Many parishes in the Arlington diocese support Haitian parishes
or charities that serve the people of Haiti. St. Charles Borromeo Church in
Arlington has a sister parish very near the epicenter of the earthquake — Our
Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Cavaillon, Haiti. Monsignor Ignace Coissy,
pastor, shared his experience with the St. Charles Committee, which they
translated.
“Around 8:37 am, I was on the balcony, trying to make a phone
call. Big chunks of cement fell in front of me, and I felt everything shaking.
I did not know how to climb to the roof and jump on the side of the kitchen to
the ground (but) I managed to do it, and had two leg fractures that are not too
bad. I thought I was facing death. It is a bad experience that no one deserves
to face.
“Everything is now buried in my bedroom. Thank God the other
members of the presbytery had already left, to go to the market, or other
places. The other priest who was with me in the presbytery managed to get out
too. I am now staying with the Sisters of Cavaillon, but living outside. The
church in Cavaillon fell through, especially the front. Notre Dame College, the
Immaculate Conception school, the church and the school in Roche Delmas are
also damaged severely. Damages caused large problems (for) families in the
center of town and in other communes. I am staying with you in prayer and
solidarity.”
St. John Neumann Church in Reston held a second collection for
Hands Together, a Catholic charity in Haiti that establishes schools,
orphanages, nutrition programs, clinics and sustainable-development projects,
but also is working to assist those impacted by the earthquake.
Operation Starfish of Church of the Nativity in Burke has long
supported several villages in Haiti. Though many of the villages were untouched
by the earthquake, the parish is waiting for more information to learn about
the state of others.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace Church in Arlington reports that no one
was injured in Medor, the town of its sister parish, St. Joseph. The church,
schools, rectory, convent, and other parish buildings were not damaged. One of
OLQP Haiti Committee’s partners, the Raising Haiti Foundation, is helping
support a farmer-led earthquake response.
