Savannah Catholic Church Supports Sister Parish in Haiti

The earthquake in Haiti hit home for one Savannah church.
More than twenty years ago, St. Frances Cabrini began supporting a Catholic parish just 60 miles north of Port-au-Prince.
Familiar with the struggles the people of Haiti already deal with...they are ready to yet again lend a helping hand.
News Three's Alice Massimi has the story.

“Everyday we go into church, we have a roof, we have air conditioning, something to sit in and here are people who didn't have a roof and waiting for the weather to come,” explains Monsignor Francis Nelson of St. Frances Cabrini here in Savannah.
A shell of cinder block walls and a carpet of grass... that's what the Bocozelle Church in Haiti looked like until Monsignor Nelson and his parish stepped in.
Thanks to them, they have a roof over their heads when they gather to pray...
“It helps them to realize that they have some support from outside that they are not totally abandoned,” says Monsignor Nelson.
The roof is just one way they've helped. Annually they donate close ten thousand dollars to the Bocozelle.
Two years ago some members of the church visited Haiti... an eye-opening trip for Brenda Boutin.
“I have to say the one thing that struck me is as horrible as the conditions are everyone was dressed very neatly, the teachers were very professional,” says Brenda.
Brenda says it's hard to imagine the struggles Haiti is now facing.
A quick email from the pastor in Haiti gives only a glimpse...
“The title of the email was horrible, terrible and he had been transporting bodies trying to help as much as he could in Port-au-Prince.”
St. Frances Cabrini will once again be there to help.
“I think it is very important because it reminds us as Christian Catholic People that we can’t just think about ourselves. We have to reach out to our brothers and sisters who are in distress throughout the world,” says Monsignor Nelson.
St Frances Cabrini-- in addition to all of the other parishes in the Savannah Diocese-- will hold an additional collection for money. It will go to Catholic Relief Services in Haiti, which has a year-round presence in the country.