What's New // Featured Article / Update from Haiti regarding the January 12, 2010 Earthquake

Dear Viatorian Associates and Confreres,

After having helped more than 17,000 refugees to find shelter amidst the aftershocks of the earthquake, to be fed, to have access to medical care and pastoral services, the Viatorians in Haiti have worked hard to help people get things back on the track of a normal life. Refugees from three of our six camps have returned home. We have given tents to those who have room for them on their own property. Those who have nothing have been given money to construct shelters with wood and corrugated steel. We have also distributed food and bedding to families in need. We are in the process of developing a program of psycho-social intervention for young people ages 3 to 18 years old. Replacing the camp in the garden of the Villa Manrèse will soon be six large tents in which two psychologists, dance teachers, physical education instructors, civic and ethics teachers, and speakers on various topics will organize psychotherapeutic activities. We have also planned to open a communal dining area where the young people in the various programs will have hot meals for three months. Other short, medium, and long-term activities are planned for all age groups. This is why we are continually meeting with the leaders of the five slum-neighborhoods that are located around our property.

All of this has been made possible by the work of the NGO’s (non-governmental organizations)—especially SERSO, the Viatorian NGO from Spain. We also would like to thank the General Direction of the Viatorians in Rome and the Viatorian provinces and foundations for their solidarity. We continue to count on this solidarity to participate as Viatorians in the rebuilding of Haiti.  Considering that 90% of the school buildings in Port-au-Prince have been destroyed, the Viatorian educational mission is more important than ever. At the present time there is no house to receive religious travelers and visitors in Port-au-Prince. The Villa Manrèse, which was “the home away from home” for many religious communities and for the Church of Haiti in general, has just been totally demolished after removing seven bodies from the rubble.  We are really starting again from scratch.

Gratefully,

Fr. Paul André Garraud, CSV
Port-au-Prince