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Hello Friends,
After driving by night to Kennedy Airport January 12th, and flying to the Dominican Republic January 13th, Conan and I arrived to Haiti this morning in the helicopter of the President of the Dominican Republic. This ride was due to the reputation of NPH in the Dominican Republic, NPH Italy, a reputation enhanced in the DR by Andrea Bocelli not long ago.
Our first tasks were the medical evacuation of one of our American volunteers, the medical evacuation of one of our Cuban doctors and the evacuation of the body if one of our American visitors. The search still continues in the rubble for another missing American volunteer, Molly.
We also had 18 funerals today. One for John who works at our St Luke program. We miss John very much. He often stopped to at my door to tell me the milestone of his developing baby, which delighted him no end. John ran our computerized language lab. Another was for Johanne’s mother. Joanne is one of the Directors of the St Luke program. All the others were of unknown people who were sadly rotting by the wayside.
Other sadnesses…the death of Immacula, our only physician assistant, who worked at our huge outpatient side of our hospital. The death of ALL but one of Joseph Ferdinand’s brothers and sisters, the death of the husband of Jacqueline Gautier as he was visiting a school which fell and all the students (all died), the death of our ex-pequeno Wilfrid Altisme who was in his 5th year of seminary for priesthood. Other stories of deaths of people who are dear to us keep coming in.
We spent the rest of the time managing the countless people with serious and severe wounds, coming to our hospital. We are doing our best for them, under trees and in the parking lot with ever diminishing supplies. We will work throughout the night and beyond. No stores are open, no banks are open. Diesel is running out. Will be out in two days if we don’t find a solution, which will mean no power at all. The hospital is without water since there is some broken line between the well and the water tower.
Structural damages to the hospital seem superficial at first glance, but about half the outer perimeter walls have fallen. The old hospital in Petionville is in ruins, and teams of workers, led by Ferel, and been digging for Molly non-stop around the clock.
WE HAVE NO INTERNET. OUR PHONES DO NOT WORK. IF A CALL DOES GET THROUGH WE CAN’T HEAR OR BE HEARD. Robin has internet access through a satellite. I asked her to send this message for me, and to read my emails and answer them as best she can for now.
Please continue to pray for us. We pray for you too.
Fr. Rick Frechette
See also: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=9570839
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Passionist Missionaries Inc.
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Tel: 888/806-6606
E-mail: DLisotta@cpprov.org
Donate on-line by clicking the button below.
The link for our Donate Now will redirect you to Caring Habits, Inc. (CHI) which is the credit card processing company for The Passionist Missionaries website.
Dear Fr Rick, I am a big fan of yours in Ireland I have been since watching a program on tv here that was produced with Gina Herrity and Dr Ivers. I just wanted to let you know that I pray for you often to keep up the tremendous work that you do. I do hope that both Gina (who was in college with my brother) and dr Ivers have survived the tradedy that has struck Haiti. The eyes if the wirld are on Haiti now hopefully some good will come of the absolute dispair that you must all be suffering.
Wishing you blessings from Heaven, you are in my thoughts at this time.
Niamh
Dear Fr. Frechette,
Our Children’s Adoration hour sent you notes last summer and prayed for your orphans. I wasn’t giving it much thought this Tuesday during the Adoration hour when at 4:45 the clear thought came into to my head “to pray for the orphans in Haiti”, it seemd to come out of nowhere. We were shocked an hour later to hear of the earthquake. May God keep you strong and we will pray for you, the people of Haiti, and your dear mother.
Tina Black-Flack D.O.
Fr. Rick:
I am a school teacher in El Paso, Tx. I would like to come work with you in haiti during my summer break. I lived in Puerto Rioco for 27 years and was in DR two summers ago. We went to the boarder if Haiti at that time. My father, back in the 80′s was a teacher at the University in Haiti. He did two week-end’s a month at Port-Au-Prince. I am a practicing Catholic, and my heart has been yearning to serve in were service is truly needed. Please tel me how I can become a part of your working group.
In Christ Jesus,
Gloria Flecha
miser013@aol.com
915-307-5112
Fr. Rick, I was watching CNN when I heard about your story through APJ. We were classmates at NYCOM. I am practicing in Iowa, and unfortunately it took this tragedy for my wife and I to become familiar with the challenges (past and present) in Haiti. If there is a way that I could help you for a week, then please let me know. I am an orthopedic surgeon by training. At the very least, we will pray for your strength.
Dear Fr. Rick,
Bro. Robert Mckenna,cp told me about your mission there in Haiti. He’s asking if you are fine? I hope and i pray for your safety and strength! God bless you more Fr. Rick.
-Marvin, pre-novitiate
Passionist Philipines Province
I pray for those people who have been injured in Haiti. the earthquake in Haiti is one of the word disasters this year. I just hope that they would be able to recover soon.