They call St. Vincent Hairouna, meaning the Land of the Blessed! which was a fitting description for this wonderful tropical island. The alluring sounds of Caribbean music that often used to wake me, was like a distant dream come true. The steel-pan bands, which are the major traditional output here, pump out upbeat tunes that stir the soul. Those popular calypso, reggae, and soca sounds are lost now, and so is the hope of the people who live on St. Vincent . . . WHY?
One shattering moment on April 9th, 2021, silenced the music and the hopes of the residents when La Soufriere Volcano erupted. It left 20,000 residents traumatized, displaced, and vulnerable to disease. Our Redemptorist Missionaries serve three communities on the island: Sandy Bay, Georgetown and Bellevue. Of the 20,000 people that were relocated to the southern part of the island, 4,500 of them came directly from our three communities, which were in the direct path of the lava flow, mudslides, and ash clouds. Everything was destroyed!
The Redemptorist Missionaries have worked on St Vincent for several years–tackling poverty; creating more powerful and just societies; helping communities develop the knowledge and skills to bring about desired change, so they can drive their own development. We have worked to promote the wellbeing of the people by advocating for their rights to adequate nutrition, good healthcare services, quality education, all of which strengthen the strategic capacity for community building.
There are three phases of a disaster effort . . . rescue, relief, and recovery. We, the Church, have the greatest impact in the recovery process. When most nonprofits and organizations leave town, after headlines fade and another disaster hits the news, that is when we not only pick up the pieces, but we use them to rebuild lives.
When natural disasters strike, the Redemptorists place their trust in you . . . Will you partner with us to help the people of St. Vincent? I ask for your support today. Your donation of $100.00 will help us rebuild the communities of Sandy Bay, Georgetown, and Bellevue, whose residents have lost everything. It will return the sounds of music that restores the soul and helps provide hope!
Very Rev. Paul Borowski, C.Ss.R.
Provincial Superior
We ask for your help today as we move forward in rebuilding our missions. Don’t confuse your net worth with your self-worth. Don’t confuse your possessions with your purpose in life. Don’t confuse what you’re living on with what you’re living for . . .
If you can provide financial support, please address your donation to the Redemptorist Fathers and mail to the address listed below:
Very Rev. Paul Borowski, C.Ss.R.
Provincial Superior
The Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province
3112 7th Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
For gifts by credit card or stock transfer, please call (888) 813-0648. Some have asked us about donating goods here in the U.S. for the recovery effort in St. Vincent. While we are grateful for the desire to help, we do not accept non-cash goods. Why? Monetary donations are the fastest and most efficient way to provide immediate assistance