priest, Father Jean Baptiste, who is missing. He was probably crushed by concrete blocks crashing to the ground from the Baussan Home, collapsed on the parking lot, when the priest tried to leave the house. The 9 seminarians, 8 theologate students plus one seminarian recently returned from Peru, were attending a conference at CIFOR (Institute of Studies for the Men and Women Religious), when the building collapsed on the bus they were on, as they were trying to leave place. They were crushed by slabs of concrete, it was impossible to intervene.
In 1871, the first religious brothers and priests of the Society of Mary, after leaving France, landed in Haiti. They founded the mission, at the same time in Pontch?teau, France, running a seminary for the formation of Haitian priests. Today, there are about 50 Haitian Montfortians, assisted in their ministry in Haiti by several missionaries from France and Canada. They are involved in several parishes of the Diocese of Port-de-Paix in the northwest of the country, but are also present in the Dioceses of Port-au-Prince and Gonaives, as well as in a mission in the Bahamas and one in the French Antilles. In addition to parish ministry, the religious of the Province headed several initiatives designed primarily to aid the poor. A member of the Province is also working to Nassau in the Bahamas, in a guidance center for the many Haitian refugees living in these islands. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/1/2010)
Fides ^ | Januay 16, 2010
Posted on Saturday, January 16, 2010 1:21:14 PM by NYer
Port-au-Prince (Agenzia Fides) - "It is a time for tears; there is desolation everywhere, and the Montfortians have not been spared," writes Fr. Maurice, SMM, from Haiti, where the Montfort Missionaries (Company of Mary) have been present since 1871, with a dozen communities and about 50 religious priests. In addition to them are some 20 students in various stages of their formation. According to information sent to Fides from Fr. Alfio, the Provincial Secretary of the Montfort Missionaries, 9 seminarians are dead and there are fears for the fate of a priest, Father Jean Baptiste, who is missing. He was probably crushed by concrete blocks crashing to the ground from the Baussan Home, collapsed on the parking lot, when the priest tried to leave the house. The 9 seminarians, 8 theologate students plus one seminarian recently returned from Peru, were attending a conference at CIFOR (Institute of Studies for the Men and Women Religious), when the building collapsed on the bus they were on, as they were trying to leave place. They were crushed by slabs of concrete, it was impossible to intervene.
In 1871, the first religious brothers and priests of the Society of Mary, after leaving France, landed in Haiti. They founded the mission, at the same time in Pontch?teau, France, running a seminary for the formation of Haitian priests. Today, there are about 50 Haitian Montfortians, assisted in their ministry in Haiti by several missionaries from France and Canada. They are involved in several parishes of the Diocese of Port-de-Paix in the northwest of the country, but are also present in the Dioceses of Port-au-Prince and Gonaives, as well as in a mission in the Bahamas and one in the French Antilles. In addition to parish ministry, the religious of the Province headed several initiatives designed primarily to aid the poor. A member of the Province is also working to Nassau in the Bahamas, in a guidance center for the many Haitian refugees living in these islands. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/1/2010)
Saturday, January 16, 2010
What we are doing and you can do to help
Many of our friends and supporters are asking about our plans to help in the latest disaster in Haiti. We believe that the first line of action is not the best use of our resources. After prayerful consideration with Father Jim and others we believe that our support will be needed in the immediate future in the surrounding areas of the damaged areas as people move to find shelter, water, food etc. We know from personal experience that the outlying areas have little if anything to offer. In fact they are barley able to feed and take care of themselves. Most of the food that we help to bring into our areas comes from Port Au Prince.
Our direction of service is going to be to help support the influx of refugees coming into the areas we serve.
We do not have all of the mechanisms in place, but we will be working with the Sisters of Mary and Joesph in Gros Morne. We have worked with them for 10 years and know that they are faithful stewards of all that is in trusted to them. If feel called to help with this endeavor, please send your donation to |
The Haiti Project
3668 Lower Helton Rd
Alexandria, Tn 37012
Please put Earthquake relief in the memo area.
We will make sure that it goes where it will do the most good.
God Bless,
Bob and Denise Snyder SDS
Our direction of service is going to be to help support the influx of refugees coming into the areas we serve.
We do not have all of the mechanisms in place, but we will be working with the Sisters of Mary and Joesph in Gros Morne. We have worked with them for 10 years and know that they are faithful stewards of all that is in trusted to them. If feel called to help with this endeavor, please send your donation to |
The Haiti Project
3668 Lower Helton Rd
Alexandria, Tn 37012
Please put Earthquake relief in the memo area.
