Hartford Parishes Raise $1 Million for Haiti

Catholic parishioners of the Archdiocese of Hartford have so far donated more than $1,000,000 to Haitian earthquake relief. One hundred percent of the funds go to the relief efforts of Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Archbishop Henry J. Mansell says, “I offer my profound gratitude to all the people who were moved by love and compassion to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The overwhelming sign of support and solidarity shows God’s grace among us. Please know that your support, coupled with donations from around the world, will be put to good use, as CRS continues to provide relief to Haiti.”

The $1,036,217 collected so far from 166 parishes, 5 schools, and individual contributions will assist Catholic Relief Services’ around-the-clock mission in Haiti. CRS has already provided food, medical care, and shelter to hundreds of thousands of people. CRS provided emergency shelter kits to help nearly 100,000 people living in refugee camps. They are in the process of distributing kits to help 20,000 more. CRS staff members are also investigating solutions to housing problems. CRS has already set up nine primary care centers in the earthquake-ravaged country. Doctors and medical professionals are performing hundreds of critical operations per week at St. Francois de Sales Hospital, a hospital that our donations are working to repair.
Catholic Relief Services is well-rooted in Haiti; they have been serving there for 55 years. The million dollars from the Archdiocese will add to the worldwide Catholic effort to help CRS in Haiti. The Archdiocese of Hartford expects the number of donations to increase as we hear from the remaining 47 parishes of our Archdiocese. Those who wish to donate should send a check marked clearly for Haitian Relief to: The Chancery, 134 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06105.

The Archbishop reminds us: “While the earthquake is no longer making front-page headlines, the people of Haiti continue to suffer. They need our help now more than ever, to find solutions in the long term. That is what Catholic Relief Services does.”

National Prayer Breakfast

“Empowered by faith, consistently, prayerfully, we need to find our way back to civility.”

Those were the words of President Barack Obama as he started his day in prayer. He spoke this morning at the 58th annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington. The president and first lady joined thousands of guests, including members of Congress and other government and religious leaders from around the world. Obama described himself as a man of faith, and asked his adversaries to take that into account.


“Now, I’m the first to confess," he said, "I’m not always right. Michelle can testify to that, but surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith... or my citizenship”

Other speakers included the Spanish Prime Minister who supports gay marriage and the easing of restrictions on abortion and divorce, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The National Prayer Breakfast is sponsored by a secretive Christian group known as the Fellowship, or the Family.