HAITI – The Hurricanes of 2008

October 20th, 2008

The following are stories of the terrible hurricanes of 2008 from Oblates working in Haiti.

GONAÏVES From Fr. Albert Cator (Haitian) September 22, 2008

Around 3:30 PM on Sunday, August 31st we arrived at Gonaïves under a warm sun and a blue sky with few clouds. Excellent welcome for the Director of the residence… It hadn’t rained for weeks and there was no sign of the forecasted cyclone: a beautiful and calm evening! Without anyone noticing it, around 8:30 PM the sky became totally overcast and it started to rain, covering the scorched ground. Our sigh of relief was quickly transformed into a nightmare.

It rained with regularity all night and all day on Monday with few breaks. That very afternoon of September 1st, however, possible flood warnings went out for Gonaïves and the evacuation began. The people understood and by the hundreds they left the city seeking a safe shelter. The rain intensified throughout the night and on Tuesday morning the wind joined in.

Our friends and I followed Fr. John St. Cyr and left the mission, worried but not alarmed. While the water rose a little there was no sign that it would invade the house. Besides, around 11 AM, both rain and wind quieted down significantly and the water seemed to be slowly receding so after lunch we calmly stretched out to rest. We were far from realizing that the worst was yet to come and especially that it wasn’t far away.

In fact, around 1:30 PM when the natural elements were unleashed once again and this time with a rage, increasing tenfold, we expected the worse. Sixty minutes later the water penetrated the residence. At that very moment Fr. St. Cyr’s cell phone rang and it was Fr. Wilson Fouquet, OMI warning us of the impending situation and inviting us to join him in security. We knew that water was all around but we didn’t realize that not far from the rectory the river overflowed its banks and was furiously heading our way.

I hurried out of the house and climbed on the roof of the Jeep parked in the yard and remained there for nearly three hours under torrential rain and strong gusts of wind. From my perch I observed tormented nature furious in its elements. It is both beautiful and terrifying. In no time at all I saw the water rise to the top of the Jeep. The property wall fell and the water pressure tore off the locked gate.

Prisoners inside the house and forced to remain standing, Fr. St. Cyr and the others now had water to their shoulders. A younger person had the idea of seeking refuge on top of a cupboard. Everyone successfully avoided becoming a victim of the angry current.

Around 5 or 5:30 PM friends came for us and led us through still high waters to a safe shelter at the residence of the Missionary Sisters of Charity. Our fear was real, our anxiety high, and the night sleepless! We were so apprehensive that day that we forgot our hunger. We hadn’t eaten since morning.

Unfortunately the end result at the Sisters was catastrophic: 5 deaths among the sick and elderly. Water and mud almost everywhere and the food depot flooded out. Another trial for these dying seniors: the women and the youth already impaired and children with uncertain futures. Wild eyed and desperate, it was with loud cries and sighs of consolation that they welcomed the arrival of Fr. St. Cyr, himself a casualty: “Mem papa nou.” His presence evidently comforted them.

Wednesday morning, between 9 and 10 AM, Father Venel came for us and offered us lodging at the rectory that had been spared and we stayed there for seven days. Since Monday afternoon the parochial school served as shelter for a whole population of refugees. The confrere was broken-hearted at having nothing to offer them. The lack of drinking water was particularly difficult.

The whole country is on its knees. No less than six bridges are gone or damaged, all located on major thoroughfares and not counting the main and secondary dirt roads seriously demolished by a crazy and tormented current. To this very day land communication remains a serious problem.

On this September 22nd Father St. Cyr returns to Dolan to check his elderly, sick, the youth and the children, his friends at the orphanage. He will take this opportunity to begin sorting and cleaning things in the house. We are hoping to return either at the end of this month or the beginning of the next.

Albert

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CHARPENTIER From Fr. Adrien Difficile September 4, 2008

Hopefully you can forgive me for delaying my response to your e-mail. After many days without it, the electricity was just restored this morning. It is presently 3 AM and I’m taking this opportunity to describe for you some of the devastation caused by the famous Hannah. What I have seen, my friend, in less than two hours is truly catastrophic: homes washed away and people drowning in the raging currents. The river behind St. Michel, my church, overflowed onto our property just short of the Novitiate entrance making it difficult for us to venture out to personally check out the damage caused by this raging storm: roofs torn off, drinking water reserves gone. This hurricane was more like a cyclone, devastating completely almost everything in its path. Here, hundreds of homes were overtaken by Hannah. Yesterday, I passed the whole day visiting my parishioners. Realizing that the people lost pretty much everything they owned is truly gut wrenching. The river nearby was suddenly transformed into a veritable ocean. Because St. Michel, our church, was flooded, we were unable to celebrate Mass. Besides all of this, the Oblate parishes on the southern coast have been isolated from the rest of the country; hundreds of houses flooded and many important animals were lost. The waters rose higher than ever imagined and swept through the area with a fury never before seen in Chardonnieres, Tiburon, and Les Anglais.

