Boston College faculty, staff, and students convened in Saint Ignatius Church for a special evening celebration of the Mass. Father Francis Hermann was the homilist and Father Leahy, president of BC, presided at the liturgy, which was offered for the suffering people in Haiti,
Ever since the January 12 earthquake devastated Haiti and moved the international community to overflow with aid, the Boston College community has truly embodied its community ideal of “men and women for others” through a variety of fundraising opportunities and outreach.
The recent outpouring of help from BC is not new nor an exception to the rule. Father Hermann noted how Boston College has a compassionate history of service to the area. “Since the early 1980s, with exceptions here and there for dictatorships, embargoes, political unrest— groups of Boston College students have been traveling to Haiti during spring and summer to serve there, or more accurately, to receive the gift of knowing the Haitian people. And I have accompanied our students” (Footage of his homily and the Mass can be found at youtube.com/bcchronicle).
Father Hermann read the reflections of David, a student who traveled there. “I went to this country, and was healed and broken at the same time. It caused a hurt in me so deep I still can’t find the tears to express it all. Haiti was the vehicle through which I learned about God and in turn about myself. While I am no longer present in that country, it is present in me.”
Dr. Patrick Rombalski, Vice President for Student Affairs, introduces the special BC website bc.edu/haitirelief with a letter detailing the need for a central site that highlights and invites the BC community to get involved. He said, “This website has coalesced from an outpouring of goodwill and energy across our University.”
The website has four sections devoted to campus events, ways to help, support, and contact information for the Volunteer and Service Learning Center. Upcoming events involve a movie screening tonight in Robsham Theater sponsored by the Golden Key Honour Society at 7:00 pm. This documentary, The Human Experience, examines questions about human existence through people in New York, Peru, and Africa.
Moreover, support for students of Haitian descent is available on Fridays through the end of April at 4:00 pm in Gasson 215. The support group “Lakou” (translated as “courtyard”) is offered by the University Counseling Services.
The BC Haiti Relief site directs all those who may be interested in sponsoring in event in support of Haiti to go to the Student Life Calendar and click “How to Submit an Event.”
Outside the efforts of students here on the Heights, the Archdiocese of Boston has supported directives of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that are in support of Haiti. A special collection was taken in the Archdiocese the weekend of January 16-17.
Haiti may seem a world away from life here in Chestnut Hill, but any thing you do to help does make a difference, though. Take a few minutes to check out bc.edu/haitirelief.
Father Hermann referenced the hope that still remains, “Yes, the Haitian people are suffering with Christ, yet they look to the resurrection for those countless mothers, fathers, and children who are lost and they look to the resurrection of Haiti—the Haiti that still gasps for life after the storm.”
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