HAITIHAITI

Sunday Sunday 13 December 200913 December 2009

Inauguration of the school Inauguration of the school of Saint Gerard of Saint Gerard in Port au Príncein Port au Prínce

This work was financed by the Association This work was financed by the Association ““Acoger y CompartirAcoger y Compartir”, with donations received”, with donations received from Granada, Madrid, Tornelloso y Tenerife. from Granada, Madrid, Tornelloso y Tenerife.

Pupils, parents and teachers Pupils, parents and teachers organised a celebration to mark the occasion.organised a celebration to mark the occasion.

Pupils thank the Pupils thank the ““Acoger y Compartir” Acoger y Compartir” Association Association for its generosity. for its generosity.

The youngest to the oldest The youngest to the oldest shared their talents at a celebration full of joy.shared their talents at a celebration full of joy.

THE LATEST NEWSTHE LATEST NEWS

Earthquake in Haiti Earthquake in Haiti

School collapses School collapses

with 300 pupils inside.with 300 pupils inside.

The parents of the children, teachers and members of the Redemptorist community search through the rubble

with their hands, trying to find the children.

These photos of the crucifix of the parish of St. Gerard These photos of the crucifix of the parish of St. Gerard and the pupils of the school tell their own story.and the pupils of the school tell their own story.

When humans suffer violence, When humans suffer violence, God suffers as well.God suffers as well.

Whoever ignores human misery, ignores God. Whoever ignores human misery, ignores God.

One is not possible without the other.One is not possible without the other.

The greatest mistake is to believe that a person can The greatest mistake is to believe that a person can serve God while forgetting human suffering.serve God while forgetting human suffering.

Cindy Terasme screams after seeing the feet of her 14 year old, brother Jean, buried in the rubble.

The parish school collapsed completely with children and The parish school collapsed completely with children and teachers inside, killing about 300 peopleteachers inside, killing about 300 people

The parish church itself its almost destroyed. The parish church itself its almost destroyed. Only a few walls remain. Only a few walls remain. 

We have lost everything in the debris, fathers, We have lost everything in the debris, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins. mothers, brothers, sisters, cousins.

Port au Prince has become a graveyard. No words can Port au Prince has become a graveyard. No words can express what has happened.  express what has happened.  

Thank you for your solidarity. Thank you for your solidarity. The suffering of the people is enormous. The suffering of the people is enormous.

(From a letter of the head of the Redemptorists in Haiti)(From a letter of the head of the Redemptorists in Haiti)

God our hope, we entrust all the victims God our hope, we entrust all the victims of the earthquake to you.of the earthquake to you.

While we are puzzled by the incomprehensible While we are puzzled by the incomprehensible suffering of the innocent, may the goodness of suffering of the innocent, may the goodness of

others give witness to your compassion. others give witness to your compassion. AMEN AMEN

Let us join in the prayer of the Church of HaitiLet us join in the prayer of the Church of Haiti