Catholic Charities is a non-profit social service agency.

Creating hope for members of all religions.

 

  

              

 

                                                Diocesan Director of Social Services

                                      Frank Vonch  (815) 399-4300

 

                   

 

 

"On behalf of Catholic Charities Diocese of Rockford, I would like to extend our heartfelt prayers for the victims and families in Haiti."

 Frank Vonch, Diocesan Director 

 

Cardinal George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Archbishop Dolan, chair of CRS (Catholic Relief Services), said the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that ravaged Haiti “destroyed countless homes, churches, seminaries, schools, and other buildings and has left millions without the most basic necessities of life.  Our faith compels us to pray for and reach out to our brothers and sisters in their time of suffering.

 

Prayers

 

God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us. 

In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster to see Christ

Brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us.

Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti.

Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the

Homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice.

With your mercy sustain us, O Lord, at this time as we continue to work

for peace and justice.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

 
Additional Information about Protecting and Adopting Children in Haiti

Dear Diocesan Director:

On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, the White House hosted a call to address the situation of unaccompanied children in Haiti. There was no substantial change to information about adoption previously provided by the Departments of Homeland Security, State and Health and Human Services, i.e. only children already matched to U.S. families are being released at this time.

The following additional information about efforts of USAID and its partners to protect children in Haiti was provided:

  • USAID has developed a major initiative entitled "Operation Protect Children" to provide immediate and long-range response to the crisis of unaccompanied children in Haiti with the ultimate goal of assisting the Haitian government to repair and strengthen its child welfare system
  • An NGO sub-cluster headed by UNICEF has been set up to assure the safety and subsistence of children
  • UNICEF has set up interim care centers for unaccompanied children throughout the country in which 40,000 children have already been seen
  • The International Red Cross and Haitian Red Cross have set up an in-country helpline to connect unaccompanied children to their parents or extended family members
  • The Haitian government has dispatched 20 child protection brigades to the airport and borders to protect against child trafficking

The one question that they were unprepared to address is whether/how Haitian immigrants in the U.S. might be able to foster or adopt their child relatives known to be without other in-country family members. Department of State said they have not yet developed a process to facilitate that situation.

We'll keep you updated as additional information becomes available. Please do not hesitate to call with questions.

Sincerely,

Jean Beil
Sr. Vice Presdient, Programs and Services
Catholic Charities USA
(703) 236-6229

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Mooseheart to take in 50 quake victims

January 26, 2010

 

From Staff Reports

 

As many as 50 children orphaned or displaced by the recent earthquake in Haiti could be coming to Kane County.

Working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the 230-student residential school Mooseheart,

just north of North Aurora, could be taking in child refugees from the Jan. 12 earthquake that rocked the Caribbean

nation, killing up to 200,000.  "We have offered temporary accommodations for up to 50," Mooseheart Executive Director

Scott D. Hart said Monday. "We don't know how many children we will be sent or their age range.

 

"We really don't know at this point exactly how long 'temporary' might be -- it could mean a few days, weeks or months." 

Also unknown is when the children will arrive. The government's evacuations will be in three groups. American citizens

will be first, followed by orphans who were in the process of being adopted before the earthquake.  "All other orphans, and

what the government classifies as 'unaccompanied children,' constitute the third group, and it is from this group that

children would come to us," Hart said.   "As of (Monday), we're being told that the government is still working on the first

group. So we could be getting a call in a matter of days from now, or it could be a few weeks -- we don't know."

 

Mooseheart likely will look for French-speaking volunteers, because few of the children speak English, Hart said. Winter

clothing is being gathered for the Haitian children, who know nothing but the hot Caribbean climate.

 

Qualified volunteers are asked to call 630-906-3601.

 

Meanwhile, Mooseheart's student body has been planning several Haitian relief fundraisers, including a bake sale

and "hat day" for Friday, with all proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross