"He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given." ~ Proverbs 19:17

Haiti Outreach Mission Medical Supplies

In May the Haiti Outreach Mission group may be going to Mirebalais to do work at the clinic, schools and the St. Blase Orphanage. The following items will be needed:

House Brands Are Fine! (Rite-Aid; Walgreen’s; CVS; Meijer’s; Costco; Sam’s Club; Dollar Stores, etc.!) .. NO personal prescriptions ..

Over-the-Counter Items:

• It should be noted that medical supplies must be dropped off at the church prior to April 27th. All medicine must have an expiration date no earlier than June 2008.
  
  
• Please bring items to St. Blase and deposit them in the grey bins marked “HOM”.
  
  
• Cash donations accepted!
  
  
• Please make your checks out to : Saint Blase—HOM
  (checks to “HOM” (Haiti Outreach Mission) are 100% tax deductible)

Thank you for your on-going support of
Haiti Outreach Mission and the St. Blase Orphanage.

Haiti Trip 2008 Frequently Asked Questions

When will this year’s trip be taking place?
We plan on leaving the evening of May 8th. We will be returning home on May 16th.

How many people will be going on the trip?
The total number of participants on the trip will be around fifty. So far we have five parishioners from St. Blase who will be participating.

Once in Haiti, where will we stay?
We will fly to Florida, spend the night and fly to Port au Prince, Haiti, and then we take a private bus or van to Mirebalais. This trip takes approximately three hours. We will spend the rest of the week in Mirebalais. Normally, we eat all of our meals and sleep at the Saint Louis Rectory. Those who choose to may stay at a hotel next to the rectory (at minimal cost). Both facilities have indoor plumbing.

What type of activities will we be involved in?
The main activities are centered on the clinic, the schools and the orphanage; the clinic requiring the most time & people. We will have doctors and other medical professionals as part of the team. However, there is much work to do at the clinic for non-skilled individuals. We also will have a construction/maintenance crew, involved in various projects. During the week a group will visit local schools and provide fluoride treatments and teach dental hygiene to
the students. Note: Over 1400 children received these treatments last year during our visit (this is a fun project—you will love the kids).

What type of physical condition should volunteers be in?
Most activities require the volunteers be in decent shape i.e. be able to get around
and put in an 8-hour work day. There are numerous jobs available for people without specific talents.

What is the weather like?
HOT! The day time temperatures are usually in the mid to upper 80’s, and it cools down a little at night.

What will we be eating?
We will be having breakfast, lunch and dinner at the rectory. You can find something to satisfy your appetite. Some dishes are actually quite tasty; though we do recommend avoiding foods that are not cooked. We drink only bottled water (delivered from the U.S.)

Is Haiti Safe?
We have not had any safety problems on our trips to Haiti, though Haiti has certainly had a history of civil unrest. Things seemed to have settled down some.

What is the cost?
This also can vary, depending mostly on airfare. Two years ago the cost was around $900, last year it was closer to $600. Everyone traveling with us pays their own expenses (vaccination protection may be required.)

If you are interested in participating in the trip, or have any questions, please contact either:
Pat Byrne (586) 296-2091 OR John Messina at (586) 264-9157

Recycling 4 Cash 4 for Haiti

Do you have an old cell phone or ink cartridges you don’t know what to do with? We have a solution!

Bring your cell phone (NO chargers, please) and/or ink cartridges to St. Blase, drop them into the box marked “Recycle Ink Cartridges Here”. These will be sent in and all money
raised will be sent directly to Haiti Outreach Mission, to be used to support the efforts of those who participate in the yearly Mission trip to Mirebalais, Haiti. Included is the St. Blase Orphanage, as well as the schools and medical clinic.

So — please help support the efforts of the Haiti Mission team and recycle to help keep our environment clean. It is a WIN-WIN for all concerned.

