Rebuild our Church in Haiti
Men anpil chay pa lou
(Many hands lighten the load)
Jan. 12, 2012 marked the second anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti. Although significant progress has been made in emergency relief and recovery, it will take many years to ensure safe housing, clean water and education for the people in the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. It is too easy for us to forget such horrific events, especially when we do not have to see it or live in it every day. However, the people of Haiti need us, and we, especially in the Episcopal Church, have a connection that requires us to continue to pay attention to their needs.
The Diocese of Haiti is one of the largest (and poorest) dioceses of the Episcopal Church. A member of Province II, along with such dioceses as New York and New Jersey, the Diocese of Haiti is home to nearly 100,000 members, 97 churches and over 200 Episcopal schools. The earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010 wiped out 70 percent of Episcopal Church buildings in a country where the per capita income is about $480.
The Bishop of Haiti and his people have asked for our help to rebuild Holy Trinity Cathedral, the spiritual center of the Episcopal Church in Haiti. Holy Trinity Cathedral was totally destroyed. More than a worship space, the cathedral is an anchor of the Port-au-Prince community, a social service center and the heart of the Episcopal cathedral complex that provides education, health care and interim housing while also meeting the spiritual needs of the community.
At Diocesan Convention in October 2011, Bishop Greg Rickel announced the Diocese of Olympia’s goal is to contribute one $10 brick per member of this diocese to the Rebuild Our Church in Haiti effort by the next Diocesan Convention in November 2012. Our overall goal is $250,000.
There will be many ways to participate in this campaign, but the main focus will be a diocesan Easter campaign. Churches in the diocese can support the effort by joining the diocesan Easter season campaign, which will touch all aspects of congregation life and culminate in gathering of financial support by Pentecost. Churches can choose to focus on the Haiti campaign at another time in the year, or hold a number of special events.
Jennifer Daugherty of Emmanuel, Mercer Is., has graciously heeded Bishop Rickel’s call to head up our campaign. She is off and running and ready to help you. You can contact her at jkdaugherty@me.com.
Clergy and lay leaders are asked to identify a church coordinator for the campaign by the end of January.
Please keep the Diocese of Haiti and all the people of Haiti in your prayers.
Bishop Rickel’s Challenge: One $10 brick per member of each church in the diocese ($250K total)
How to Get Started
• Identify your church coordinator
• Send name and contact info to Jennifer Daugherty (206.331.2364)
• Decide to participate in Easter Campaign
• Put other events on church calendar
• Check out the Rebuilding Resources on this page's sidebar
• Check out other resources and info on the Rebuild our Church website
Participate in the Easter Season Campaign
• Seven weeks of education, giving and celebration
• Bricks and gift cards sold until Pentecost
• Curriculum for children and youth
• Resources for adult ed and preaching
• Bulletin and email content
• Volunteer training by Episcopal Church Foundation
• Speakers available
Raise Funds Throughout the Year
• Churchwide campaign at another time
• Sell bricks with gift cards year-round
• Give portion of outreach funds
• Youth-led giving effort
• Other fundraiser or social event
