Special to the HERALD
(From the issue of 4/29/04)

Father Richard Martin, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Burke, made a Holy Week visit to rebellion-torn Haiti to show solidarity and support for the victims of the latest violence and turmoil in this third world nation. Father Martin spent time with the 500 families of Nativity Village in Port-au-Prince.

Formerly known as Merger, this small settlement of mud and stick huts has been transformed by Nativity Parish through a house-building effort called "Project Starfish." In the last three years, 330 families have moved into simple but safe new houses, built with donations from Nativity parishioners. In appreciation, the residents renamed their village "Nativity Village" and built a large welcome sign at the entrance. Father Martin’s parish has committed to eliminating the terrible housing conditions for all 500 families.

Father Martin’s journey came at the suggestion of Nativity’s partner in this work, Food for the Poor, a large international charity based in Florida. Food for the Poor operates in the Caribbean and Latin America with one of the lowest administrative overhead rates of any charity – currently 4.7 percent.

Father Martin found that Nativity Village and its people have emerged relatively unscathed by the recent rebellion. He visited with a missionary nun, Sister Cecilia, who had been kidnapped and held hostage for nine days, but she was returned uninjured to her work in a nearby clinic. The house construction at Nativity Village was disrupted for about two weeks, but building has begun again.

After holding a "town meeting" in Nativity Village, Father Martin went house to house, responding to the pride of those who have new houses, and encouraging those who are waiting for decent shelter. Commenting on the procession through the village, Father Martin said "This is a meditation on Palm Sunday as the crowds followed Our Lord. Today, these destitute Haitians are following hope. They are beginning to dream again about a future free of malnourishment and disease."

Father Martin began Project Starfish in 1998 as a Lenten project. Today there are over 100 churches across the country that are conducting their own "Starfish" projects to help the poor. Nativity Church has an outreach ministry to assist other church communities in this effort. For more information contact Church of the Nativity at 703-455-2400.