More from St. Philippe-St. Jacques

Dianne Pizey spoke again on Saturday to Fr. Kerwin Delicat, priest of St. Philippe-St. Jacques in Gressier, the partner congregation of St. John’s. She reports from the conversation:

The Labordes (Joseph Laborde is the lay leader of St. Philippe – St. Jacques) are all alive and uninjured. Jonas (the oldest son) escaped “by a miracle.” He was at the Episcopal University [in Port-au-Prince], on the roof, when the earthquake occurred. The building collapsed around him, killing many of his classmates and professors. Jonas found a small hole and crawled through “like a snake.”

The Labordes’ home is cracked but standing, but, like everyone in the area, they are living and sleeping outside [...] they are having three or four aftershocks a day. Joseph has led morning prayer outside, in front of the collapsed church.

Kerwin+ himself was reportedly in Port-au-Prince with his brothers, Carlo and Roosnel, when the earthquake occurred. They were stuck in the city overnight, but were able to return to Léogâne on the following day. Kerwin+ has celebrated Eucharist on the grounds at Sainte Croix—Dianne reports, “he thought nobody would come, but in fact 200 – 300 people came.”

With this report, we now know that no one with close ties to St. John’s, at least, was badly harmed, although their situation remains extremely difficult, and virtually everyone there has lost friends or family. We continue to pray for them, and the Minnesota parishes with partners are discussing how best to help our partner congregations as they begin to rebuild.