Finally, Gus, I would be forever grateful if you could get some help for the affected parishes: St. Michel in Charpentier, Roche-à-Bateau, Les Anglais, Chardonnières, Tiburon and Gonaïves, actually the “Haiti Titanic”. I now close, my dear Brother, encouraging you to join us in asking St. Eugene to continue his intercession for us Oblates in Haiti. Thank you.

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September 11, 2008

Allow me to express my profound and sincere gratitude for the censer and the alb that you have sent. Yesterday, September 10th, Fr. John Henault, who lives and works alone on Ile-a-Vache, came to visit with me at the Novitiate and he personally handed them to me in good condition and we talked for a long time. He mentioned that all the drums of materials that he shipped from the States have already arrived in Port-au-Prince. He indicated that he has begun the process to get all of them through customs and that my drum with the liturgical vestments is #15. John-John, as he is addressed, is an Oblate with heart and principle and he shares with all the Oblates of the Province. Once, again, a thousand thanks.

Fr. Joe Corriveau asked me to list for you some of the damages of Gustav and Hanna, but these are so enormous that I feel truly unable to depict an exact picture of the situation. In my parish alone, St. Michel, 120 persons suffered damages to their homes and the hurricane totally destroyed those of 15 others. The rushing waters washed away belongings, animals, cooking utensils and who knows what else. At the moment everyone is pretty much left on his own.

Caritas and CRS quickly made attempts to assist the worst off with at least one daily meal and some drinking water since the entire system is destroyed. Some of the bridges are impassable and others totally destroyed. We have become practically prisoners here in Les Cayes since large sections of the road remain under water preventing vehicles from crossing, leaving people to continue either by sailboat or by plane. When he returns to the U.S.A. after preaching the retreat, Fr. John Morin should be able to offer more details.

I wish you success in your missionary assistance.

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October 1, 2008

This is primarily to thank you for your services. Following a novena that was extremely well attended, we have just celebrated the patron saint of our Parish, St. Michael. It was a tremendous expression of faith. The bishop of this diocese, Msgr Alix Verrier presided at the Mass and throughout the evening hundreds of people took part in a candlelight procession leading to the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. On Monday, September 29th, there were 25 priests concelebrating at the solemn Mass. This celebration proved that the church is too small but I don’t know which saint to address to solve our momentary need. Each Sunday we have three Masses and each one is filled to overflow. Many need to stand outside and we have no money to buy more seats. Fr. Joe Corriveau asked me to draw a list of our needs. I’ll send you a copy of the list to give you an idea. I won’t hold you back any longer. In the hope of hearing from you again soon I thank you again. Until later, then!

Adrien

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CAMP PERRIN From Fr. Maurice Gauthier September 9, 2008

Finally I am at the Mazenod seminary in Camp-Perrin [New assignment]. I arrived on Sunday after celebrating Mass with my former parishioners at La Savane in St. Eugene deMazenod church. Stormy weather prevented us from using the Internet until this morning. I have just read all your messages and I wish to thank you for sending my medications.

Before we lose the connection again I now add Fr. Marc Boisvert’s appeal (Web site), which I discovered in my in-box. As the conditions become more favorable I will get back to you with more information. [Site indicated in my opening letter]

Fr. John Morin just finished preaching a retreat to the scholastics and he left this morning for Les Cayes. He hopes to fly to Port-au-Prince tomorrow and then on to the United States. (Fr. Morin has returned safely to the States)

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September 30, 2008

I had promised to write on the passage of the four tropical storms in Haiti: Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike. However, I needed to absent myself from Mazenod to preach a retreat to our pre-novices at the Sisters of St. Francis in Béraud.

This time, Camp-Perrin, and Mazenod in particular, were not affected as badly as the other places in the south. Most Seminarians had arrived for the opening at the beginning of September. We were also ready to begin our courses at the college but the government advised us to postpone them until October 6th, along with the rest of the country, which is seriously devastated.

