Pray for Haiti

Please pray for the many thousands of people who lost their lives in an earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, 12^th January.

Aid to the Church in Need staff around the world pray the Angelus at midday each day. Over the coming days, we will especially be remembering all those who lost their lives in the disaster, and offering the comfort and solidarity of prayer to all those who were injured or lost loved ones.

On Friday, 15^th January, Aid to the Church in Need remembered the earthquake victims at a special Mass to mark the birthday of the late Father Werenfried van Straaten, who founded the charity in 1947.

The Mass took place at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Sutton, where the charity has its UK office.

Pope Benedict XVI said his thoughts and prayers are with “the people hit by the earthquake, which has caused a heavy loss of human life and a great number of homeless and missing and enormous damage”.

Archbishop of Port-au-Prince among those killed

Among the dead is Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. He was killed when buildings, including the cathedral, collapsed in the earthquake. The vicar general of the diocese, Monsignor Charles Benoit, is still missing.

The seminary in Port-au-Prince was badly damaged, and a number of  seminarians were trapped inside. Nine have now been confirmed dead. Students at a centre for the formation of Sisters and priests were also trapped when the building was totally destroyed.

The president of Haiti, René Garcia Préval, has confirmed that at least 50,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake, though the final figure is likely to be considerably higher.

Some reports have speculated that up to half a million people may have perished.

Thousands of Haitians are now sleeping outdoors, either fearing to go inside in case further after shocks strike, or because their homes have been destroyed.

Please remember all Haitians in your prayers, especially when you pray the Rosary.