Dear Friends of Operation Starfish®:
Let us begin with a photo meditation…
 Our friends at Our Lady Queen
of Peace Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia support over
1,200 students in Medor, Haiti. The school lunch program provides
each student and teacher in Medor with a hot lunch. Here, students
are carrying rice and beans to the classrooms.
In a recent visit to Virginia,
Fr. Leroy, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Medor, said, “We count
on you and you can count on us, because God listens to the prayers
of the poor.
CHURCH
OF THE NATIVITY’S 2009 STARFISH RESULTS…
By
the end of Lent this year, parishioners and friends of Nativity
Catholic Church had raised $263,318.29
through their Operation Starfishâ campaign. This gift will fund the development
of a 5th “Nativity Village” project in Haiti. In
accepting the donation, Food For The Poor President Robin Mahfood
said, “Your generous gift of self-sustaining projects and sturdy,
safe housing are tremendous blessings – to those who receive,
as well as to those who have given. Church Of The Nativity
parishioners truly have a heart for Haiti. On behalf of those
without a voice, please accept my deepest and most humble thank
you for your continued support.”
In addition to the Lenten Starfish campaign, Nativity parishioners
provided continuing financial support to Food For The Poor throughout
2008. Last September, Nativity raised $100,000 in one weekend
for Haiti hurricane
relief. Water wells, reforestation projects, scholarship programs,
medical and food programs saw another $40,000 in donations from
Nativity parishioners, over and above Starfish. In a May 28 ceremony
at Food For The Poor’s international headquarters in Florida,
Nativity pastor, Fr. Dick Martin, said, “We are excited and honored
to have been called to help the poorest of the poor in Haiti.
To date, Nativity has built four Nativity Villages with hundreds
of houses, and self-sustainable fishing villages, tilapia farms,
sewing co-ops, schools, and clinics.”
The newest development project, “Nativity Village at Caracol,” funded
with this year’s Starfish gift, will include housing, clean water,
sanitation, a community center, the “Georgette Martin Sewing
Co-op,” and a 60-acre agricultural farm. The farm will be supported
by other church and school Starfish projects, including one at
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hope Valley, RI.
Caracol is located on the north coast of Haiti, just east
of Cap Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city. The development
is designed and managed by Food For The Poor’s Projects Department,
with on-site supervision provided by Fr. Duken Augustin. Fr.
Duken, who visited Nativity Parish in April, has also overseen
the construction and operation of Nativity Village at Prolonge,
which today has over 350 houses, a primary school, the St. Anthony
Health Center, and a vocational training program.
Since Operation Starfishâ began at Church of the Nativity
in 1998, more than 800 houses have been constructed, along with
water and sanitation projects, schools, community centers, vocational
training programs and small businesses. Nativity funded Food
For The Poor’s first Fishing Village co-op in Haiti, at Petit-Anse.
Today, Food For The Poor operates 21 fishing villages in Haiti
and 17 in Jamaica. Nativity parishioners and friends have contributed
more than $2.2 million towards Food For The Poor’s ministry in
Haiti over the last 11 years.
NEXT TRIP TO HAITI – NOVEMBER, 2009
MARK
YOUR CALENDARS! Fr.
Martin will take another group of Nativity parishioners to
Haiti on November 9, 2009. This 5-day mission trip, sponsored
by Food For The Poor, will leave Washington on Monday, Nov.
9 and return Friday, Nov. 13. We will stop in Ft. Lauderdale
to tour Food For The Poor’s world headquarters and meet with
their leadership, then spend 4 days in the Port-au-Prince area.
While in Haiti we will inaugurate Nativity Village at Lozandier,
the 4th Nativity Village development project sponsored
by our parish. Visits are also planned to Nativity Village
at Merger – the first Nativity Village project – along with Cardinal Leger Leper Hospital,
Rainbow House Orphanage, the Little Children of Jesus Home
for the handicapped and other sites that serve the needs of
the poor.
We
are working with Food For The Poor’s Mission Trip staff to create
an educational and spiritually stimulating itinerary, with hands-on
opportunities and plenty of interaction with the Haitian people.
If
you feel called to this journey, contact us at jim@starfishmission.org for more information.
All are welcome!
MAP OF HAITI
A good map of Haiti, produced
by the United Nations, can be found at http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/haiti.pdf
ARLINGTON DIOCESE MISSION FAIR PLANNED
The first Arlington Diocese Mission Fair will be held on Saturday,
October 3, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. James Catholic Church
in Falls Church, Virginia. Parishes from across the Diocese will
be represented at this day-long event. Guest speakers, workshops
and exhibits will focus attention on the mission work of the
Arlington Diocese. Clergy, religious and lay leaders will gather
to teach best practices, share experiences and learn from each
other, in an effort to affirm and encourage the Gospel call to
serve the poor. Theresa Patterson, Executive Director of the
Parish Twinning Program of the Americas, will give a keynote
address.
