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January 14, 2010
After some anxious hours, the Redemptorists rejoice at the news that their 41 confreres in the Port-au-Prince Region in Haiti are all safe. One Redemptorist was slightly hurt in the earthquake that devastated the capital city, and at least one other lost several family members.
News about family and friends continues to be slow in coming, and the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province continue to keep our novice, Jacky, in our prayers as he awaits word of his family and friends.
St. Gerard Church in Port-au-Prince, which serves a population of about 100,000 of modest means, is in ruins, according to Very Rev. Mário Boies, provincial superior of the Province of Sainte-Anne de Beaupré (Quebec, Canada). Haiti is a region within the Quebec province. St. Gerard Parish also includes the residence of the Redemptorist regional superior.
A newly constructed part of the student residence was also destroyed. The students are currently living in the garden.
If you would like to make a gift to the Redemptorists to help them with relief and recovery efforts in Haiti, please make a donation for General Ministry Support using our online donation form. Please mark the gift as in honor of Haiti. Any online donations marked for Haiti will go directly to help the Redemptorists on the ground in Port-au-Prince.
The Port-au-Prince region includes 19 priests, 1 deacon, 2 perpetually professed Brothers, 19 professed students and 5 pre-novices. The median age of Redemptorists in the province is 34.
In addition to St. Gerard parish, Redemptorists care for two parishes in the diocese of Cayes (Château and Fonfrède); and three parishes on the island of Guadeloupe (Immaculée in Grand Bourg, Saint Louis in the town of Saint Louis and Sainte-Anne in Capesterre).
Thank you for your generosity and may Our Mother of Perpetual Help be with all those impacted by this tragedy.