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Haitian Earthquake Relief

In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are working to coordinate a centralized fundraising effort to assist our confreres and those to whom they minister in Haiti. It is the hope of the Salesian Education of Youth Committee that the Oblate and Visitation schools world-wide will join together to support this worthy effort. Our Catholic social teaching calls us to solidarity, and this moment in world history beckons us like no other!

There are currently three Oblate priests, 20 Oblate seminarians and 20 Oblate associates (residential candidates) living among and ministering to the poorest people in the Port au Prince region. It is with deep sorrow that we have learned that two Oblate associates were among the fatalities that resulted from the earthquake when one of their houses was destroyed.

Hands Together, a mission endeavor founded by Fr. Tom Hagan, OSFS, in 1986, operates 15 schools with 11,000 students and feeds thousands of people each day. The Oblate postulants and theologians, under the direction of Fr. Carlos Borba, OSFS and Fr. Tom Moore, OSFS, also minister to the poor in addition to pursuing their studies in philosophy and theology. Our confreres and the people in Haiti need our help.

Salesianum School is joining in this world-wide effort to assist the Oblate ministries in Haiti. All the money raised will go directly to the Oblates in Haiti to ensure that 100% of the funds raised will be used to assist the Oblates in ministering to the poor and suffering in the Port au Prince region. If you would like to help, please makes checks payable to the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and mail them to:

The Oblate Haiti Fund
2200 Kentmere Parkway
Wilmington, DE 19806

If you have any questions, please call me at 302-654-2495.

Thank you for your willingness to consider joining us in this project.

Fraternally,
Bill McCandless, OSFS
Salesian Education of Youth Committee, Chairman