Hosted by the Pontifical Mission Societies, with the support
of Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, this fair will highlight
the work currently being done by Arlington Diocese churches in
poor countries across the globe. The event will also provide
opportunities for parishes and individuals to get involved in
mission work. Catholic Relief Services, Food For The Poor and
other organizations will be on hand.
Workshops will include:
+ “Best
Practices in Mission Work”
+ “Revitalizing
Your Mission Work”
+ “A
new Website to Support Your Mission”
+ “Mission
Boot Camp”
+ “Involving
Young People in Mission Work”
+ “How
One Person Can Make a Difference”
According to Fr. Pat Posey, Director, Pontifical Mission Societies, “We
are planning a day of practical guidance and spiritual inspiration
for all those who want to share what they are now doing to serve
the poor of the world and those who are looking for opportunities
to get involved. All are welcome!”
For more information on the Arlington Diocese Mission Fair
and to register online, go to www.arlington.pontificalmissionsocieties.info/register.
ACROSS THE STREET AND AROUND THE WORLD
While
Operation Starfishâ may be Church
of the Nativity’s flagship social justice program, there’s plenty
more going on. Nativity Church and School staff, students, parents
and parishioners are committed to Catholic social teaching. “We
reach out to those in need, across the street and around the
world,” says Fr. Dick Martin, Nativity’s pastor. Here’s a partial
list of places and programs where you can find Nativity people
at work:
ACROSS THE STREET:
+ Christ
House, Alexandria, VA – parishioners serve meals & provide
counsel
+ “Scouting
for Food” - Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew
+ Summer
Work Camp for teens – repairing homes for the poor
+ Rachel
House and Salvation Army Christmas Stockings – Brownies and Girl
Scouts
+ Nativity’s
Spanish Outreach Ministry – feeding the hungry, visiting the
sick and imprisoned, providing transportation
+ JustFaith
grads and Women of Nativity support “So Others Might Eat” and
the Lamb Center, working with the homeless
+ Fairfax
Area Christian Emergency and Transitional Services
+ Nativity
contributes about $40,000 a year to Virginians Organized for
Interfaith Community Engagement, advocating for affordable housing,
dental care for the needy, and E.S.L. classes
+ An
Advent Giving Tree provides hundreds of Christmas gifts to the
needy
+ Sunday
Suppers provide meals to the homeless
+ Nativity’s
Knights of Columbus build homes every year in Appalachia, volunteer
for “Hearts and Hammers,” conduct regular blood drives, support
a state facility for the severely mentally handicapped, provide
social events for low income retirement home residents, and many
other charitable activities
+ Nativity’s “Mom & Me” group
brings toddlers to visit nursing home patients, and assists with
meals and baby items for new Moms
+ Nativity
Crafters hold an annual bazaar for charity
+ Nativity
Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets comforting prayer shawls
for the seriously ill
+ Nativity
Catholic School students support Christ House, St. Jude Hospital,
Ronald McDonald House, Bunnies for Childrens Hospital, Catholic
Charities’ “Adopt a Family,” and local nursing homes
+ Nativity’s
Grief Support group reaches out to all who are hurting from loss
+ Nativity
and a local Methodist Church work together on “Martha’s Table,” to
prepare meals for the needy
+ AND
MUCH, MUCH MORE…
AROUND THE WORLD:
+ Operation
Starfish has built 5 entire villages in Haiti and channeled over
$2.2 million in aid to Food For The Poor
+ Nativity
supports the youth programs of the Diocese of Kumbo in Cameroon,
including an annual 2-week youth camp
+ Nativity
funds a portion of the operating costs of Casa de Pobres in Tijuana,
Mexico
+ Nativity
helps with annual operating expenses of Fr. Joseph Swam’s Orphanage
in India
+ Nativity
assists Msgr. John Katende’s ministry in Uganda
+ Nativity
helps create small businesses for women in Kigoma Village, Tanzania
+ Nativity
supports the House of Kindness in the Phillipines, run by the
Missionaries of Eucharistic Love
+ Nativity’s
Bible Study Group provides a scholarship for a child in India
+ Nativity
School is twinned with Rainbow House, an orphanage for HIV/AIDS
children in Haiti
+ Nativity
has a crochet ministry with Cardinal Leger Leper Hospital in
Haiti
+ Nativity
supports “Education Across Borders,” providing scholarships to
students in the Dominican Republic
+ Nativity
School supports “Backpacks for Afghan Children”
+ Nativity’s “Our
Lady of Knock Society” provides scholarship aid to poor children
in Ireland
+ AND
MUCH, MUCH MORE…
“We are truly an outreach parish,” says
Fr. Martin. Amen to that!!! For more information, or to volunteer,
contact Nativity Catholic Church at 703-455-2400.