Father Gasner Joint, (Provincial) and two Councilors set out to visit the southern coast and succeeded in reaching Port-à-Piment. Luckily the Taiwanese company, working on the roads, has already built bridges beyond Port Salut and on the way to Roche-à-Bateau. After Port-à-Piment the Oblate parishes, Chardonnières, (Rendel, Les Anglais and Tiburon remain difficult to reach due to high rivers and many ruined roads. The city of Les Cayes was flooded as often happens with heavy rains, including our two Oblate parishes St. Michel in Charpentier and St. Eugene in La Savanne. The population around St. Michel is more exposed due to the overflowing river located nearby. The Novitiate was not at risk since it is better located than it was in Port-au-Prince. So far I have not received any information as regards our parishes in the north.

Our own residences, generally well built, withstood the storms. In our parishes, however, the floods destroyed thousands of residences, furniture, clothing and important documents.

Unfortunately the destruction doesn’t end there. The future of an already poor population is now even more compromised. Most gardens are totally destroyed and a food shortage is being felt everywhere. An already existing problem has become even more desperate. We can now expect the spread of resulting illnesses. The chronic food shortage now becomes a tragedy and will certainly feed on insecurity and even violence in the need to survive. Food distribution often stirs up riots and looting.

Another challenge is to reach the victims because many roads and bridges were destroyed and washed away in the strong currents. One wonders if the country can ever succeed in managing all these repairs.

Fr. François Thomas, who will replace me as pastor of St. Eugene Parish in Les Cayes, is unable to travel down from the north. Consequently I continue to offer Mass there on Sunday.

We count on your prayers and we thank you for all the attention you offer us.

Until later, then,
Maurice

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PORT-AU-PRINCE From Fr. Real Corriveau September 10, 2008

My vacation, enjoyable and truly relaxing, ended with the arrival of a hurricane as I flew back to Haiti. Since then Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike have raised havoc and caused much destruction and death. Floods have destroyed houses, roads, bridges and gardens. For days communications were cut off. Many have lost all they had, and are now without food and shelter.

Fathers John St. Cyr and Albert Cator, who were working with the Sisters of Charity, ministering to the T.B. and H.I.V. patients in the city of Gonaïves were lucky to get out of their house as the water rose very quickly. They escaped with just the clothes on their backs. All has been lost: house, car, books, computers, clothes and food. For a few days they were stranded in Gonaïves at a Haitian priest’s house, waiting for water to subside and hoping to come to Port-au-Prince, which eventually became a possibility. The Sisters and their sick were saved by going up unto the cement roof. Once the waters receded about 500 bodies were reportedly found in Gonaïves alone.

All of our parishes along the southern coast suffered floods and much damage to the houses. The Parishes which were hit the hardest were the ones closest to the ocean on the Southern Coast and these were flooded and cut off: Tiburon, Les Anglais, Chardonnieres and Rendel. Lots of small houses were destroyed and so were the crops that were the hope for food and money to send the children to school. At Port-a-Piment one family was washed away and one Chapel had some damage to the tin roof due to strong winds. There was some damage to our own buildings but nothing really major.

Here in Port-au-Prince it seems that while there was less destruction there was some flooding, some houses washed away on the mountainside, roofs were blown away; many trees fell destroying power lines and blocking roads. The big problem now is getting things cleaned up, and getting food and water to the people.

Each day people come begging for help, food, shelter and aid to put their children to school. Tell me, how much can one possibly do in such a gigantic situation? There is so much need!

It is thanks to our benefactors that some are helped. These donations, I believe, arrive just at the right time. Divine Providence must have inspired and guided our friends to these events happening in the lives of the poor in Haiti.

I pray that this letter finds you and yours well. Once again, thanks to everyone and I pray that God may bless you abundantly. Your prayers, caring and sharing are greatly appreciated. Surely the Lord is happy with you.

You are remembered in my Masses and prayers.

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September 24, 2008

Just got my computer fixed and I am trying to catch up. After a short stay in Port-au-Prince Fathers John St. Cyr and Albert Cator are now on their way back to the mission in Gonaïves to see what is solvable from their house. Luckily when they arrived here, I had clothes (now too small for me) to give them. (John is back in the States)

At Fond Oies, my Parish high in the mountains on the road to Jacmel, the crops were lost and some 100 houses were destroyed or damaged. The big problem now is food and getting their children into school this year.

This morning, after Mass at the Sisters of Saint Francis, there were 4 people waiting for me. There were more at the house when I got back. There is no way to avoid those who are in great need. No single person can solve all the complex problems these people are facing each day now. The First Reading of this morning’s Mass says: “Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him.” It is very painful to not be able to help those who are suffering and hungry. Do keep them and myself in your prayers. Any help will be greatly appreciated. God bless.

Joe

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