Haitian bishop meets with pope

by Tom Roberts on Feb. 03, 2010

Bishop Pierre Dumas, president of Caritas Haiti, met with Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday to report on the devastation in his country, urging that churches be rebuilt and that they have charitable facilities alongside them.

In a news conference arranged by the Sant’Egidio community in Rome, Dumas also updated the damage to the church. He said 15 churches, including the Cathedral, were destroyed in Port-au-Prince. He also said that more than 45 nuns, 20 religious seminarians and 30 diocesan seminarians had been killed in the Jan. 12 earthquake in addition to the archbishop, vicar and chancellor of the archdiocese.

Parish priests are being encouraged to stay with their people in the tent villages that have materialized throughout the city and to celebrate Mass in those locations.

Sunday Masses are being celebrated in improvised locations near the destroyed churches, he said. The church is giving special attention to hearing confessions and to providing help for psychologically traumatized people.

Dumas said he also told the pope that the archdiocese's seminary must be rebuilt so the church can begin educating priests again.

And who gives help to

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Feb. 03, 2010.

And who gives help to traumatized priests? They are grieving also.

I am a clinical psychologist

Submitted by Dr. Leo D.F. M. Dela Cruz (not verified) on Jul. 26, 2010.

I am a clinical psychologist and my specialization is providing psychological intervention to trauma victims. I can also conduct training to those interested in learning EMOTIONAL FIRST AID (using the psychospiritual model). I also can help those who help (Vicarious trauma victims).

I am willing to go to Haiti for this purpose. If this can be arranged, I will opt not to teach at the graduate school next semester so I can respond to this need.

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