Haiti (continued)    The Good News

Last weekend, I shared about the turmoil and chaos occurring in Haiti in the wake of the assassination of their President.

But the news is not all doom and gloom. Thanks to the combined efforts of the amazing parishes of Webster Groves (Annunciation, Holy Redeemer and Mary, Queen of Peace), $89,227 was raised for Food Se- curity for the twin parish of St. Jean du Sud. This is a remarkable story.

You may remember that we were trying to raise $20,000 for the Goat and Chick- en Project. Well, we obliterated that goal.

So, what about the rest of the money raised? Here is what is happening.

  1. MORE MALE GOATS. Part of the funds will be used to purchase additional elite Boer male goats to expedite breed- ing as part of the Goat and Chicken Pro- ject. (Do I really need to explain that fur- ther?)
  2. WATER FILTER PROJECT. About $10,000 has been earmarked to fund a water filter project for the region. If you know anything about that area, clean wa- ter is scarce and vital. Food security needs a clean water plan. Without clean water, many of the people get sick with diarrhea and other debilitating diseas-The money we have raised will enable a large village-to-village campaign with the Water With Blessings organization to get 1500 – 2000 families trained in the use of Sawyer Water Filters that effectively eliminate water-borne pathogens and disease. The filters themselves can last upwards to 10 years
  3. TO BE DETERMINED. There is still quite a large sum that remains after that, so a subcommittee has been formed and tasked with identifying, vetting, and recommending project opportunities in the area of food security and sustainability, possibly with the same organization that is running the Goat and Chicken Project but also considering other partners in the region.

All of the funds generated will be used for the original purpose of food security for the good people of St. Jean du Sud. The Haiti Committee takes seriously the mandate to be good stewards of the bountiful gifts with which they have been entrusted

On behalf of myself, our Haiti committee (which includes parishioners from all three parishes), my fellow pastors and the people of St. Jean, I would like to say THANK YOU for your overwhelming, indeed mind-boggling, support. In the midst of a difficult time both here and abroad, Catholics from Webster Groves have responded with astonishing generosity and love.

Even though we have been unable to physically visit our twin parish for over two years now, we keep in constant contact with them. Know that despite all of the uproar in that beleaguered country, our twin parish continues to operate, students continue to learn and the area continues to develop.

We will continue to update all three parishes on the progress of the subcommittee and the projects you have so generously funded.

Father Kevin

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