Local Catholics organize to help hurricane victims

Some 1,500 miles from home, a Haitian cardinal visited the town of Avalon earlier this month, looking for help for his people recently affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes in Haiti met with South Jersey Catholics on Dec. 4 at the Icona Golden Inn, during a benefit brunch organized by the Hand to Hand Mission Team to Haiti, local Catholics visiting the country frequently to help its people.

Cardinal Langlois appealed directly to those gathered, speaking of the challenges his country and town are facing since the October hurricane. Over 1,000 lives were lost in Haiti due to the disaster, and in Les Cayes, the roof of the cathedral was destroyed, and over 40 other churches in the area were damaged, along with convents and rectories. Families’ homes were destroyed, leaving them homeless with little aid, shelter and services.

Despite the hardships, residents are sustained by their faith, the cardinal said, and in pictures he showed people young and old still gathering to celebrate Mass — in a church whose roof was blown off from Matthew — and thank God for his blessings.

“The churches in Haiti are a major part of people’s daily lives,” said Father Yvans Jazon, a Haitian priest of the Diocese of Camden and leader of the Mission Team to Haiti.

“Even though there is little electricity and running water, if any, in a country with a lack of basic municipal infrastructures and little government assistance, the people love to gather, praise and pray, to celebrate Mass and the sacraments. God is number one,” he added.

The trip to Avalon was the cardinal’s first trip out of his country since the earthquake, and “he was extremely grateful and humbled by the ballroom filled with love, care and concern,” Father Jazon said.

A return trip to Haiti is planned for January to bring school supplies, personal lantern solar lights, and more to the remote areas around Jacmel, Haiti.

For information on Cardinal Langlois’ Rebuilding the Churches Project, call Father Yvans Jazon, 609- 522-2709, Notre Dame de la Mer Parish, Wildwood.