Haiti Outreach Mission Update 2006
You may be wondering what was accomplished on the trip to Haiti, other than the triumphant arrival of the statue of Saint Blasé intact to the Saint Blasé Orphanage. Much of this information has been reported previously in front page articles in the Michigan Catholic and the Detroit Free Press. The Haiti Outreach Mission (HOM) consists of seven Churches located in Metro Detroit. There were 26 individuals who made the most recent trip. Below is list of the projects undertaken during our week stay:

• 1250 patients were examined and /or treated at HOM's St. Pierre Clinic by the three physicians traveling with us, and the two Haitian physicians. The Haitian physicians are funded year round by Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Novi, one of the 7 member churches of HOM.
• The Clinic was rewired and ceiling fans were installed, plumbing system upgraded and a new high powered generator was purchased. The generator was purchased to provide a guaranteed source of electricity, when power is shutdown in Mirebalais, which happens frequently. Currently, some medical procedures can't be preformed because of the potential for shutdown during the procedure.
• A dental team was formed and provided fluoride treatments at four schools. Also, toothpaste, brushes and instruction how to brush properly were given to over 1500 students at the schools. The children also received parasite medication.
• All four schools had pencil sharpeners installed in all classrooms. Note: Some of you may have seen the video from last year's trip showing the young girl sharpening her pencil with a razor blade. Maintenance and repair was performed at the schools as needed.
• Computer labs were set up at the St. Pierre and St. Louis schools. Each school now has 4 internet capable computers and a printer.
• John Messina brought Frisbees for the kids at the orphanage and we had a blast teaching them how to use them.

The St. Blasé HOM committee would like to thank all our parishioners who supported our trip with over- the-counter medicines, tooth brushes, tooth paste and other supplies that were so valuable. Thanks also to Denise Porcasi and all her helpers who sorted and packaged all the supplies. Also, thanks to Ron McKay and Sam Porcasi for helping with the delivery of the supplies and St. Blasé to Metro.

Note: While in Haiti St. Blasé Parish was presented with a Haitian Sculpture depicting Haitians on their way to market. This was presented to St. Blasé at a closing night variety show put on by the St. Pierre Youth Group in Mirebalais. This sculpture and an award presented to St. Blasé by the Detroit Area Haiti Outreach Committee can be seen hanging outside the parish office along with a picture of the St. Blasé Orphanage.

St. Blasé Haiti Outreach Committee

Messages from PENSION DE L'ORPHELINAT ST. BLASE

P.O. Box 1594 Paroisse St. Louis de Mirebalais, HAITI Built and operated by St. Louis Catholic Church, the orphanage was named after St. Blase Catholic Church in Sterling Heights, Michigan. St. Blase, as a member of Haiti Outreach Mission, provided funding for the 100 bed orphanage which was dedicated in May 2005. We are committed to help sustain the orphanage with $2,500 monthly.

October 2007: Merci Beaucoup!

Haiti Outreach Mission (HOM) would like to thank St. Blase staff and parishioners for extending a warm welcome to Fr. Faublas who was visiting from Mirebalais, Haiti at the 10:00 o’clock Mass last Sunday.

Fr. Faublas is the pastor of St. Louis Church and overseer of the St. Blase Orphange in Mirebalais, Haiti. Fr. Faublas was very pleased with the opportunity to concelebrate Mass with Msgr. McClory and preach the homily in his native Creole (translated by Dr. Dominique Matthews of HOM).

Fr. Randy presented Fr. Faublas with a St. Blase medal as a remembrance of his visit. Visiting HOM members commented on the beautiful liturgy, the sung worship and the spirit-filled community. Thank you for your continued support of the St. Blase Orphanage.
If you would like to become more involved with the Haiti Outreach Mission/St. Blase Orphanage, contact Pat Byrne (586) 296-2091 or John Messina (586) 264-9157.

