Haiti is descending into lawlessness. Gangs are taking control, launching attacks against the government, while the country’s prime minister remains stranded abroad.
But the ones paying the price for this violence are Haiti’s children.
According to UNICEF, hundreds of thousands of children and families live in some of the most dangerous and besieged communities.
Malnutrition is at a record high across the country, with roughly two in three children needing humanitarian aid.
While the Church has been trying to help their flock in Haiti, many of the religious there admit they are also scared of this chaos.
Archbishop Max Leroy Mesidor of Port-au-Prince tells the papal charity Aid to the Church in Need, “Everyone is afraid, including the religious. As soon as you leave Port-au-Prince, you are in danger. The gangs even come into the churches to kidnap the people there.”
Catholics are there for them in these dark times.
Churches around the Diocese of Brooklyn are being encouraged to pray for Haitian Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas, who was seriously injured due to gang violence, and all of Haiti this weekend.
Next Monday, March 18, the Diocese of Brooklyn will also dedicate their Lenten pilgrimage stop to praying for the country.
Just go to Holy Innocents Church, that’s at 279 East 17th Street in Brooklyn.
Prayer opportunities will be offered throughout the day, but Bishop Robert Brennan will celebrate the closing Mass at 7:30 PM.