Appeal to the Pastors and Faithful of the Catholic Church in Canada

The impact on the people of Haiti is enormous, following the massive 12 January 2010 earthquake centring on the region of its capital, Port-au-Prince. Although reliable estimates on the human casualties are not yet available, reports indicate that much of the city is in rubble, thousands are feared dead, and hundreds of thousands left homeless. Three million people are in need of disaster relief – which represents one-third of the nation’s total population. Among the many whose deaths are deplored in the earthquake is the Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Most Reverend Serge Miot.

Earlier today, the Holy Father appealed for assistance to Haiti. Speaking at the end of the General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI called for international generosity and solidarity toward our Haitian brothers and sisters who are suffering and in need, and gave his assurances that the Catholic Church will provide immediate and urgent assistance.

As President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, I invite all the Bishops of Canada to join me in urging all Canadian Catholics and people of goodwill to pray fervently and to respond quickly and generously to the needs of the people of Haiti in this hour of urgent need. We also wish to assure our brothers and sisters in Canada who are of Haitian origin that we are united with them in prayer and action.

Our Conference joins with the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace in launching a joint emergency campaign for Haiti. We will be working closely with Development and Peace – which is also officially Caritas Canada – in helping to organize and promote this appeal, as well as in assuring appropriate follow-up with the Church in Haiti and with its Episcopal Conference. Development and Peace has already launched its appeal for Haiti by immediately sending $50,000 in emergency assistance to Caritas Haiti. In addition to special parish collections that the Bishops of Canada may be authorizing in their respective dioceses, contributions for Haiti can also be made directly through the Development and Peace website.

May the Holy Spirit touch all hearts so that we are worthy followers of Jesus Christ in our generosity and solidarity by responding to this emergency campaign for Haiti.


+ Pierre Morissette
Bishop of Saint-Jérôme
President
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

CO-ORDINATION OF CHURCH'S EFFORTS FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE

VATICAN CITY, 15 JAN 2010 (VIS) - The following communique was released yesterday afternoon:

"In the hours following the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, the Holy Father made an appeal far the mobilisation of spiritual and material assistance, declaring that 'the Catholic Church will not fail to move immediately, through her charitable institutions, to meet the most immediate needs of the population'.

"As with other tragedies, Catholics are already being zealous in providing tangible aid. Several Catholic agencies are at work and are sending manpower, which is especially urgent. The Pontifical Council 'Cor Unum', in direct contact with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the international humanitarian agency of the bishops of the United States, has asked it to co-ordinate the relief efforts at this stage. The 300 plus on-the-ground personnel, who have long been active in Haiti, and the past experience, expertise and resources of CRS will enable prompt and effective co-ordination of the Church's efforts, which, in the words of Pope Benedict, must be generous and concrete to meet the pressing needs of our Haitian brothers and sisters".


15 January 2010

Dear Friends in Christ:

The January 12^th earthquake in Haiti has caused massive devastation and many human casualties. The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Most Reverend Serge Miot, is among those who died in Tuesday’s earthquake. Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI, during the General Audience on Wednesday of this week, called on Catholics to join him in prayer for the victims of this catastrophe and to show our solidarity with them through our concrete support. He pledged that the Catholic Church, through her charitable institutions, will move immediately to meet the most urgent needs of the population.

I invite you to join with me in responding to the Holy Father’s request. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace – which is also officially Caritas Canada – are launching an emergency campaign for Haiti. You may make your contribution to this charitable initiative by placing an envelope marked “Haiti Relief” in the Sunday collection. These contributions will be recorded and receipted in the parish and then forwarded to the Chancery Office, where they will be transferred to the emergency fund for Haiti set up by Development and Peace.

The Federal Government announced today that it will match dollar-for-dollar any donation made to Canadian charitable organizations between January 12 and February 12, 2010.

Please remember the people of Haiti in your prayers and through a generous contribution.

Most Rev. Brendan M. O’Brien
Archbishop of Kingston

Chalice Update on Relief Efforts in Haiti

Looking ahead, food security is of great concern. Previously food supply was heavily relied upon from Port-au-Prince and with the current situation we are expecting that food will not be able to make it to our more remote communities. In anticipation of food shortages our Sites are assessing their reserves, promoting rationing of food and determining alternative means of supply. Fortunately, due to our established offices and regular sponsorship program operations our Sites are in a healthy position to facilitate the funding of emergency supplies and aid. Chalice is able to continue to facilitate disaster relief to ensure our children and families are kept safe.