Message to the CHRISTUS Family

Yesterday evening, we distributed the following message to the members of the CHRISTUS family about our response to the tragic circumstances in Haiti.

CHRISTUS Health joins with all members of the Catholic health ministry to extend our thoughts and prayers on behalf of the people of Haiti, the Haitian community in the U.S. and our colleagues in country, who are responding to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the chaotic aftermath of Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

Inquiries continue to arise from generous and compassionate CHRISTUS Associates and physicians about how CHRISTUS as a system plans to respond to this tragic event, while many have already made donations to the assistance organization of their choice. After prayerful consideration and careful discernment, CHRISTUS Health, on behalf of all its Associates, Sisters, physicians and volunteers, has decided to commit $50,000 to support the efforts of Catholic Relief Services, an organization that is already mobilizing relief efforts in the affected region. In addition, if you are interested in making a personal contribution, we would encourage you to consider one of the many disaster relief organizations accepting donations for hurricane relief efforts.

To assist you in this process, below is contact information for several Catholic-sponsored organizations that would welcome your support:
• Catholic Relief Services has told the Catholic Health Association that they are working to assure their staff are safe and to get an early assessment of immediate needs. They have posted a way to donate money to help buy supplies and transport them immediately. They are also moving other Relief Services personnel and supplies into the area immediately.
• Catholic Medical Mission Board has been assured that their staff in the region are safe, and are also mobilizing their relief efforts.
• Hope for a Healthier Humanity Foundation is targeting specific practitioners they have worked with in the area who have already been in touch listing the supplies that are critically needed. They will be shipping out medical supplies in the immediate future.

We will continue to work with the Catholic Health Association to monitor the situation, and have been advised that—in this early stage—it will be important to get an assessment of needs and get donations as soon as possible to purchase supplies and transport them, but that moving large numbers of well-intentioned relief workers into Haiti would be premature at this time. We will continue to work with all the agencies involved and share information about volunteer opportunities and timing.

Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has appealed to the world to respond to the great need of the Haitian people. Please join us in offering the following prayer for the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Prayer for Haiti Earthquake Victims

Leader
O God of mercy, look with pity upon all those who have been left homeless, bereft, in shock, in the wake of this mighty act of nature in Haiti. Lord, in your mercy,

People
Hear our prayer.

Leader
Holy God, who fed your people in the wilderness, whose loving kindness is everlasting, lift the burdens of all who are weary from the search for food and refresh those who are parched from thirst. Lord, in your mercy,

People
Hear our prayer.

Leader
O Source of all consolation, comfort with the sure sense of your presence all who feel forsaken, and all those who have lost loved ones. Lord, in your mercy,

People
Hear our prayer.

Leader
Gracious God, you sent your son Jesus to bring sight to the blind, hearing and healing to all who asked, open our ears to all cries of affliction, and through us provide healing and help. Lord, in your mercy,

People
Hear our prayer.

Leader
Merciful God, you ask us to cleanse our hearts, to loose the bonds of oppression, and to repair the ruins. Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love and generosity that we might pour ourselves out for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti so that they, too, will know your generous healing power. We ask this through Christ, our Lord, Amen.
—Adapted from a prayer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America