SOMETHING FOR THE “LITTLE ONES”
We
are often asked how young children can make a difference. Our
friends at the Lazarus Project (www.lazarusprojecthaiti.org) have
an idea they would like to share with Operation Starfishâ Newsletter readers…
Everyone’s
Chocolate Covered Pretzel Store -- by Debi Deloose
The
14 children in Room 5 at Lord of Life Preschool in Fairfax, Virginia learned about math and giving back to the community during
the Spring of 2009. The children, who are all 5 years
old, brought in change to add to the digital “piggy bank.” This
was a lesson in money, recognizing numerals, and counting.
At
the end of April the class opened Everyone’s Chocolate Covered
Pretzel Store. After much discussion the children decided
to make 150 bags of pretzels with two in each bag. At class
meetings, the group decided to ask for donations rather than
for a set price. They also determined what supplies would
be needed for the project. The pretzel assembly line was
manned by the students, with help from the parents and teachers
Kareen Lawson and Lorna Miller. Student-made advertising
posters were put up and the store was run by students on the
days of the sale.
The
money earned from both of these integrated learning experiences
is being donated to the Village of Hope School in Haiti. Pastor
Ron Qualley visited the classroom and shared information on the Village of Hope school. He was also first in line for the pretzel store. The
pretzel project earned $375.54. The “piggy bank” held $145.17. The
grand total was $520.17.
HAITI AND HIV/AIDS
The Associated Press reports that the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Haiti has decreased
to below the levels found in other nations in the Caribbean and
sub-Saharan Africa. Anti-retroviral drugs, education, and behavioral
changes have reduced the infection rate to 2.2% in the 15-49
age group, according to the United Nations. The Bahamas, Guyana,
Suriname, Botswana and Swaziland all have much higher rates,
with Botswana peaking at 24% and Swaziland at 33%. The accompagnateur program,
pioneered by Dr. Paul Farmer’s “Partners in Health” is credited
with a large impact on the disease. This program pays local workers
to help HIV/AIDS patients adhere to medication regimens and preventive
measures. Port-au-Prince’s GHESKIO clinic, the world’s oldest
AIDS clinic, provides phone cards so patients can stay in touch
with medical personnel. USAID says that Haiti does some of the
best work in the world on AIDS care.
Nativity School has a partnership with L’Arc en Ciel (Rainbow House),
an AIDS orphanage in Kenscoff, Haiti. Rainbow House is a pioneer
in educating families how to treat HIV/AIDS in the home environment,
reducing the incidence of families giving up HIV positive children
to institutions. Each
year, Rainbow House children and Nativity School students create
art that is selected and printed as Christmas greeting cards.
Proceeds from the sales of these cards go to support Rainbow
House programs. For more information, contact Nativity School
at 703-455-2300.
ONE PENNY AT A TIME, YOU CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE!
We
have listed Nativity’s Operation Starfish as a benefiting charity
on GOODSEARCH. Every GOODSEARCH click yields a penny for Operation
Starfish. All you have to do is go to www.GoodSearch.com; find the “Who
Do You GoodSearch For?” Box; type “Operation Starfish”;
and start searching. After you do this the first time, Operation
Starfish will automatically become your default charity. It’s
easy to change, however, if you prefer that another good cause
receive your search pennies. For example, our friends at Food
For The Poor are also listed.
>MARCH PRAYER REQUESTS
Our readers have submitted the
following prayer requests for this month:
+ For
all the clergy, religious and lay ministers who labor “across
the street and around the world” to serve the poor and marginalized,
that God grant all of them strength, courage and the resources
they need to continue their mission work;
+ For
the repose of the soul of Mr. Clervil, and for his dear family
and friends as they adjust to his loss, especially Lesly who
works tirelessly for the poor;
+ For
Barbara Fazekas, who is dealing with illness with humor and good
spirits, and for those who are providing the care and support
she needs;
+ For
teachers, school staff and administrators, that they be inspired
this coming academic year to inform students about the poor and
show them how they can act to make a difference;
+ For
all whose lives are in need of resurrection - those who are hurting,
families that are divided, and nations at war, may the peace
of Christ be felt by all those who struggle;
For these and all our intentions,
hear us, Oh Lord…
HAITIAN
WISDOM
“Senyè,
Si
n’ap viv jodi a
Malgre
siklòn, grangou, ak maladi,
Nou
dwe di,
Mèsi
Senyè.
Nou
genlè la pou yon bi.”
Lord,
If we are alive today in spite of
Hurricanes, hunger and sickness,
We should say,
Thank you, Lord.
We must be here for a purpose.
CLOSING THOUGHTS…
“Haiti
has the distinction of having the highest maternal mortality
rate in the western hemisphere.” --- Doctors Without Borders,
2009
“A water-poverty index release
by the British-based Centre for Ecololgy and Hydrology ranked
Haiti dead last out of 147 countries surveyed.” ---Partners
in Health, 2008
In Haiti,
the life expectancy of a male is 55 years; in the U.S. -
75 years.
In Haiti the
under-5 mortality rate is 80/1,000; in the U.S. -
8/1,000.
---Compassion International, 2009
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