Invitation to Parishes in the Diocese of W.

MA

“You Can Help the Sisters of St. Margaret

Rebuild Their Ministry
with the Haitian People!”

Twelve whole seconds!!

On January 12, 2010, in only 12 seconds, much of Haiti, including most of its capital
city Port-au-Prince, was devastated by a 7.0 earthquake. The destruction included
most of the buildings from which the Sisters of St. Margaret, an Episcopal women’s
religious order based in Boston, performed God’s mission---their ministry with the
people of Haiti. On January 12th their ‘door ministry’ (so named because people rang
their doorbell for assistance) became a ‘tent ministry.’ The Sisters were housed
temporarily in tents as well.

The Sisters’ Ministry:

The Sisters of St. Margaret established their convent at Port-au-Prince in 1927. Prior
to the January earthquake, their ministry there included:
• Administering a scholarship program to assist needy children in obtaining education.
These children would otherwise be ‘left out’ of the system because of lack of funds.
• Directing the Foyer Notre Dame, a home for elderly indigent persons in Haiti.
Services at the home include terminal care and burial.
• Directing a Guest House, which provides temporary housing and is a source of
income for the Foyer residents.
• Interacting and collaborating with local clergy and parishes throughout the Diocese
of Haiti.

Hope and Inspiration:

Despite the overwhelming destruction resulting from the earthquake, the Haitian
people remain strong in their faith. Sr. Marjorie Raphael, one of the Sisters working
in Haiti during the quake, reported that on that first night, despite the devastation
all around “there was praying and hymn singing at intervals.” Despite the presence
of continued tremors, Sisters Marie Margaret and Marie Thérèse continued to serve
and to pray in the most affected area of Port-au-Prince. Remarkably, on January 26th
Sr. Marjorie reported that evangelization and sacraments continued with 30
baptisms taking place at Caffe, a mission in the village of Cange. In the midst of
such destruction and death, Sr. Marjorie said the Haitian people did not react by
asking “Where is God?” but rather by saying “God, you are here in the midst of
our wailing and mourning. We cry out to you.”

How you can help:

Please consider making a special offering to assist God’s mission in Haiti through
the work of the Society of St. Margaret. Any amount is helpful and will be greatly
appreciated. Please make your check payable to: The Diocese of W. MA and mark
on the memo line: SSM – Haiti. Thank you for your generosity.

The following excerpt is from Bishop Jean Zache Duracin’s (Bishop of the Episcopal
Diocese of Haiti) Lenten Letter:

”The earthquake on January 12th was our baptism; now is

our new creation.”