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Catholics in Diocese give more than $633,000 for humanitarian relief through CRS
 As of March 1, Catholics in the Diocese of Green Bay have given more than $633,309 -- in amounts ranging from $2 to $50,000 -- for Haitian earthquake relief through Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Catholic Church’s overseas aid agency. Cindi Brawner, executive director of the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay, said 117 parishes have sent in $445,768.41 from collections, individuals have sent an additional $172,540.94 and corporations have given $15,000.
CRS has been working with Scripps Health in San Diego to provide medical care at St. Francis de Sales Hospital in the middle of the hardest hit portion of Port-au-Prince. Because of quake damage the hospital has been providing medical care under tents and tarps for about 65 patients -- about half the usual amount.
Patty Skoglund, a disaster response expert with Scripps aid they are treating people suffering from dehydration, infections, malaria, malnutrition, and tetanus, as well as stress-related problems such as ulcers, stomach illnesses, and high blood pressure.
The rotating medical teams work in seven-day shifts. The first team did about 20 surgeries a day, but is now doing five to six surgeries a day as the focus has shifted to chronic care, Skoglund told Catholic News Service. "The Haitians are more stoic and their pain tolerance is much higher than what we see in the U.S.," she said.
Archbishop Bernardito Auza, papal nuncio in Haiti, invited Scripps to Port-au-Prince. Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of San Antonio and Auxiliary Bishop Guy Sansaricq of Brooklyn, N.Y., went to the hospital March 2 during a three-day visit to determine the Church’s rebuilding needs in Haiti.
In the first month after the Jan. 12 earthquake, CRS provided food to a half-million people in the country. Port-au-Prince has been divided into 16 zones. CRS is in charge of distributing rice in three zones to more than 30,000 Haitians a day.
CRS also is distributing emergency shelter kits -- sheeting, lumber and nails -- to families at the Petionville golf course, in other smaller camps and settlements, and at Champ de Mars, the grassy area in front of the heavily damaged government buildings in the heart of Port-au-Prince.
Options to Donate for Humanitarian Aid
Donations can be made:
- by mail to the Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Green Bay, PO Box 23001, Green Bay, WI 54305-3001. All donations will forwarded to CRS. Checks can be made payable to Catholic Relief Services or the Catholic Foundation -- with the memo: Haiti Earthquake Relief.
- online to Catholic Relief Services at www.crs.org.
More information on relief in Haiti
Prayer
Prayer God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us.
In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us.
Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti.
Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice.
With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice.
Amen.
Intercessions: For our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti Affected by the Earthquake
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
For the Haitian people, that help comes to them quickly and comfort comes to those who hurt.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the lost or buried, that they are found and reunited with their loved ones.
Lord, hear our prayers.
For the relief workers, that they have the tools they need, the courage and the strength to respond fully.
Lord, hear our prayers.
For the families in Haiti and in the United States who are waiting to hear from loved one, that good news comes to them.
Lord, hear our prayers.
For those whose who have perished, may their souls rest with you, oh Lord, where they will find eternal love.
Amen.
How to Help
Donate by phone:
1-877-HELP-CRS
Donate online:
www.crs.org
Write a check:
Catholic Relief Services
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
Memo portion of check: Haiti Earthquake
Information for Church Bulletins
Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, is responding to victims of the massive earthquake in Haiti. To donate, please call 1-877-HELP-CRS, donate online at www.crs.org or send a check to Catholic Relief Services, P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090. In the memo portion of your check, please write: Haiti Earthquake
More Information
For more information go to www.crs.org and www.crsespanol.org
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