Dear friends of our St Luke Mission in Haiti,
About six weeks ago, I sent out an appeal, and I just want to report back to you that THANKS TO YOUR HELP, we are still able to maintain three different cholera centers, that save lives of adults and children.
Read MoreIt’s tragic that we don’t have room for every person in need, but your help allows us to make place for as many as we possibly can.
Read MoreA prayer offered by Father Rick Frechette in memory of the earthquake's victims.
Read MoreAs Christmas draws near, I am still very troubled by an old pair of black shoes I saw recently on the street.
I know that the lights, music, trees and Christmas Spirit should help me forget them, but I can’t.
Read MoreHello to all,
After my trip to some of the St Luke schools in the south of Haiti, I want to thank Nebez, Raphael, Jaebets, Roseline and Augusnel for the phenomenal work they are doing.
After all the miles and miles in jeeps, boats, horses and on foot, and even though I can hardly see, hear, stand up, or walk after all the wear and tear I would like to tell you all how moved I was to see the beginning of the new school Saint Raphael in Des Varennes (on the Grand Riviere de Jacmel) and the school at St Louis de Sud, where Augusnel is from, and the phenomenal work at Nan Roches and Dame Marie (St Augustin and Manitane Schools) that Nebez has been working on for years.
As you know, unlike me, none of these guys write stories about what they are doing, which is a pity because their experiences, challenges and results are phenomenal.
Since they don't write, many of you have no idea of what character it takes, what determination, what vision, what ability to stick to it, because as you know, outside of the urban areas of Haiti it is difficult even to move yourself, never mind tons of iron, bags of cement, etc.
The hospitality was of deep friendship, and it was real and heart warming and fun.
The difficulty of getting anything done, trucks having to drive IN and UP the Jacmel river to bring building materials to Des Varennes, boats that have to land at La Sirengue with the building materials which are then carried up the mountain, or hauled by mules, or recently, by a big truck sliding through the mud- there is nothing easy about it.
Aside from the character and dedication of our leaders, what could not be avoided was noticing how hard life is for the people. A very very hard life. For the fishers in the sea, fishing even for sharks in small canoes, the work in the gardens that are like cliffs, the lack of supplies, stores, clinics, transportation. It is a very hard life.
And yet the people do their best, work hard, keep trying and hoping for a better tomorrow. If Nebez, Jaebets, Roseline and Augusnel and Raphael keep up their phenomnal work, they won't have to wait very long for a better tomorrow! It will soon be here.
Chapeau! Congratulations! I feel very proud!
Fr. Rick Frechette
Port au Prince
August 24th, 2015
As we start August, whoever called these the dog days of summer sure knew what they were talking about. But they are sultry not just because of the heat, but also because of the dire situations of poor people around the world. Pope Francis is trying to have all of us see the poor, understand how real they are, how much their suffering hurts. He wants is to be concerned about them, in a very practical way.
Read MoreIt is undeniable that when someone says
“she is like a mother to me”
it really means
“I know a mother's love.”
If Advent and Christmas have a more natural tendency to aim us toward joy, Lent and Holy week aim our gaze at sorrow. During all the liturgies of Lent, both mass readings and the liturgy of the hours, we widen our gaze to grasp the sufferings throughout history, and the present sufferings throughout the world, and can’t help but wonder if Resurrection is possible, and what it could really mean.
Read MoreThe goals of our celebrations were to pray for the peaceful repose of those who had died, thank God for all help received from the surviving Haitian people and people of good will around the world, and pray for a better future for Haiti and the world.
Read MoreDuring those precious days, on January 12 we watched with disbelief and with horror the news of the earthquake on television. I was shaken by the tragedy in Haiti, and torn as to what to do because to return to Haiti would be to sacrifice the chance to be with my mother, to help her, hold her, hear her last works and advice, for this very last time on earth.
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The St. Luke Foundation for Haiti is a 501 (c) (3) and tax-exempt charitable organization that supports Haitian-led programs.
A special thanks to Angela Altus, Rebecca Arnold, Giles Clark, Denso Gay and Ami Vitale for the photographs, as well as the teams of NPH and Artists for Peace and Justice.
