Haiti Disaster

This is a letter thanking us for the profit, paid in advance, that we hope to make on the recent purchase of another 20 books on Recollections of Blaisdon Hall. Better that it is made available to Haiti now, rather than wait the slow build up over time.

The two photos above show what a terrific clearance job has been achieved at one Salesian School that was devastated.

Haiti will still need generous funds for some time to come. So please don't forget them, now it is out of the News.

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31 March 2010 In reply to the request of Tony Brady, Blaisdon President, to establish how much might have been contributed, via the Provincial channel, by Blaisdon Past Pupils to the Haiti disaster funds, we received the following information.

The total through the UK Provincial office was £81,766.89. This was from all the Salesian Schools, Parishes, Lay organisations, etc. It was not possible to determine how much an individual Local Associations of Past Pupils contributed, because of the manner in which this data is stored at Provincial office. What is known is that the sum of £6,085.00. was the amount contributed by all the Local Associations of Past Pupils. Some contributions could well have been sent via other channels, but this will not be known.

Haiti Disaster

HAITI APPEAL

Rome, 18 January 2010

Dear Provincials,
Dear Provincial Councillors
Dear confreres - everyone,

I know that over these days all of you have followed the great drama of Haiti attentively and with compassion.

The earthquake on12 January was inconceivably powerful and has sown death and destruction. There are

very many amongst the dead, millions without a home and we can add to that the complete destabilisation of a

country which already lacked real structures of Government.

For us Salesians the most serious losses are, obviously, the loss of human life: the lives of so many of our

young people, of children (around 500) and of three of our confreres.

The earthquake has destroyed practically all of our works in Port-au-Prince. The Provincial House was

seriously damaged and is uninhabitable for all practical purposes. The Technical School, ENAM, has been

totally destroyed. The Petites Ecoles of Fr Bohnen has collapsed. The “Lakay” Street Childrens' Home has

been destroyed. The Postnovitiate and Study Centre (of Philosophy, also for other Congregations) is

completely uninhabitable and must be razed to the ground and rebuilt The Thorland centre has been half

destroyed: the areas which accommodated the confreres and youth groups has collapsed. The school at

Petion Ville is seriously damaged. You will find photos of all the above in the ANS reports. We need to

add to this the damage sustained by Houses belonging to the FMA.

Our confreres in Haiti have been sorely tried, and undoubtedly they are looking to us. They are calling for the

help and support which will allow Don Bosco to continue his work in this country and which will give them,

too, a sign of hope for continuing their journey as Salesians. For days now they have been living in the open,

along with thousands of other people. We are extremely grateful to the Santo Domingo Province which has

proven itself a “neighbour” and has arranged for timely distribution of food and prime necessities, and by

bringing over a confrere who was seriously injured.

This letter of mine is intended to be a heartfelt and, at the same time, strong appeal for solidarity from

around the Salesian Congregation. As everyone tends to a sick member in the family, we too, moved by

immense “com-passion” would like to take on the burden of this extraordinary need and come to the practical

help for this small Vice Province now so severely tried.

I would like to tell you of my joy at seeing that our poorest provinces (from Africa, Asia and the Americas) have been those to respond fastest and most spontaneously to this appeal for solidarity.

So I am inviting all Provinces and Salesian Houses around the world to send significant help for our confreres

in a state of absolute need. After the initial emergency (food, water, temporary arrangements…) we need to

think of a rebuilding plan which will require a lot of energy and resources. So I am turning to you and

even more insistently, to provinces with greater resources. In Don Bosco's name I assure you that the Lord will

bless this act of charity of yours. Be generous, then, even if it means that some particular project needs to be put on hold for a while!

As you have seen the Congregation has indicated a special account for use by external benefactors, set up

by the New Rochelle Development Office. For your own donations I would ask you to send them

directly to the 'Direzione Generale', pointing out the purpose as an offering destined for Haiti. This will

allow a more direct and immediate intervention which I have personally agreed on with the Provincial in Haiti.

My dear confreres, our Father Don Bosco, I believe, would put his trust in us at this time to be radical and have

total trust in Providence. This is why, in Don Bosco's name, I make this request on behalf of our poorest brothers!

They will be grateful for what you can do. May God bless you. This will be our best way to express our

faithfulness to our common Father in preparation for the Feast of Don Bosco.

In Him I express my great affection and esteem.

Rome, 18 January 2010

Fr. Pascual Chávez V., SDB
Rector Major

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14 January 2010 Haiti Devastation - Appeal by Tony Brady, Blaisdon President

Dear Blaisdon Old Boys, the catastrophe in Haiti - an already broken country - has overwhelmed the innocent and vulnerable people, among whom, thousands have been served by Salesian commitment and devotion, since the Order's establishment there in 1936.

Already the world-wide bloggers are blaming the Catholic Church's role in Haiti - historically and currently - and pointing to it as part of the problem. But this is an unavoidable moment to set aside all fixed positions, intellectual considerations and compassion fatigue and respond simply and effectively to a basic human call on our pity for the unfortunate victims of the earthquake.

Our Association representatives have authorised an immediate donation of £100.00 from its funds. In addition, two Old Boys have pledged £50.00. each to augment this token sum totalling £200.00. This is your opportunity to make a singular "Blaisdon" contribution, not only to relieve crisis need now but invest in the eventual recovery of Haiti.

Please follow this lead and send whatever you can afford to: Salesian Old Boy's Blaisdon Association, Barclays Bank, Southgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2DH. Please write HAITI APPEAL on the back of your cheque. If you wish to make a direct transfer via your own Bank, please contact me, quoting your Association Membership number, and I will email the Account Number and Sort Code. Banks may charge you for using this method but some are already waiving this.

Thank you. Tony Brady.