‘I have had no information yet about the National Director in Haiti, or the seminarians. It is heartrending. But the people of the Caribbean have spirit, even in the depths of hell, we have joy in our spirit. I have put out feelers everywhere for information. I spoke with a journalist who had been to the Port-au-Prince Cathedral on Sunday. It was filled to capacity, people standing amongst the rubble of the collapsed building. The priest preached that “People will rise above the rubble of destruction”. Thank you for your prayers.’

Thus wrote Fr Donald Chambers, the National Director of Missio-Jamaica at the end of an e-mail that began with a different reality. ‘I have been desperately trying to get in touch with the Catholic Mission National Director of Haiti, Fr Clarck de la Cruz, for a report on what’s happening there – without success. Is he alive? Telephone and internet connections are down. Haiti is almost completely cut off from the world. We are in the dark.’

It is that contrast of darkness and light that has characterised news from Haiti since the earthquake of 12 January. Humbling moments of faith and courage radiate the desperate race to rescue people buried underneath the rubble. Only 20 days after their own earthquake of magnitude 6.5 on the Mexico-Guatemala border, a Mexican disaster team pulled a 69 year-old woman from the wrecked cathedral in Port-au-Prince. Some of them wept with joy as Ena Zizi came into view, dust-covered, singing hymns and declaring that her Catholic faith had helped her through the ordeal. ‘I talked only to my boss - God,’ she said. ‘And I didn't need any more humans. I'm all right... sort of,’ she added as medics diagnosed severe dehydration, a dislocated hip and a broken leg.

An American Jesuit Brother, working with the Jesuit Refugee Services wrote ‘After what I have seen these last few days, now, when it would make most sense to pity these poor people, I don’t. Pity is not bad, but it makes you the superior; it sets up an inequality and puts me at the top. My pity has grown to respect and admiration. Overnight I have come to love these people in a way that makes them a model for me, and clearly puts them on a higher plane than I will ever be.’

A Fr Valon wrote to Missio-France from his mission in Haiti: ‘One thing is for sure, and it is obvious: God is much more present in suffering because when a child suffers, her parents pay much more attention to her. God is there with the Haitian people, loving us with the same love.’

The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Bernadito Auza, assumed responsibility for the Catholic Church in Haiti on the death of Archbishop Miot of Port-au-Prince. He and the Haitian bishops have the grassroots knowledge essential to the effective distribution of the support sent from across the world. The Church offers a lifeline in Haiti’s current chaos.

There were no shortcuts. Archbishop Auza personally travelled around the 62 parishes of Port-au-Prince immediately after the earthquake to assess its effects. Until then, he had no idea of the number of people he had available to him already on the ground to help a shattered population, and until he could make that assessment, he could not liaise with the outside world through Church authorities, the UN and NGOs.  

The national, international and the Church communities must cooperate with each other in any disaster situation. Fortunately, the Church, although battered, was still present with its clearly-defined local structure and established methods of assessing needs and channelling resources to the most needy.  

As National Directors of Missio, both Fr Chambers and the missing Fr de la Cruz work for an organisation located in 120 countries and, on receiving the news of the earthquake, Missio launched worldwide appeals to help, not only in the emergency, but also to rebuild the Haitian Church.

Fr Osvaldo Leone, National Director of Missio-Argentina also had a message borne from suffering: ‘Now it is our duty as human beings and as Christians not to remain indifferent and to fervently hope and pray. This is the time to become one with the sufferer! There are situations of greater and lesser suffering, major and minor concerns. We know that when we ourselves have experienced deep and poignant grief, where despair seemed the only way out, a helping hand and understanding helped us not to lose faith. Now we support the people of God who are suffering greatly. The Argentine people know the reality of suffering. Now is the time to 'get inside the skin' of another sufferer, and to go before the Virgin to pray the rosary for each of the earthquake victims in Haiti.’

Missio-Austria’s National Director, Fr Maasburg, was a long-time friend of Mother Teresa. He wrote: ‘I am deeply touched by the avalanche of solidarity for Haiti, which, within the space of a few hours, was felt within Austria and around the world. In addition to international aid, which must be distributed in an acute emergency, it is important for the Church to strengthen those with whom it works locally within the national Church. Only when all help together, can there be a guarantee of quick and comprehensive support. The destitute are the worst hit by such a catastrophe as this. They must be the ones whom the Church targets with its support.’

Mgr John Dale, National Director for England and Wales, commented: ‘Missio has always supported the Church in Haiti, helping it to grow and develop in its own distinctive way. We will remain in the country, helping it to rebuild and find hope.’

Although not an emergency aid organisation, Missio was already helping Haiti and in 2009 alone, gave £286,000 towards the Church’s work in basic and preventative healthcare, education, pastoral care and building projects, including major reconstruction in Port-au-Prince after massive flooding. It was not difficult to add a further £290,000 for immediate assistance, knowing that parishes across the world would come together to rebuild the shattered island where more than 80% of the 9 million people are Catholic.

In the midst of the chaos and rubble, the Church is providing shelter for the homeless and water for the thirsty. It is giving survivors, not just material help, but also hope and guidance, offering light in the darkness.

Missio will channel any help you can give directly to the Church in Haiti for:

·         the immediate relief and care of families and orphans

·         rebuilding and sustenance of essential orphanages, schools and seminaries

·         trauma counselling and the pastoral and spiritual care of survivors

You can donate to the Church in Haiti through Missio. For further information, please phone 020 7821 9755 or e-mail Monsignor John Dale at: director@missio.org.uk or visit www.missio.org.uk for website donations.