---Forwarded message---
From: Jerome Lessard [mailto:jlessard40@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 16, 2010 10:37 AM
To: CMSM
Subject: FICs in Haiti
 
Greetings...in the messages below you will find a brief summary of the impact of the earthquake on the members of the Brothers of Christian Instruction's small Haitian Province of 38 members in 9 localities. Br. Charles Coutard, FIC, Principal of our school at Les Cayes, well west of the disaster site has been keeping us informed:

The three floor Provincial Headquarters, not far from the Montanna Hotel, is a heap of rubble.  The Provincial was away at the time, but two of the four in residence were killed.  Br. Joseph Bergot, Provincial Treasurer, died within 24 hours of being pulled from the rubble.  Br. Dominic Baron, just back from teaching, was caught on the ground floor and his body has not been recovered, but he is presumed dead...

Three of our other residences are no longer habitable, one school  (across the street from the ruined cathedral) is totally demolished and three others seriously damaged.  To top it off, the provincial's car was stolen!  Our 3 schools and 3 houses in the north were not damaged nor was the one to the far west.

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From: MPService
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2010 10:06 AM
Subject: FICs, Haiti Quake
 
The Brothers of Chrisitan Instruction, (FIC) working in Haiti since 1864, lost two Brothers when the Provincial House at Petionville collapsed.  Br. Joseph Bergot, 71, provincial bursar, survived only 18 hours, and Br. Dominique Baron, 46 is still under the rubble and presumed dead. Two Canadian Brothers were hurt and evacuated to Quebec by the Canadain Embassy. The Provincial, a Haitian, was attending meetings elsewhere at the time and was unhurt.
 
Several of their residences and schools have been destroyed or severely damaged.
 
Yours for His Mission,
 
Br. Marcel Sylvestre, FIC,
Mission Project Service =============================================

Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2010 7:17 PM
To: CMSM
Subject: RE: CMSM: Information about Religious in Haiti
 
Hi,
 
The following is information about the ministry of the Viatorians in Haiti.
 
The Clerics of St. Viator (Viatorians)

All 40 brothers and priests who live and work in Haiti have survived the earthquake.  Villa Manrese in Port-au-Prince, a retreat center sponsored by the Viatorians, partially collapsed.

The center's receptionist has been killed.  The center offers programs in French and Creole, from religious instruction to parenting and support groups.  It also provides respite for religious living and working in Haiti.  Currently, Viatorians are tending to more than 400 people who are camped among the ruins of the center.  

North of Port-au-Prince, the Viatorians minister at elementary schools, a high school, a women's training center, and a parish with several countryside chapels.  None of these were badly damaged.
 
Thanks
 
(Br.) Michael Gosch, CSV
Assistant Provincial