Haiti - a missionary Church in need

Archbishop, Priests & Nuns Killed; Cathedrals, Churches, Seminaries & Schools Destroyed in 2 Dioceses

The tragedy that has befallen Haiti following the 7+ magnitude earthquake with its epicentre outside the capital of Port-au-Prince in January 2010�is familiar to you from the nightly TV news bulletins. Haiti is recognised as the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. It is predominately Catholic and before the earthquake struck, the Church had a widespread and effective social network operating throughout the country.

An increased response is needed by the Catholic community in Australia to help with the restoration of the Church of Haiti and replace an infrastructure that has been lost among the rubble where churches, seminaries, schools, convents, pastoral centres, Catholic staffed hospitals and public buildings once stood in the largely now destroyed capital. (Pre-earthquake population: 3.96m).

Following the lead of the Holy Father Benedict XVI and Bishops' conferences in a variety of global regions, The Pontifical Mission Societies (Catholic Mission in Australia) has opened an appeal to assist the Church authorities in Haiti with the replacement of vital infrastructure and buildings that have been lost, express solidarity with all Haitians and return to the Catholic faithful their places of worship, education and Christian care. The task is immense. It will take tens of millions of dollars and years to achieve. I would encourage you to join with the Holy Father and Catholic Mission in this pastoral and charitable endeavour as an expression of Christ's love for all humanity. How Christians should respond to such an overwhelming tragedy is perhaps no better expressed than by Father Donald Chambers, National Director for The Pontifical Mission Societies of neighbouring Jamaica:

"We must continue the mission of Jesus and make God's love known by helping the people of Haiti. We must be the hands and feet of Jesus. If everyone comes together, we can show the people they are not alone. We will walk with them as long as is necessary".

To donate to Catholic Mission's appeal for Haiti and assist the Bishops in the most affected dioceses of Port-au-Prince and Jacmel to rebuild cathedrals, churches, seminaries, convents and parish centres and provide hope to a suffering people, follow the http://www.catholicmission.org.au/ link to the Catholic Mission homepage and click the Donate Now to Haiti prompt.

Cheque donations can also be directed to:

• Diocesan Director, Catholic Mission
  PO Box 1015, WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
  (Please do not send mail to the street address at Bellambi)

Humanitarian and emergency aid relief for the people of Haiti should continue to be directed to the official appeal for this purpose as announced by Caritas.

A website to be recommended for graphic, inspirational and confronting photographs of the devastation and suffering caused by the Haitian earthquake is: www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/01/haiti_six_days_later.html