Haiti

Friday Noon, January 15:

We received an email from the Sisters of St. Margaret telling us that they finally were able to speak to their Sisters. They are all fine, gathered on a nearby football field with some of the residents of their senior housing facility. Praise God!

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There is a significant Episcopal Church presence in Haiti. Readers of Barbara Crafton's eMos, recipients of the daily emails from the Episcopal Church news service and folks on the mailing list of Episcopal Relief and Development will already be aware of our denomination's connections there. What we have learned so far is that all of our clergy and nuns there have survived, although the good Sisters of St. Margaret have not been heard from directly by their Mother House in Boston. All of the diocesan buildings, including those Sisters' convent, have, however, been destroyed.

Many have died. The Haitian maintenance director in my roommate's office building here in Brooklyn heard that two of his young family members there were last seen in a building that collapsed and in which no survivors were found. The Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Port-au-Prince was known early on to have been killed. Earthquakes are obviously no respecters of position or privilege.

Possibly you are concerned about loved ones, or you know people who are. If you are looking for American citizens, you can contact the State Department, which has some information. Call their special number, 1-888-407-4747.

Many avenues are open for giving aid. We are amazed to learn that people text-messaged donations yesterday totaling more than $3 million. At least one cell-phone vendor was figuring out how to advance the money to places where it's needed. What we know best is Episcopal Relief & Development, http://www.er-d.org/. A box appeared on the homepage of their website early Wednesday morning, giving a direct click to donations for Haiti.

Finally, we are personally acquainted with a couple of the Sisters of St. Margaret. Go to their website. Reading the updates there is like praying right along with them. http://www.ssmbos.com/ See the pictures on the homepage of their members who are there, and then click on the menu item for Haiti to read. A very dedicated Sister is sharing with all of us . . . .