The Sublime in the Rubble
Although the important focus continues to be on supporting medical relief activities and feeding the hungry, to really rise up as human beings we must also make progress in the sublime areas of life. Thanks to Patrick Brun’s assistance, we arranged for 3 commercial-size end loaders and several 5-ton sand trucks to remove the rubble of the Archdiocese. In the process of hand sorting through the remains we are finding archives and artifacts significant to the Church.
With us in this effort is a man named Angelo who is the leader of a 7-person trash company. We put this company together before Christmas to help create employment and outreach in our local neighborhood. Yesterday Angelo pulled from the rubble the official document signed by John Paul II naming Joseph Serge Miot the Arch Bishop of Port au Prince. Bishop Miot died at the moment of the earthquake when the force of shaking thrust him from the balcony. (Special Note: Yesterday Kristen Zeiler, LCS Volunteer, was commissioned to write the Bishops name on the cross that marks his grave). Today, as you’ll see in the picture above (left), Angelo handed the retrieved document to the Papal Nuncio for safe keeping. Last night, when I showed the document to Christina, and she carefully placed her fingers on John Paul II’s signature, I realized that the document is not only historically important but also contains the signature of a person who is soon to be canonized a Saint.
Continuing the cleanup, Peter (LCS Volunteer), Jon (LCS Volunteer), Angelo and his 6 partners took on the Sacristy of the Cathedral. Since the earthquake, it has been turned completely upside down. People are scavenging through the church for materials such as wood and other useful items for rebuilding their houses. Overall, this is not a problem, as the church has always done what it can to give to the poor. Unfortunately in the process, however, people were starting to take down the cabinetry in the sacristy. By cleaning up the sacristy, we restored proper respect to the building and made it impossible for people to take from this particular sacred space. We recovered several other church furnishings in the process and moved them to safe keeping.
At the completion of our work today, by having the right equipment and making real progress, it was like going from animal-survival to human living: A sublime experience to be sure.
In addition to the relief funds, we are thankful for the funds that have been provided for the Church for its recovery as well. To provide context to the situation, think of what it would be like to lose the Archbishop, the Vicar General, the Chancellor, the Secretary, every downtown parish, both seminaries and several seminarians and priests in less than a minute.
We are proud to be able to come to the aid of the Church in this very difficulty moment, but we also continue recognize the supreme value of life over all else. We continue to support three medical activities each day, as well as provide maintenance and organizational support for Hospital Saint-Francois de Sales on a daily basis.
Again, I cannot say how much I appreciate, personally, communally, institutionally. Patrick Brun, Chair of the Board and our man in Haiti. Without him we would never be able to achieve the long list of activities that has made THP/LCS a household word in Haiti.
Thank you again for your continued support. Your help is the help we have to give Haiti. We look forward to sharing with you another special update on Tuesday followed by our regular Friday Community Update.
Peace,
Patrick
The IRS has announced that cash contributions made after Jan. 11, 2010 and before Mar. 1, 2010 to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti may be claimed on 2009 tax returns, for those who itemize deductions.
“Americans have opened their hearts to help those affected by the Haiti earthquake,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This new law provides an immediate tax benefit for the many taxpayers who have made generous donations.”
Please see the links on the IRS website for more information:
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