Dear Friends,

May the Lord give you His peace!  While at present, we Conventual Franciscan Friars do not have a mission in Haiti, there are over 1,500 religious men and women serving the Church in that country where three-fourths of the population is Catholic.  This afternoon, Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC of the National Religious Vocation Conference shared the following information with the conference members.  I now share it with you and ask for your continued prayers and help.

• As was reported in earlier news broadcasts, the Most Rev. Joseph Segre-Milot, Archbishop of Port-au-Prince was killed in addition to other diocesan priests and seminarians.  The cathedral, archbishop’s residence, and diocesan major seminary are in ruins.  At this time, there is only one Catholic church left standing in Port-au-Prince– Notre Dame d’ Altagrace on Delmas.
• The Inter-Institute Center for Religious Formation, known by its French initials CIFOR, was one of the many buildings in Port-au-Prince that collapsed after the earthquake. Seminarians and novices from several religious orders were in the building at the time.  Those confirmed dead include one Oblate of Mary Immaculate and one Spiritan.  The Montfort Missionaries also reported that eight of their students were killed when the building collapsed.  The Montforts also lost their novice master as well.
• The Salesians have said that two of their members in formation died when the St. Francis de Sales Institute in Port-au-Prince was destroyed.  Other schools of theirs have been demolished as well.  Approximately 200 students and teachers perished.  Brother Hubert Sanon, the first Haitian to profess as a Salesian brother, was also killed.  He was 85 years old.
• The Daughters of Charity lost one newly professed Haitan sister in addition to several convents.
• The Brothers of Christian Instruction had two brothers killed when part of their residence was demolished.
• The Religious of Jesus and Mary say that two sisters and two candidates survived, but are homeless and injured.  Their convent did not survive.
• Three Daughters of Wisdom lost their lives and three other sisters are injured.
• A children’s hospital run by the Camillians was partially destroyed, but they continue to tend to hundreds of traumatized and injured children.  The Camillans also run the only hospital in Port-au-Prince that was not damaged.  The community and limited staff are presently providing care to hundreds of people with few medical supplies.
• Although the Christian Brothers have reported no deaths or injuries, their novitiate has been converted to a shelter for homeless religious sisters.
• St. Gerard School, which includes a primary and secondary school run by the Redemptorists, collapsed killing most of its 300 students and teachers.  All of the Redemptorists are safe, but they estimate damages to be in the millions.
• One Dominican Sister of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin was injured and one of their two residences was completely destroyed.
• College Canado, Ecole St Jean run by the Sacred Heart Brothers was completely demolished.
• The Sisters of St. Ann have lost their dispensary, school, and two of their residences.
• A school run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis is also destroyed.
• A missionary Sister of the Humility of Mary, from Villa Maria, PA, suffered a concussion and broken rib.
• Although the Viatorians lost their retreat house and receptionist, over 400 people have now set up a makeshift camp on their property.
• Finally, the Congregation of Holy Cross is mourning the death of its newly professed seminarians killed in the earthquake.  In addition, the Congregation of Holy Cross’ primary and secondary school, Ensemble Scolaire Basile Moreau, and provincial residence were completely destroyed.

I am writing from our friary in Alajuela, Costa Rica where the friars, postulants and I continue to pray for our sisters and brothers in Haiti and all who are helping with the relief effort.  Please continue to pray for Haiti.  If you want to help in the relief effort, please go to contact Catholic Relief Services.

https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3181&3181.donation=form1

Peace and all good,

Friar Michael