Fr. Rick Reflects on the 9th Anniversary of the Earthquake

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Fr. Rick Reflects on the 9th Anniversary of the Earthquake

When Haiti was devastated by the infamous earthquake of 2010, the world had not seen a comparable disaster since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. It was also one of the first disasters in the age of the cell phone and instant messaging. The size of the disaster, and the ease of instant communication worldwide, sparked immediate and universal awareness, concern and mobilization to help the suffering.

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USAID Meeting at St. Luke Hospital

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USAID Meeting at St. Luke Hospital

Through the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (“ASHA”) grant that St. Luke received in 2014, we were able to build a conference and education center at St. Luke Hospital. The meeting took place in our conference room and organizations such as Restavek Freedom, the Caris Foundation, Mission of Hope, Samaritan’s Purse, Christianville, and Catholic Relief Services were represented at the discussion. St. Luke was honored to host this meeting, and hopes that the discussion and collaboration will continue.

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Restoring Dignity in Haiti, A Visit from GSD Healthcare Inc.

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Restoring Dignity in Haiti, A Visit from GSD Healthcare Inc.

After receiving treatment at Mayo Clinic Arizona, Fr. Rick, knowing that many people in Haiti could also benefit from his same procedure, suggested to Dr. Patel and Dr. Humphreys to find a way to bring that kind of care to the men of Haiti. Elderly men are often a neglected population within this country. They don’t generate a lot of aid; they are not cute and marketable, like babies and young children. With little aid for this demographic, these men are often left to live for years with catheters, some even unable to work and care for their families because of difficulties and challenges that come with incontinence.  With this knowledge, Dr. Patel and Dr. Humphreys set out to restore dignity to men in Haiti, and the group GSD was birthed.

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Christmas when Darkness seems Darker, a Letter from Fr. Rick

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Christmas when Darkness seems Darker, a Letter from Fr. Rick

As Christians approach the revered celebration of the birth of Jesus, these words from a singer-poet illumine the meaning of Christmas, in a world and in a Church that are darkly and dangerously troubled:

Ring the bell that still can ring, 
sing the song that still can sing,
There's a crack in everything- 
that's how the light gets in.
(Leonard Cohen, "Anthem")

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A Visit from the Rava Foundation

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A Visit from the Rava Foundation

At the beginning of December, the St. Luke Foundation had the pleasure of receiving a visit from our long time friends and partners, Mariavittoria Rava, Dr. Enrico Casano, and Donatella Dipaolo, from the Rava Foundation in Italy. Dr. Casano has been an integral part of our breast cancer screening program that we began with the Rava Foundation’s help at the beginning of 2017. Since the start of the program, we have been able to screen over 2,000 women!

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Social Services at St. Luke Hospital

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Social Services at St. Luke Hospital

“He is my father,” Pierre, a middle-aged patient says as he points to Wilflo Fontus, his visibly younger social worker at St. Luke Hospital, “he is my brother; my friend.” Pierre was left at the hospital, abandoned by his family. There was no relative willing to bring him food, clothing, or medicine until the social services team, consisting of Wilflo, Rachelle Petiote, and Yolette Senat, stepped in. These three become like family to their most vulnerable patients.

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