Helping the Haiti Outreach Project

Arlene Flaherty Committee members hope to attend Catholic Relief Services (CRS) meeting in June 2012 "One Table, Many Partners" in Washinton DC. This will be an opportunity to meet with Church leaders from Haiti and the US, and to exchange practical information.

At a Villa Maria House of Studies, Immaculata, PA meeting, September 9, 2011, Sr. Arlene Flaherty OP, of CRS, shared the results of interviews conducted with women and men of religious orders in Haiti. LCWR/CMSM had requested this information after the huge losses suffered in the earthquake.

Arlene shared that religious sisters and brothers still struggle to clear rubble away before attempting to rebuild. Many feel vulnerable and extremely challenged. She noted that CRS is offering technical and financial aid to these groups in addition to building temporary housing. Of note, 20 shelters were built for the Little Sisters. Grants will also be allocated. CRS aided the larger population by spending 80 million dollars for transitional housing, health care and water systems. Because of the lack of petrol, CRS brought in hand-operated rubble crushers from Africa.

Meeting with Arlene Flaherty Hope for rebuilding the churches, rectories, convents, and schools surfaced at the international gathering of church leaders in Miami, September, 2010, Arlene reported. Haitian Bishops, meeting for the first time, formed a Program for Reconstruction of the Church in Haiti, PROCHE. This program will work to assure proper distribution of funds as well as provide guiding principles for construction. A common perception held by the Haitian institutional Church is that religious communities have financial resources to rebuild: however, most groups have little if any funding to reconstruct. In addition, these Institutes receive no financial support from the dioceses where they serve.

Sister Arlene said that it is essential to move from the charity model to a justice model with sustainability as the goal. Focusing on the assets of the Haitian people rather than emphasizing their poverty can create a more positive image. Brother Paulin, CSS, president of the Conference for Haitian Religious, emphasizes the great dislocation of the people of Haiti and the need for new ministerial realities there. It is hoped that the religious institutes and the institutional church of Haiti will collaborate for the sake of the future of the people of Haiti.

Ongoing concerns

Sylvania Franciscans have worked in the Southwest corner of Haiti since 2001. They provide pastoral care, a medical clinic and have helped their neighbors create a group, KPA (Christians Progress Together), which develops members' leadership skills. Needs have increased since the influx of earthquake survivors. Sylvania Franciscan Health is building a guest house for volunteers and visitors near the sisters' simple home which is without electricity and plumbing. Their friend and colleague Benjamin Frederick MD from Hershey, PA volunteers in Pestel and recently received a donation of $100,000 to drill 10 wells in the area.

Marycare works with rural communities in Northeast Haiti which is isolated from the south by history and geography. Since most NGOs have their headquarters in Port au Prince, organization was severely impacted by the earthquake. Through the internet a collaborative project has developed in North: the Cap Haitian Health Network. Sixty organizations participate and the sharing between members improves storage and distribution of supplies, coordination of agricultural, water and environmental projects, and expansion of medical services.

Brian Conner, son of an IHM associate, is a pastor and architect. A delegation from his Highlands Fellowship Church helped build latrines in a Port au Prince tent city.

Fonkoze, the micro-finance bank for Haiti's poor, lost five staff members and their Port au Prince office. Forty-one branches are now up and running and able to transfer funds from families and friends overseas.

Hands Together is a nonprofit organization serving the poor in Haiti especially in the slums of Cite Soleil and Gonaives and in the countryside. Founded by Fr. Tom Hagan, a Salesian priest from Philadelphia, the organization employs hundreds of Haitians through its outreach programs including schools, clinics, and nutrition sites. Lay volunteers and students augment the work but currently the volunteer residence, destroyed in the earthquake, is being rebuilt. Fr. Tom quotes St. Francis de Sales "You just know that the same loving God who took care of you yesterday will take care of your today and will take care of you tomorrow."

St. Frances DeSales Hospital lost 100 patients, 10 staff members, and 70% of their building in the earthquake. Global Health Ministry is channeling donations towards rebuilding and sending volunteers to staff clinics.

The OSP IHM Haiti Outreach Committee has a fund for donations to Haiti. Those wishing to contribute may make checks payable to IHM Sisters and mail to:

Haiti Outreach
c/o Sr. Camille Brouillard, IHM
610 West Elm Avenue
Monroe, Michigan 48162

Donations may also be made online to Catholic Relief Services or Fonkoze.

Thank you in advance for a generous response to this request.

Sr Anne with returning students Sr. Jane at Hands Together site