We will make sure that it goes where it will do the most good.
God Bless,
Bob and Denise Snyder SDS
message from Bishop of Nahville
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The events of this week in Haiti have shocked the world and us here in the Diocese of Nashville. We have a double reason for our sadness and sorrow. Father Edwige Carr?, pastor of Holy Name parish in Nashville, a priest of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, lost his brother and three other family members, as well as his own Archbishop. Also many parishes there are twinned with parishes of our diocese, and there are deep bonds of affection and concern that are naturally shared.
Because of these relationships, the call of Francis Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for each diocese to take up a special collection has a special meaning and urgency for us.
I am asking that all parishes in the Diocese of Nashville take up a special collection this weekend to assist the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Because Catholic Relief Services has been there for years, and has a well established program in place, the proceeds of this special collection will be immediately forwarded to them in order that they can provide food, water, medicines and shelter.
This is our first response. I wish to be in a position to send our offering by the end of this week. Consequently, after this special collection is received, I will ask the parishes? pastors and staffs to deposit their gift and send us one check, which will, in turn, be combined with our offering from my office and all of the parishes of the diocese. Our combined gift will then be sent to Catholic Relief Services.
Following this initial effort, there will be more opportunities for us to respond to the needs of specific parishes and institutions in Haiti, with which we have partnered to serve the poor. There will be a Community Prayer Service for the People of Haiti at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave. Nashville, TN. The service is open to the public.
Our first response is to the efforts of Catholic Relief Services. They have a great track record, which I?m sure you can review online.
Next weekend, there will be a second collection in our parishes for the Church in Latin America. We have it every year, and thus we will take up this particular collection this year as well.
Please keep Father Carr?, his family, and our twinned parishes, schools, and hospital in your prayers.
Wishing you every blessing, I am
Most Reverend David R. Choby
Bishop of Nashville
The events of this week in Haiti have shocked the world and us here in the Diocese of Nashville. We have a double reason for our sadness and sorrow. Father Edwige Carr?, pastor of Holy Name parish in Nashville, a priest of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, lost his brother and three other family members, as well as his own Archbishop. Also many parishes there are twinned with parishes of our diocese, and there are deep bonds of affection and concern that are naturally shared.
Because of these relationships, the call of Francis Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, for each diocese to take up a special collection has a special meaning and urgency for us.
I am asking that all parishes in the Diocese of Nashville take up a special collection this weekend to assist the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Because Catholic Relief Services has been there for years, and has a well established program in place, the proceeds of this special collection will be immediately forwarded to them in order that they can provide food, water, medicines and shelter.
This is our first response. I wish to be in a position to send our offering by the end of this week. Consequently, after this special collection is received, I will ask the parishes? pastors and staffs to deposit their gift and send us one check, which will, in turn, be combined with our offering from my office and all of the parishes of the diocese. Our combined gift will then be sent to Catholic Relief Services.
Following this initial effort, there will be more opportunities for us to respond to the needs of specific parishes and institutions in Haiti, with which we have partnered to serve the poor. There will be a Community Prayer Service for the People of Haiti at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave. Nashville, TN. The service is open to the public.
Our first response is to the efforts of Catholic Relief Services. They have a great track record, which I?m sure you can review online.
Next weekend, there will be a second collection in our parishes for the Church in Latin America. We have it every year, and thus we will take up this particular collection this year as well.
Please keep Father Carr?, his family, and our twinned parishes, schools, and hospital in your prayers.
Wishing you every blessing, I am
Most Reverend David R. Choby
Bishop of Nashville
Friday, January 15, 2010
Haiti update Friday
Dear All Concerned,
The outpouring of concern, love and support has been phenomenal. Many thanks to all of you who have responded with offers of help.
I want to share in this message to you news about the status of medical support. We explored the possibility of transporting a medical team composed of those of you who have offered your services for immediate care. Given the problems at the airport in PAP and the fact that 4 medical teams composed of 63 people are planning to go to Haiti on January 21, 22 and 23, we are not planning to organize another medical team or effort. I have suggested several places to work including the University la Paix Hospital you might have seen on CNN and Centre Saint Joseph. Our concern for now is getting medicines to Haiti for both Port-au-Prince and for Visitation Clinic. It may be impossible to purchase medicines in PAP in the coming weeks. The medical teams will be able to bring in supplies for immediate needs in PAP, but I am concerned about getting enough meds to Visitation Clinic. If any of you are still traveling to Haiti in the next few weeks or month and can carry a bag of medicines for us, please let me know. We hope as funding comes in for VHF that medicines can be purchased here in the U.S.
