THE
P RTAL
April 2018
Page 20
Aid to the Church in Need
The Church in Haiti
– giving light to
those in darkness
Murcadha O Flaherty reports
H
urricane Matthew hit Haiti in 2016 – killing at least 877 people, causing catastrophic
damage to buildings and plunging parts of the country into darkness. Aid to the Church in Need’s
Marco Mencaglia spoke about the practical and symbolic importance of light for the faithful.
Describing the blessings brought by solar panels
in the months following the hurricane, he said: “In
the evenings, the entire village gathered around the
presbytery so as not to be plunged into total darkness.
Light plays a decisive role in making it possible for these
communities to have hope.” In remote parishes “the
presbytery was the only building in a 10 to 20 km radius
with a stable supply of energy. We saw how hundreds
of people came to the presbytery in the mornings to
charge their mobile phones.” Mr Mencaglia also said,
“Thanks to solar energy, the priests can maintain daily
contact with the diocese and the world.”
to transport the sick to the hospital, a connection to
the world outside… For thousands of communities in
Haiti, the priest and the Church represent the soul and
hope.” He added, “In most communities, the church is
the only building in which not only pastoral events, but
also social ones can be held.
Without exaggerating, we can claim that without the
church, many of these villages do not have any hope for
the future.” Confirming the benefits for parishioners
and others in creating a community around churches
in Jérémie Diocese on Haiti’s west coast, after the
area was almost totally destroyed by category five
With Haiti now suffering greater hardship after hurricane winds, Father Barthelemy Feuille said, “The
natural disasters, including the worst hurricane in 50 foundation of a new parish is a moment of hope, [it]
years and the earthquake in 2010, ACN’s Latin America means joy for the entire village”
expert stressed the encouragement the faithful take
from young men becoming priests. He said, “Haiti has
Bishop Desinord Jean of Hinche is committed to
many troubles – misery can be seen everywhere. These forming priests in Haiti and is carrying out a careful
young men represent hope.
selection of candidates through a propaedeutic (or
preliminary instruction) year. The bishop is also
Their enthusiasm and their love for the church helping many dedicated and young priests – some
are a light within the darkness that we need to keep only 25 years old – who already hold a great deal of
alive.” The charity is supporting 315 candidates for responsibility, having assumed their first positions in
the priesthood living in temporary housing after the struggling parishes.
seminary at Port-au-Prince was destroyed by the
earthquake six years ago. ACN is also supporting the
Parishes in Haiti are flourishing, including Our Lady
Sisters of Cluny in Morne à Cabrit, Port-au-Prince to of the Miraculous Medal in Village Créole in Hinche
reconstruct their residence.
near the border with the Dominican Republic. With
ACN’s support – and Our Lady’s – 70,000 impoverished
Amid violence, political unrest and wide-spread parishioners followed the example of the widow who
hunger in the western hemisphere’s poorest country, the gave “everything she had, her whole living” (Mark
presence of a Catholic minister can help rebuild local 12:44) and made sacrificial contributions to the
communities. Mr Mencaglia said, “[T]he arrival of a priest church’s construction.
also means access to basic provisions in places forgotten
by the government: a school that is run in the church
Aid to the Church in Need - www.acnuk.org
building during the week, a vehicle for emergencies and
contact: [email protected] or call 020 8642 8668