Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - "Among the thousands dead or missing, there are over 100 men and women religious," says a release from the Secretary General of CLAR (Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Men and Women Religious), Fr. Gabriel Naranjo Salazar CM, sent to Fides. The entity gathers its information from the Dominican Conference of Religious (CONDOR). Given the difficulty of contacting the one in Haiti. From all the religious contacted by CLAR in Haiti and from other sources, comes one same SOS: "Send medicines, doctors, and nurses, what we are really in need of. They can come from the Dominican Republic, but they are urgently needed."
Even the CELAM, the Latin American Bishops' Council, launched an appeal to all the Latin American Bishops' Conferences, so that along with the social and charitable organizations they may promote “the solidarity of the Church and society with the people of Haiti, through the Church and civil authorities, both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. We are well aware of the mutual cooperation that has always existed between the Bishops' Conferences of the two countries." In the statement, CELAM commits itself to promoting solidarity and human advancement, along with the spiritual and pastoral care of Churches. Lastly, Archbishop Raymundo Damasceno Assis of Aparecida (Brazil), President of CELAM, calls on Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti, to bring consolation and strength to those who have lost loved ones during the earthquake. Today, January 19, the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome, before the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States of the Vatican Secretariat of State, will preside a celebration for all the dead of the earthquake in Haiti. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 19/01/2010)