I have also been in communication with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and they are sending a jet to Haiti within a few days out of Nashville. I am working with them on the logistics. They will be using our facilities at Matthew 25 as will the medical teams. We are hoping that Dr. Tom Grabenstein and several of our medical folks are possibly going to be part of that contingent.
I will try to be back in touch with you tomorrow with some updated news from Sr. Mary Finnick and Matthew 25 House. Thank you again for such a tremendous outpouring of concern for the people of Haiti.
Blessings,
Theresa Patterson
Parish Twinning Program
Visitation Hospital Foundation
The outpouring of concern, love and support has been phenomenal. Many thanks to all of you who have responded with offers of help.
I want to share in this message to you news about the status of medical support. We explored the possibility of transporting a medical team composed of those of you who have offered your services for immediate care. Given the problems at the airport in PAP and the fact that 4 medical teams composed of 63 people are planning to go to Haiti on January 21, 22 and 23, we are not planning to organize another medical team or effort. I have suggested several places to work including the University la Paix Hospital you might have seen on CNN and Centre Saint Joseph. Our concern for now is getting medicines to Haiti for both Port-au-Prince and for Visitation Clinic. It may be impossible to purchase medicines in PAP in the coming weeks. The medical teams will be able to bring in supplies for immediate needs in PAP, but I am concerned about getting enough meds to Visitation Clinic. If any of you are still traveling to Haiti in the next few weeks or month and can carry a bag of medicines for us, please let me know. We hope as funding comes in for VHF that medicines can be purchased here in the U.S.
I have also been in communication with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and they are sending a jet to Haiti within a few days out of Nashville. I am working with them on the logistics. They will be using our facilities at Matthew 25 as will the medical teams. We are hoping that Dr. Tom Grabenstein and several of our medical folks are possibly going to be part of that contingent.
I will try to be back in touch with you tomorrow with some updated news from Sr. Mary Finnick and Matthew 25 House. Thank you again for such a tremendous outpouring of concern for the people of Haiti.
Blessings,
Theresa Patterson
Parish Twinning Program
Visitation Hospital Foundation
Update
Dear Friends and All,
Greetings from Gros Morne where we have a
bit of an update to bring. We have received word that a few buildings
in town here did suffer damage. The public high school that was in
session at the time because they have afternoon classes was damaged and
a few students have broken bones from being thrown around. The
building is a very old one.
Our Montfortain fathers who were all in Port-au-Prince
for retreat and who had stayed on to attend a funeral all appear to be
well. There are two priests (not from Gros Morne) unaccounted for.
Also they have no news of their young men who were studying at the
intercongregational theologate. That building collapsed. We don't
know if anyone was in there. They also have no news of their priest in
another part of Port-au-Prince. Their provincial house in Sapoti
suffered some damage, but all are fine. Their house on rue Bausan also
suffered damage. The church near the large house on rue Baussan was
partly damaged. We still have heard no news from our sisters but we
have asked one of the fathers to go over to get news of them and to
send this to us since they seem to have internet access. However they
tell us that it is very hard to get out as the streets are littered
with debris and there are people everywhere. Hopefully one of then
will find the courage to venture out and give us news.
Keep the prayers coming.
Love,
Jackie
Jacqueline Picard, rjm
Gros Morne, Haiti
Greetings from Gros Morne where we have a
bit of an update to bring. We have received word that a few buildings
in town here did suffer damage. The public high school that was in
session at the time because they have afternoon classes was damaged and
a few students have broken bones from being thrown around. The
building is a very old one.
Our Montfortain fathers who were all in Port-au-Prince
for retreat and who had stayed on to attend a funeral all appear to be
well. There are two priests (not from Gros Morne) unaccounted for.
Also they have no news of their young men who were studying at the
intercongregational theologate. That building collapsed. We don't
know if anyone was in there. They also have no news of their priest in
another part of Port-au-Prince. Their provincial house in Sapoti
suffered some damage, but all are fine. Their house on rue Bausan also
suffered damage. The church near the large house on rue Baussan was
partly damaged. We still have heard no news from our sisters but we
have asked one of the fathers to go over to get news of them and to
send this to us since they seem to have internet access. However they
tell us that it is very hard to get out as the streets are littered
with debris and there are people everywhere. Hopefully one of then
will find the courage to venture out and give us news.
Keep the prayers coming.
Love,
Jackie
Jacqueline Picard, rjm
Gros Morne, Haiti
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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