Sister Parish of Sacred Heart Catholic Church

*HAITI DISASTER RELIEF!* Thank you to everyone: Our collection totals from both parishes were $21,400.00. Dear Friends, I would like to give you an update on the situation in Haiti, especially in regard to our sister parish and the connections we have in Port au Prince (PaP). I received an email the other day from Fr. Leonel thanking us for our assistance. He reports that the town of St. Raphael is still receiving hundreds of people who are relocating from PaP to St. Raphael. The money that we have sent is helping them serve the needs of those relocating. I have also received an email from Fr. Romel who lives and works at the Emmaus Center in Hinche, Haiti. Prior to the earthquake, Fr. Romel spent two days a week at the seminary in PaP. The seminary grounds have become one of the many “tent cities” springing up in PaP. He is making two trips a week to PaP to help provide necessities to the people there. Due to your generosity, we were able to send him $5,000 to help with that effort. He wrote that the first wave of what he has coined, “Operation Emmaus Direct and Fast Action” has been sent to PaP to serve the people living on the seminary grounds. “We bought 30 bags of rice, 20 cases of spaghetti, 4 boxes of Salmon, 10 cases of oil, 10 cases of Herring, and 14 cases of purified drinking water…” He said the second wave was set to be delivered in the next couple of days (and should have already been delivered this past Friday, January 29). Like St. Raphael, Hinche is also experiencing a large influx of people from PaP. “Your money is helping us to serve their immediate needs (food, clothing, shelter, and toiletries) as well.” Matthew 25 House is still up and running although it is not safe to sleep in and the upstairs portion will need to be torn down and, hopefully, rebuilt. It is serving the needs of medical and rescue teams. The dining room table has become a make shift surgery center where several operations have taken place. Our mission trip has been rescheduled for May 4 through May 11. We will fly directly into Cap Haitian and then make the two hour drive to our sister parish. Mesi Anpil! “Thank you very much” for your financial assistance and prayers. May God bless you and the Haitian people. Lovingly in Christ, Fr. Tom Novena to St. Raphael….at the entrances. Pray Wednesday for 9 days. Prayer for Haiti—9 weeks after communion.
The National Palace in Haiti	A neighborhood in Port au Prince	A fire burns beyond the ruins of the national cathedral
Hotel Montana in Port au Prince	A young girl receives medical treatment	A woman grieves in Haiti

Pictured are pastor of Saint Raphael, Fr. Lionel Ju Francois with Fr. Raymond Schaffer, former pastor of Sacred Heart concelebrating Mass at Saint Raphael. The architecture is quite impressive as you approach the building. As you enter the worship space the warmth and beauty of this old church give comfort to your spirit in this sacred place.

Pictured are some of the children of Saint Raphael Parish. The joy of celebrating Mass was enhanced by the love and spirit of these children as they performed a liturgical dance during the Mass.

A view of the Rectory and parish office. This is where the Haiti Committee stayed while on their fact finding trip in Saint Raphael, Haiti.

Saint Raphael Parish in Saint Raphael, Haiti is the sister parish of the Sacred Heart Parish in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Through the mission and ministry of the Haiti Committee and the generous support of the members of Sacred Heart Parish we are touching the lives of the people of Saint Raphael in Haiti. A loving and caring relationship has developed between the parishes of Sacred Heart and Saint Raphael.

Through this relationship the people of Saint Raphael offers their love, gratitude, and prayers to the people of Sacred Heart. Through this relationship the people of Sacred Heart offers to seek an understanding of the needs of our sister parish and to try and fulfill those needs. This can be accomplished by prayers, sacrifices, words of encouragement, thoughtful donations, and acts of caring. Through the sacrificial efforts of the Haiti Committee and the members of Sacred Heart our parish is making a difference in Haiti.