Last Monday, January 18th, I was finally able to reach Father Calixte Hilaire in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He was able to confirm that Archbishop Serge Miot was killed in the initial impact of the earthquake. The Cathedral Church and all the diocesan offices were reduced to ruble along with the seminary where many of the students died as well. Father Isaac, the pastor of our sister parish of St. Genevieve is in the city and unharmed, but he corrected an earlier report about the disposition of the parish. The church and rectory are both gone and probably the school and dispensary as well. We have to assume that most or all of our outlying chapels are also destroyed or damaged. Since the quake happened after school hours, we are hoping that most of the children escaped the devastation, but we have no way of knowing the number killed or injured in the mountains of Duval. Under the best of conditions it is difficult to reach St. Genevieve and now the entire area is completely cut off. Father Calixte assured me that his parish of St. Jude in Port-au-Prince is damaged but still standing. He asked for our continued prayers for the people of Haiti. We cannot send any monetary assistance yet as there is no way to transfer any funds. Even if there were, there is literally nothing that money can buy. The only resources available are being flown into the country. This stage of recovery and assistance is a job for the military and first responders. The first priority is to restore order and repair the docks to receive the massive relief supplies that can only be brought in by ship. St. Joseph Hospital in downtown Port-au-Prince was damaged, so they are forced to treat people in the streets. Of course they have no medicines available at this time, but most of the hospital staff escaped and they are doing the best they can. There will be an even greater need in the weeks ahead as the danger of disease will be pronounced. Father Calixte told me that he would be contacting us with information about how we might be able to help with the hospital and the most immediate needs. The long term needs will of course be enormous. Until such time as we can reestablish communication with Duval and the people of St. Genevieve our prayers are needed more than anything else.

Bishop Higi spoke with me about working with Catholic Relief Services as many of the CRS people are already in country. The funds we have already raised at St. Elizabeth Seton will be augmented with other donations from the parishes of St. John Vianney in Fishers, Holy Family in Gas City, and St. Paul’s in Marion. These will be sent to Haiti as soon as possible through CRS and/or directly to St. Joseph Hospital.  Although the situation is grim at the moment, there is all the more need for hope. Massive amounts of military and technical aid is en route for the people of Haiti. This new focus of the world on the plight of that stricken country can be the seed for a new beginning. We at St. Elizabeth Seton shall be among those who are in the forefront of that hope for the people of Haiti. Together we shall bury our dead, treat the injured and rebuild for the future. Thank you for your prayers and your generosity to our sisters and brothers in Haiti. As of January 18th, we have collected $51,000.