Dominican Development Group newsletter regarding Haiti

January 13, 2010

A Newsletter of the Companion Diocese and missional relationships with the Diocese of the Dominican Republic: the Dioceses of the Central Gulf Coast, Georgia, Southeast Florida, Southwest Florida, Western Louisiana, South Carolina, Quincy, Southern Virginia, Virginia, and others.

You have seen the devastation from the disastrous 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday at 5:53pm about 10 miles southwest of Port-au-Prince, Haiti.  Apparently it was a shallow quake that violently shook all the area around it.  On the television and the internet this morning you saw the wreckage left by the earthquake.  People in the know say this was the strongest quake to hit Haiti in 200 years.

Tremors were felt in the DR but it was not affected much.  However early news bulletins from Haiti report that thousands are trapped and feared dead under the many, many collapsed buildings: the Presidential palace, the Parliament building, and many schools and many more homes.  It is estimated that 3,000,000 people were affected in one way or another.  Truly a major humanitarian emergency.

In addition to the injuries and loss of life, Fr. Kesner Ajax (Executive Director of the Bishop Tharp Institute in Cayes) reported by email this morning that:

“There is no Cathedral. The entire Holy Trinity complex is gone. The convent for the Sisters of St. Margaret is gone. The Bishop’s house is gone. College St. Pierre is gone. The apartment for College St. Pierre is still standing. Bishop no longer has a house in which to live.

In Trouin, four people were killed during a service.In Grand Colline, the church is gone.In St. Etienne, the church is gone.In Les Cayes, BTI is OK, but some people were injured trying to get out of the buildings during the quake. The rectory in Les Cayes is in very bad condition.”

A good portion of the relief going into Haiti will go in through the Dominican Republic, and much of it will be purchased there.  Food, medicines and other supplies are readily available in the DR.  Bishop Holguín would like to channel emergency relief to help his sister Haitian Church through the Dominican Episcopal Church: first emergency relief and later help with rebuilding.  You may show your solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti by praying for them and by sending contributions designated for “Haiti relief” to the Dominican Development Group at the address below.  Please be generous.

Thank you and God bless,

Bob Stevens

(The Joint CD Bulletin is published by The Dominican Development Group, P.O. Box 661, Ellenton, FL 34222.  For more information please contact Bob Stevens at the address above or at 941-776-1018 or ddgstevens@aol.com.)