HAITI PROJECT
Although once the richest colony in the new world, Haiti, before the magnitude 7.3 earthquake of January 12, 2010, was best known as “the poorest country in the hemisphere” and was ranked as one of the most hungry countries in the world. More
than half the population was malnourished, most adults could neither read nor write, and a majority had incomes averaging less than US $1 a day.
Like Lazarus, who sat at the gate of the rich man and longed for the scraps that fell from his table (Luke 16), Haiti sits just 600 miles from the United States, one of the richest countries in the world. Like Lazarus it has been – for most of its 200 year history – ignored. It took an earthquake to focus the world’s attention on Haiti.
The catastrophic situation in Haiti that continues more than a month after the quake is beyond painful. Some 200,000 people are dead and a million are homeless. Port au Prince, a charnel house of bodies buried beneath tons of dust and rubble, remains thick with the smells of death. Previously open spaces now sprout “sheet cities” - potential breeding grounds for disease - lacking sanitation, clean water, adequate food and the most basic medicines.
WHY HAITI?
Solidarity – We believe we are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic and ideological differences.
Activities
"Change for Haiti "
"Change for Haiti" is collected following all Masses usually on the first Sunday of each month. Funds collected are sent to St Antoine’s for change in the lives of their people. Those who contribute change as well.
Annual Second Collection
Annually, usually in the Fall, a speaker presents information on the progress in Fondwa and a collection is taken up.
““Very often the ones doing the ‘more physical’ helping don’t realize that they are also being helped by those they are helping!” ”
“Mission Statement
Our mission is to build solidarity beyond our parish boundaries through establishing a meaningful relationship with the people of St. Antoine’s in Fondwa, Haiti.
Our goal is “to grow in faith together” with the parish of St. Antoine by fostering understanding between our diverse cultures and by raising our awareness of the plight of the Haitian people.”
“Haiti is the 4th poorest, 3rd hungriest, and the most water poor country in the world.”