A great devastation

As you no doubt have heard, the nation of Haiti was struck by a terrible earthquake that has devastated the poorest nation in the Western hemisphere.

Among the dead His Excellency the Most Reverend Serge Miot, Archbishop of Port-au-Prince.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, His Excellency the Most Reverend Bernardito Auza, told the Fides news agency:

Port-au-Prince is totally devastated. The cathedral, the Archbishop's Office, all of the big churches, all of the seminaries have been reduced to rubble. The same luck for the Ministry buildings, the Presidential Palace, the schools. The Parish Priest of the Cathedral, who was spared, told me that the archbishop of Port-au-Prince would have died under the rubble, together with hundreds of seminarians and priests that are under the ruins.

Let us assist our Haitian brothers and sisters with the help of prayers and fastings and with our financial support, all of which they need so desparately at this dark hour. Contributions can be sent to

Catholic Relief Services
228 W. Lexington
Baltimore, MD 21201-3413

or made online at www.crs.org/haiti.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord!