Haiti : Since the earthquake
 In the courtyard of the Claretian house: Matilde rscj with the parish priest (Fr Anistus), Fr Joaquin and other neighbours. |
Dear friends, As you already know, I left Haiti an hour before the earthquake of 12th January. I went to Mexico to a working meeting of Popular Education. The meeting began on 15th, but there was no flight on 14th, so I had to travel earlier. On 12th, at the time of the earthquake, I was to have been at CIFOR (centre of theological studies for the religious of Haiti) where I go to give classes every Tuesday from 3 to 5. That place collapsed and many of the students inside were killed. I would have been there with them. Dr Zilda Arns, foundress of the Pastoral Centre of Crinança, died there while talking outside the CIFOR building with Honore (an Oblate of St Francis de Sales), one of our students. He, thanks be to God, is safe. Dr Zilda had just given a lecture to the students there. |
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I heard the news when I made a stopover at the Panama airport. In Mexico I was able to contact many people and organise a network of substantial help for Haiti. Our communities and schools in Mexico are doing a great deal and showing incredible solidarity. Throughout my time there I was greatly helped and supported. |
All that remains of our parish church.
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I had to make my return journey through the Dominican Republic, because the airport of Port au Prince is still refusing commercial flights. The airline COPA with which I was flying let me take all the equipment I needed. So I was able to take all that Josefa Corrada rscj was asking for, as well as 7 tents. I have many friends who are sleeping in the street.
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I informed Pedro Acevedo, a friend of Amerindia and secretary of CONDOR (Dominican Conference of Religious men and women), that I would arrive on 23rd January, and he found a religious community who met me at the airport and gave me accommodation. The next day, 24th, I attended the General Meeting of CONDOR. It was a day of solidarity with Haiti and the network of help to Haiti was revised and reorganised. The meeting closed with a Eucharist presided by the Cardinal. |
| The sisters who gave me accommodation (Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus) could not have been more welcoming and supportive. Delightful women. They also gave hospitality to Toño, a Holy Spirit Father, and Jaki, a doctor from his parish. Both are Mexican. On 25th we went with the sisters to CONDOR and loaded the van with all the food, water and medicines we could. I also went to see Nono S.J., my boss for over three years when I was in “Faith and Joy”. His legs were severely injured in the earthquake. He has had two operations and has to be on dialysis, as his kidneys are not responding. |
All that could be salvaged from our parish church.
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Very early on 26th, I set out in a convoy from CONDOR, consisting of 4 vans and a truckload of religious doctors and nurses who were going to spend two weeks in Haiti. Others who had completed their service were to return in those same vans. The co-ordination centre where these religious were accommodated is CAFOJ, the house run by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation. (I have been there very often to give formation seminars for men and women teachers, Bible courses, meetings of Ecclesial Base Communities.) Everything is very well organised. |
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Our house has been destroyed. We can’t live in it. People can go in and steal whenever they like, as the ground floor walls have collapsed. For the moment we are salvaging papers and things we feel are important (such as the internet modem by which I’m communicating at present), but we can’t take everything because we have no storage space. We have to choose! |
Our bathroom
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On 30th January, we went with an engineer to inspect our house. He told us it is not possible to rebuild because there are 8 broken pillars, and the ones supporting the staircase have been broken and scattered. We are going to try to take the furniture to Verrettes, but we don’t see that as the place where we should be living now. The people who need help are those in Port au Prince, so we have to stay here. Josefa will keep on going to Verrettes for a week every month, to continue co-ordinating Timoun Tèt Ansanm, our programme for children and young people. We have talked to the Daughters of Jesus, and for a while we will be able to go on living in their house. Afterwards... God will let us know!
Tomorrow we are going to UNICEF to see if we can collaborate, or create with them a programme for the boys and girls who are wandering the streets or are in refugee camps.
This evening we will go to CAFOJ with our Parish Priest to see if a dispensary can be set up in his area, Nazon.
We count on you all for support. A big hug from Josefa and me.
Matilde Moreno rscj
Province of Puerto Rico-Haiti
How can we as the Society respond to this cry?
