HAITI UPDATE

By: S.Francesconi, editor | Last Updated: 01/19/2010 09:52

News about the situation in Haiti will be posted here as well as on the St. Thomas Facebook page.

January 26: At this time, thanks to the incredible generosity of St. Thomas parishioners and the community, St. Thomas has collected close to $50,000 for Haiti Relief. A major portion will go to Catholic Relief Services, which has had a credible and respected presence in Haiti for years; the remainder will be distributed in three ways: 1: to provide nourishing meals for distribution in Haiti via a special on-site 1 Million Meal challenge with Feed My Starving Children on May 28 & 29 (details to follow);2: to support recovery efforts of the priestly order of the Holy Cross, which is the order to which both Fr. Dolphe and Fr. Fritz belong, and 3: for future distribution to the people of Haiti as additional needs arise.

Haiti Earthquake Relief Donations
A new tax relief law allows people who contributed in 2010 to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti to take a tax deduction for the contribution on their 2009 tax return instead of their 2010 return. If you have made a donation by check to St. Thomas Haiti earthquake relief in 2010 and wish to deduct it for 2009 please make your request to Marilyn DeMeo in the business office so we may provide a receipt for your records. mdemeo@stapostle.org or 630 355 8980 ext 107. For further information, please visit the IRS website: www.irs.gov

A Prayer after the Earthquake in Haiti

Jan 18:
St. Thomas parishioner and Naperville Architect, Leanne Meyer-Smith of Wight and Company in a WGN January 18th broadcast.

Jan 18: St. Thomas FMSC Packing for Haiti
In just two Spirit-filled hours, 130 volunteers from St. Thomas packed over 29,000 meals Sunday, January 17 for victims of last week's earthquake during a special food packing event at Feed My Starving Children (FMSC). Dawn Eber, parishioner and board member of FMSC, said that her favorite moment was looking around at the crowded room and hearing everyone singing in unison Three Dog Night's "Joy to the World". Thank you for supporting this event. Stay tuned for additional special St. Thomas FMSC events for Haiti.

Jan 18: Donations to St. Thomas for Haiti Relief
At this time, St. Thomas is considering the best channels of distribution for the donations we receive to ensure the funds go where they are most needed. We will provide a portion to Catholic Relief Service in Haiti who has always had a major presence there. We are also considering Feed My Starving Children as they strive to send additional food to Haiti and also have a proven presence there. As we get more information from the Holy Cross Fathers in Port-a-Prince and from our contacts in Duchity, we will consider how we can assist there. Checks can be made to "St. Thomas" with "Haiti Relief" in the memo.

Jan 18: Message from Fr. Marcel, Pastor of Ste. Marie-Madeleine
We need your prayers! The number of victims increases substantially. Victims begin to return home. But they have nothing to live. At Duchity they are numerous. I am traumatized by this situation. The Haitian people count on your prayer.
Fr Marcel Janvier

Jan 18: A message from a Gigi Pomeranz, a nurse practitioner from Milwaukee with connections to Duchity. Things are bad in Duchity - over 500 people have returned. They are worried about food and prices, and everyone that returns has only the clothes on their back ...

Jan 18: Julien Linot, a youth from Duchity, describes the situation in an email to a St. Thomas parishioner on January 17 My friend, my chum I can't explain to you how is Haiti is right now, it's completely break we are sorry because we can do nothing by ourselves. The earthquake wasn't hit at Duchity a lot, but the people who live in Port-au-Prince who from at Duchity many of them killed, and we couldn't find them out, you already know Bible says It will be a time no body won't be able to help the others because the will have the own problem. It's the same for Haiti right now. Jean-Claude (Director of national school) have two daughters killed in Port-au-prince and my brother killed too, he was at university the building fall down with all student we couldn't find the trace of him. The other people who from at Duchity is be back at Duchity, please my chum we need your help right now because we run out of food, water, medications for people who is sick. I'm on the Internet at Fransi's house he has a Pc manager that I can email to you. My friend we don't want to become selfish people at Duchity we suppose to help each other. In this case not only at Duchity we need help, but around Haiti. My chum let me know what you decide to do for us. right now need help the American people, Haitian people who in different nation too. I email to you on behalf of people at Duchity, and Haiti too, because we all got the same problem.I think the Dental team won't be able to come in Haiti again because they won't to go at the Airport traffic. We don't know when we'll be back to school because all College in the Capital is fall down. Please the foreign who'll help us I want the will do a decentralization of the things. My friend I'm looking forward to waiting for your answer. (...) Thanks, and may God bless you in all you do. Sincerely, Julien.

Jan 18: News from Duchity People are returning to Duchity with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many are showing up at the orphanage, thinking they have supplies. Ertha has been doing what she can- She has been feeding them soup, but even her supplies are limited.

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PREVIOUS NEWS

THANKS BE TO GOD! Fr. Fritz has just informed us that Jean Claude's children (Jackson and Marie-Michelle) are alive. They have been found in good health condition after 12 hours trapped by massive pieces of concrete.

Yon lot Ayiti=A New Haiti A reflection from a staff member.

Special report from Washington DC from Margaret Schultz, sister of St. Thomas OSJ staffer, Anne Schultz Click here to read..

Bill Canny, director of emergency preparedness at Catholic Relief Services, and formerly head of ground operations in Haiti, was online Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 9:30 a.m. ET to discuss global response to the tragedy and how people can help. Click here to read the transcript.

Click this link to read additional news from Matthew 25 House, a non-profit organization focused on creating lasting sister parish relationships between parishes in the U.S. or Canada and parishes in the country of Haiti and elsewhere.

Fr. Rodolphe Arty, our Associate Pastor, in an interview with the Naperville Sun speaks of the tragedy and the loss of his friend, Monsignor Joseph Serge Miot, the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, who was found in the ruins of the archdiocese office

Jan 13 12:40--Fr. Fritz is here in Naperville. He has been in contact with his family in Haiti and they are okay, however, they have lost their home and are now on the street.

Jan 13 11:09--from Ertha: Thank you for your prayer, we still looking what will happening in the future it's raining every body worried many family criyng .A spacial prayer for Jean Claude P. Louis please. thank you so much. ertha

If you are on facebook you will be able to read the parish page postings.

Information about St. Thomas' relationship with Haiti including useful links

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