Mass for the masses: Feeding the faith in Haiti

By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ| FC

Volunteers help unload two truckloads of donated religious items worth approximately 0,000.

FORT LAUDERDALE � At the former Divine Mercy Haitian Mission in Fort Lauderdale, a truck arrived on Feb. 4 bringing with it a little glimpse of hope for the people of Haiti. The delivery consisted of a shipment of church-related items such as hosts and wine for consecration, candles, vestments, chalices and ciboria.

 

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ| FC

Jack Moroney, owner of Moroneys' Religious Art store in Fort Lauderdale, looks at one of the donated vestments for the clergy in Haiti.

It�s an effort spearheaded by Jack Moroney of Moroneys� Religious Art in Fort Lauderdale, working in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Miami and Father Rob�s Charles, pastor of St. Clement Parish in Fort Lauderdale.

�We have collected over a million hosts, 20 cases of wine and hundreds of other items that will once again 

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ| FC

Father Rob�s Charles, pastor of St. Clement Church, helps unload boxes filled with religious items donated by Moroneys' Religious Art and the National Church Goods Association, dealers and suppliers.

make the celebration of Mass possible in Haiti,� said Moroney, who sought the help of the National Church Goods Association, as well as dealers and suppliers, to donate these items and many others to the clergy in Haiti.

It is part of an ongoing effort to help the churches affected by the earthquake get up and running again.

�The earthquake took everything from them. Helping them to once again celebrate Mass is very helpful, it�s uplifting for them,� said Moroney, as he and a couple of volunteers unloaded the much needed religious materials.

Father Charles recently returned from Haiti. He met there with Msgr. Jean Pierre, pastor of St. James Parish in North Miami, who has been in Haiti since the day after the massive earthquake struck. Msgr. Pierre helped coordinate the efforts that will get the church supplies to Haiti along with water, food and clothes.

�It�s an unbearable devastation,� said Father Charles. �Just in Port au Prince, over 10 churches were destroyed. At the cathedral, we still have bodies buried; at the seminary we still have bodies, all mixed in with the rubble. It�s the most horrible thing you can ever imagine.�

More than three weeks after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the need is still great for food, water, and medical help.

�Priests are the ones going out to the people in their time of need. The one-to-one interaction is very effective in letting them know that they are not alone,� said Father Charles, who noted the strength and resilience of the Haitian people in coping with this disaster. �They are still celebrating Masses. They are being held outdoors because the buildings can�t be trusted. Nothing will deter them from celebrating their faith.�

Photographer: JONATHAN MARTINEZ| FC

Sample of vestments and chalice that were donated by Moroneys' to the clergy in Haiti.

�In the mist of all this chaos and suffering, they are very thankful to God because they are still alive,� said Father Charles. �The celebration of Mass unites them in the hope that from all this chaos, from all this suffering, good will come and with God�s help, a brighter future for Haiti.�

More than $160,000 worth of church goods have been donated so far and efforts continue to collect more items.

Items for Haiti may be donated at the following locations, Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
� Notre Dame d�Haiti Mission, 110 N.E. 62 St., Miami, FL 33138
� St. Clement Catholic Church, 2975 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311.