Eleven Sisters of Providence serving in ministry in Haiti all survived the January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-Au-Prince. Their work among the poorest of the poor continues as they care for the injured from a make-shift clinic set up on the grounds of a demolished parish church. Meanwhile, the Sisters of Providence international congregation is mobilizing to help the Haitian people not only to survive the earthquake, but to rebuild their country and their lives.
Sisters of Providence have served in Haiti since 1976. When this earthquake occurred, four missionary sisters from Quebec, four Haitian sisters and two Haitian pre-novices were living in two initial formation houses in the center of Port-Au-Prince. The houses sustained damage but still are standing, and the sisters are sleeping in the street along with so many others. Those sisters are from Emilie Gamelin Province, based in Montreal, Quebec. Marie-Claire Soucy, SP, from Mother Joseph Province, based in Renton, Wash., is ministering in a rural hospital in Limonade in Cap Haitien. That area, about 75 miles north of Port-Au-Prince, was not as severely impacted.
Sisters, associates, collaborators, families and friends can contribute in Mother Joseph Province by sending a check payable to Sisters of Providence-Haiti Fund to:
Office of Development
1801 Lind Ave SW #9016
Renton, WA 98057-9016.
Donations also can be made directly to the Roncalli Foundation. Click on the CanadaHelps link.
Outpouring of support
An outpouring of support and resources from individuals, organizations and governments is coming from all corners of the world to help the people of Haiti. Provincial Superior Karin Dufault, SP, said those funds include contributions of nearly $150,000 so far provided through Providence Health International, including a major contribution from the Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province. But as many have noted, the needs of the people of Haiti will continue to be great in the months and even years ahead.
According to Sister Karin<], the international congregation of Sisters of Providence has launched a fundraising campaign called The Providence Family in Solidarity with Haiti. In announcing the campaign, General Superior Kathryn Rutan pledged: “We, Sisters of Providence, will remain with the people for the long term. We will be with them as they recover, begin to reestablish their lives, to rebuild their homes and their churches, schools, clinics and hospitals.”
Through March 31, the Sisters of Providence will accept donations of $1 or more that will be put into the Roncalli International Foundation Haiti Fund for rebuilding the country and the lives of its people. In Mother Joseph Province, friends of Providence may contribute by sending a check payable to Sisters of Providence-Haiti Fund to the Office of Development, 1801 Lind Ave SW #9016, Renton WA 98057-9016. All of the funds collected by the international congregation’s four provinces and one vice-province will be given to the Roncalli International Foundation at its annual meeting on April 10.
For further information, please contact the Development Office for Mother Joseph Province at 425-525-3019.