Read the communication from the General Council.
Click here to see other RSCJ News...
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|2010-03-04 Helen O'Regan - Kenya
English: Dear Josefa and Matilde, Thank you for staying with the people of Haiti. You are prayed for often in our community in Eldoret. Thanks too for the very touching account- photos and narrative - of what happened and how the Spirit is leading you. May God continue to give you His strength and wisdom for today and each day of the road to re-building lives there. With much love and prayer, Helen
Français: Chères Josefa et Matilde, Merci de rester avec le peuple de Haïti. Nous prions souvent pour vous dans notre communauté de Eldoret. Merci aussi pour le rapport si touchant –en photo et en paroles – de ce qui s’est passé et comment l’Esprit vous conduit. Que Dieu continue à vous donner Sa force et Sa sagesse pour aujourd’hui et pour chaque jour sur la route de le reconstruction des vies là-bas. Avec beaucoup d’amour et de prière, Helen.
Queridas Josefa y Matilde, Gracias por permanecer con el Pueblo de Haiti. Las recordamos con frecuencia en nuestra oración comunitaria en Eldoret. Gracias también por las relaciones y fotos que nos han llegado mucho, de lo que ha pasado y cómo el Espíritu las guía. El Señor les siga dando fuerza y sabiduría para hoy y siempre en este camino de reconstrucción de vidas allí. Con mucho amor y oración, Helen
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|2010-03-04 Graciela Pappalardo - Argentina/Uruguay
Castellano : Gracias querida Matilde por comunicarte, por permitir, de alguna manera, que estemos cerca en estos momentos! Están en nuestro corazón y nuestras oraciones cada día! Un enorme abrazo!
Français: Merci, chère Matilde, pour ton partage. Merci de nous permettre d’être, d’une certaine façon, proches de vous en ces moments ! Vous êtes dans notre cœur et dans nos prières chaque jour ! Avec beaucoup d’affection !
English: Thank you, dear Mathilde, for writing, for allowing us in some way to be near you at this time! You are all in our hearts and our prayers every day! A big hug!
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|2010-03-04 Esmey Herscovitch rscj - Australia
English : Dear Sisters, Thank you for sharing your experience of how life is now in Haiti for you and your people. I keep wondering how things are for you and of course I keep you and the country in prayer. Despite all you share and all that we see in the media I am sure I cannot fully imagine the reality of the devastation and the desperation. Know that I am with you in prayer and love, Esmey
Français: Chères soeurs, Merci de partager ainsi votre expérience de comment la vie se déroule maintenant en Haïti pour vous et votre peuple. Je continue à me demander comment les choses vont pour vous, et bien sûr je prie pour vous et pour le pays. Malgré ce que vos partagez et malgré tout ce que nous voyons dans les médias, je suis sûre que je ne peux pas imaginer correctement la réalité du désastre et du désespoir. Sachez que je suis avec vous par la prière et dans l’amour, Esmey
Castellano: Queridas hermanas: Muchas gracias por compartir vuestra experiencia de la vida actual en Haití, así como lo que vive su gente. Continuo preguntándome cómo os va y cómo está el pueblo. Me sigo cuestionando cómo os va y, por supuesto, rezo por vosotras y por el país. A pesar de todo lo que compartís y de lo que vemos en los medios de comunicación, estoy segura que no me puedo imaginar correctamente la realidad de la catástrofe y de la desesperación. Sabed que estoy con vosotras con la oración y con el cariño. Esmey.
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|2010-03-04 Cecilia Rivero Borrell - México
Castellano : Querida Matilde: Muchas gracias por compartir y mantenernos al tanto de lo que sucede. Estamos presentes y solidarias y más en estos momentos en los que el terremoto está dejando de ser "noticia". Cuenten con nuestra oración, respaldo y cariño. Sinceramente, Cecilia
Français: Chère Mathilde, merci beaucoup pour ton partage et de nous tenir au courant de ce qui advient. Nous sommes présentes et solidaires, et plus encore en ces moments où l’on parle moins aux nouvelles du tremblement de terre. Comptez sur notre prière, notre soutien, et sur notre affection. Sincèrement, Cecilia
English: Dear Mathilde: Thank you so much for sharing and keeping us informed regarding what is happening. We are with you in solidarity, and especially now at this stage when the earthquake is no longer “in the headlines”. Count on our prayer, our support and our love. Sincerely, Cecilia.
