On August 14, 2021, a massive earthquake centered near the southern city of Les Cayes shook the nation of Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. 

At 7.2 on the Richter scale, it was stronger in magnitude than the devastating 2010 earthquake, crumbling homes and buildings and killing more than two thousand people, with the death toll expected to rise. 

Lay Spiritans Rich and Daneen Gosser, founders of the Rich in Mercy Institute ( www.rimin.org) which has long supported educational, environmental, and infrastructure projects in Haiti, spoke with Fr. Patrick Eugene, C.S.Sp., a Spiritan who was in Les Cayes when it happened. 

Fr. Patrick (pictured at right) was not injured in the quake, although the rectory where he was staying was damaged. A hotel across the street collapsed entirely. Following the earthquake that region of Haiti experienced a downpour of rain from tropical storm Grace. People sleeping under makeshift roofs were exposed to heavy rains. 

Fr. Patrick is organizing a modest relief effort to help approximately 100 families by providing staples such as tarps, beans, rice, cooking oil, etc. Please consider making an emergency financial donation to support Fr. Patrick’s efforts, and help the people of Haiti who have experienced so much suffering and tragedy.

To contribute to this relief effort, please donate online today!