March 10, 2010

Mission of hope: Denver Catholics take love of Christ to Haiti

By Julie Filby

When called to help Haitians following the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, two local women did not hesitate to respond. Their goal: to bring hope firsthand to those who had lost everything by announcing the love of Christ.

“My experience in Haiti was incredible,” said Maria Yudelka Leonard, a parishioner of St. Louis Parish in Englewood. “The most important of my life.”

Leonard, who has lived in the United States since 1994, is originally from the Dominican Republic, the country that shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti. She volunteered for the mission trip after being contacted by Cathy Cancino, a parishioner of St. James Parish in Denver.

On Feb. 7 they set out with a delegation of 21 U.S. representatives of the Vatican-approved Neocatechumenal Way catechumenate: nine women, two laymen and 10 priests.

They were instantly aware of the lack of infrastructure when they reached the unsecured Haitian border.

“We entered Haiti with a big surprise,” Leonard said. “No one asked us for a passport, visa or any identification.”

Upon arriving at their host home in the capital of Port-au-Price, they were overwhelmed by the massive destruction and rampant poverty. They stayed in a heavily damaged house owned by Cristo Rey Parish, a church destroyed in the earthquake. Living conditions were crude and masks needed to tolerate the stench.

“People were still buried in the rubble,” Leonard said. “The smell was pungent.”

The Neocatechumenal Way representatives—made up of Americans, Dominicans and Haitians—were organized into groups of six. Each group included a priest, a person to translate English, one to translate Spanish, and a host to translate to Creole, the official language of Haiti.

“Even with that little (language) barrier, it was incredible how the people listened,” Leonard said. “They were joyful to hear us speak.”

The missionary groups spent their days traveling the narrow streets and makeshift tent cities evangelizing.

“The tent cities were unbelievable,” Leonard said. “No running water, no electricity, and such flimsy shelter in the blistering sun and humidity.”

While their attempts to share the good news were rejected by some in Haiti—a predominantly Catholic country that also maintains a population that practices Voodoo—many accepted their message.

“I was amazed,” Leonard said. “I thought I would find victims—they’re not thinking they’re victims. They were so thankful that God had given them a second chance to open their hearts to him.

“They have nothing and they’re thankful, even for the bad things,” she said.

Cancino described the Haitian people as “sincere, loving and almost innocent.”

“They’re also very resilient and persevering,” she said. “I was truly humbled by them—their willingness to listen, to tell us their stories, and just how brave they are.”

The missionaries regrouped each afternoon at 3:30 p.m. to celebrate Mass and comply with the 5 p.m. curfew.

“We were not allowed out after dark—there’s no electricity so it gets very dark and dangerous,” Cancino said. “Hearing the sounds of gunshots in the night, I realized the real sense of danger and lack of order.”
After three days, they headed home to Denver.

“We need to keep praying for them and know they are our brothers and sisters in Christ,” Leonard said. “These people are traumatized—we as a Church, community and Christians need to act in solidarity with them.”
While figures vary it is estimated 200,000-300,000 Haitians died.

Last week San Antonio Archbishop José H. Gomez, former auxiliary bishop of Denver, led a tour in Haiti as part of an advisory group for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. They visited damaged parishes, convents, seminaries, schools and hospitals to determine ways to help the Haitian Church and people move forward.

How to Help 

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community
Visit: www.crs.org
Call: 888-277-7575 or 800-736-3467
Mail: Catholic Relief Services, 228 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, Md. 21201