Catholic Relief Services Haiti Update

 

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is the official overseas relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).  Each day more CRS staff from around the globe arrive in Haiti, joining our existing staff of just over 300.  CRS headquarters building in Haiti was damaged but did not collapse.

CRS has been asked by the United Nations to lead the response at one of the first formally organized camps.  CRS has arranged to supply the camp with water, food, and plastic sheeting for shelter, which continue to be trucked in from CRS warehouses in the neighboring Dominican Republic.

The January 28 posting of the USCCB Media Blog states that “One of the keys to rebuilding Haiti in the wake of the devastating January 12 earthquake will be communications. Its purpose would be to meet the spiritual needs of the people. . . Contact and communication is vital at this stage. Coming together in prayer is a natural instinct for believers. One of the most reliable ways for Catholics in Haiti to stay in contact with each other and to receive on-going faith formation was the network of Catholic radio stations operating in each diocese. The most developed was the Catholic station in Port-au-Prince, Radio Soleil. The transmitter, antenna and other equipment lie buried beneath the rubble. . . .Other religious groups are already broadcasting, so the need to reach out to Catholics is an urgent one. . . .CLA (Church in Latin America) has supported this effective form of communication in Haiti, helping to fund a specialist who could train local operators and technicians. We will immediately find ways to seek equipment in the Dominican Republic and have it sent to Port-au-Prince as soon as possible.”

 In a January 26 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk stated that “The Conference of Bishops and our relief and development agency, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), also took immediate and urgent steps to respond to the crisis. CRS deployed personnel and resources to initiate an immediate and large-scale response to help the victims in Haiti. USCCB took up a special collection on the weekend after the earthquake in all U.S. parishes to benefit the relief and recovery efforts for the people and Church in Haiti. .  .  .  Beyond these necessary immediate steps, our nation needs a long-term strategy to help a country recover, rebuild and reduce poverty. As Bishop Pierre-André Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-a-Veau and Miragoane and President of Caritas Haiti affirmed: ‘At the moment it's all about the emergency, but one day the questions will be about reconstruction.’ "

CRS is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support received in response to this calamity.  But can’t stress enough how significant the damage is and how may of our brothers and sisters are affected.  The generosity of Saint Laurence parishioners has amounted to over $10,000 and has certainly aided in assisting our brothers and sisters.  If you would like to contribute again, or for the first time to the Haiti relief efforts, place your donation in an envelope and mark it “Haiti Relief” and drop it off to the parish office or place it in the collection basket on Sunday.
Also, a most important reminder to all that the prayerful intercession of our faith community is sure to help as much as our monetary donations.  Thank you for all you have done.
Visit the Catholic Relief Services website at www.crs.org for more information on the latest efforts of CRS in Haiti and how to donate to the relief efforts.