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|2010-02-25 Shanti Fernandes - India
English : Thank you for sharing all that you shared so vividly. We have been very much with you all holding you deeply in the Heart of Jesus with our prayer and concern. Truly you are great women, courageous and committed. Your presence and action must a sign of great hope for all those who have lost so much. Thank you for being there as Society in such a life giving way.
Français: Merci de partager ainsi tout ce que vous partagez si vivement. Nous avons été fort unies à vous, en vous portant profondément dans le Cœur de Jésus dans nos prières et pensées. Vraiment, vous êtes des femmes merveilleuses, courageuses et engagées. Votre présence et votre action doivent être un signe de large espérance pour tous ceux qui ont tant perdu. Merci d’être là présence de la Société du Sacré-Cœur d’une manière si donnée.
Castellano : Gracias por compartir todo eso que compartes con tanta vida. Les hemos estado muy unidas, llevándolas profundamente en el Corazón de Jesús y en nuestras oraciones y pensamientos.
Realmente son Uds. mujeres maravillosas, valientes y comprometidas. Su presencia y su acción tienen que ser un signo de gran esperanza para los que han perdido tanto. Gracias por estar allí como Sociedad del Sagrado Corazón de manera tan entregada.
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|2010-02-25 Mariella Agius rscj - Malta
English : Thank you for sharing details of your experience of the earthquake. We have been with you in spirit and we keep you constantly in our prayer. Through the Maltese religious who have suffered great losses in Haiti we feel very close to you.
Français: Merci de nous partager en détail votre expérience du tremblement de terre. Nous demeurons unies à vous en esprit, et nous vous gardons constamment dans nos prières. Par les religieux maltais qui ont enregistré de grandes pertes en Haïti nous nous sentons très proches de vous.
Castellano : Gracias por compartir detalles de tu experiencia del terremoto. Estamos muy unidas en el espíritu y las tenemos siempre en nuestra oración. Por los religiosos malteses que han sufrido grandes pérdidas en Haití, nos sentimos muy cerca suyo.
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|2010-02-25 Mary Pat Rives, rscj - USA
English : Dear Matilde, Thank you so much for your email. You, Josefa and all in Haiti have been so much in our prayers. When I visited two years ago with Diane, Judy and Josefa in Verrettes, we saw and spoke highly of the Ministry you all have in Haiti. We were sorry we were not able to meet you but heard of the very good work you are doing in Port au Prince. As and when you can do keep us in touch. Lovingly, Mary Pat
Français: Chère Matilde, Merci beaucoup pour ton e-mail. Toi, Josefa et tous en Haïti êtes tellement dans nos prières ces semaines-ci. Quand je suis venue il y a deux ans rendre visite avec Diane à Judy et Josefa à Verrettes, nous avons vu et beaucoup échangé sur la mission que vous avez en Haïti. Nous avons beaucoup regretté de ne pas avoir pu te rencontrer, mais nous avons beaucoup entendu parler du bon travail que tu fais à port au Prince. N’hésite pas à nous contacter, comme et quand tu pourras. Avec affection, Mary Pat
Castellano : Querida Matilde, muchas gracias por tu mail. A ti, a Josefa y a todos los de Haití, los hemos tenido muy presentes en nuestras oraciones. Cuando las visité hace dos años con Diane, Judy y Josefa en Verrettes, vimos y conversamos mucho sobre la misión que tienen en Haití. Sentimos mucho no haberte podido encontrar, pero nos contaron mucho sobre el buen trabajo que haces en Prince. No dudes en contactarnos cuando puedas, con afecto, Mary Pat
Français: Je vous félicite pour toutes les choses, Merci
English: Congratulations for everything, and many thanks.
Castellano: Las felicito por todas las cosas. Gracias