May 2005: Orphanage and Bakery Open

Dear brothers and sisters of St. Blase,

I hope this letter finds you as well as possible. By the way: How are you doing? I hope everything is going well in the name of our Lord Savior. I enjoy of this special moment to thank you, for your three people you send down to Haiti. (John Messina, Bill Hafner, and Pat Byrne) and to write you in order to know what is going on with the Orphanage and the bakery. Thanks for always thinking of the people of Haiti, and very especially to the people of Mirebalais. You think a lot of the Orphan kids and also a place where to live better, where to play better, where to breathe better. This Orphanage and the bakery are a dream for everyone, it's something that most of the people of Mirebalais could not believe, but it's the reality. My dream comes true, what I wanted to realize is right there.

The dedication of the orphanage and the bakery was on Sunday, May 8, 2005 at 5:00 pm where hundreds of people were invited. We were about five (5) priests that blesses the orphanage and the bakery; unbelievable!!! I want to say a big thanks for all of you that participated to realize the orphanage and the bakery. Thanks for those that were praying, thanks for those that sent their money, thanks for those that came to visit, thanks for those that sent their love, their hope, and their peace. Thanks very much, and also thank you for the (7) thousand and one hundred USD that you sent in the day of dedication. These people will pray for you every day. Each time that those kids eat something better, drink pure water, sleep well and breathe well, they will thank God and thank all of the people that participated to realize these works.

Thank you, thank you, and thank you very much!!!

May God bless you all!!!

Father Faublas Louis
Pastor, St. Louis Parish
Mirebalais, HAITI

Saint Blase - Haiti History

Saint Blase first became involved with the Haiti Outreach Project five years ago through our contact with Saint Gerard, our sister parish in Detroit.

Sr. Megan McElroy organized a group from Saint Blase to support the Haiti Outreach Mission. The organization was founded by Dr. Dominique Matthews and her husband Roger. Dominique is a member of St. Gerard Parish and Roger is a member of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Detroit.

Additional parishes that support the projects include: Our Lady of Victory Northville, Holy Cross Ann Arbor, and New Prospect Baptist Detroit. There are also many individuals who support the program.

On the most recent trip there were 51 participants including 9 doctors and 3 priests, the rest of the group was made up of nurses, medical technicians, and people who assisted in
organizing and maintaining the clinic. Two of the nurses on the trip were funded by Saint Blase. The majority of the work took place at the Clinic in Mirebalais. The clinic which was funded by the Haiti Outreach Project is only open when the group is in Mirebalais. During that week over 1000 patients were treated. The medications, vitamins, and personal hygiene products dispensed, were graciously donated and accomplished at the clinic; a playground was constructed at the new Saint Blase Orphanage.

Fr. Louis extends his thanks to the St. Blase community for their continued support of the Haiti project.

St. Blase Haiti Outreach Mission

For more detailed information please contact us via phone (248-474-3548) or visit our website at www.HaitiOutreachMission.org or or email HaitiOM@aol.com

Saint Blase Amazing Adventure

Episode I
The Saint Blase saga started last May when a group of St. Blase parishioners went to Mirebalais, Haiti to work and attend the dedication of the Saint Blase Orphanage. After the ceremony, Father Flabaus, the Pastor of St. Louis Parish, and the person in charge of overseeing the operations of the orphanage, informed our group from Saint Blase, that the people of Haiti really didn’t know anything about the good saint (Blase). He thought maybe a statue and/or some information written in Creole would be nice. We naively responded: “No Problem.”

Upon our return to the states, we started our search for the statue. We quickly found out by searching local religious stores that the good saint’s image was not a popular as you might think. We then tried googling him — a number of churches appeared, but no statues. Amazon.
com also provided zero results. We then checked on how much it would cost to have a statue of St. Blase cast. We received estimates of approximately three thousand dollars for a three to four foot statue. Since we could feed a Haitian family for many years for three thousand dollars, we decided to continue to look and pray harder. Our prayers were answered when John (Messina) was talking to Fr. Mike and mentioned our quandary. Father Mike remembered
that while he was pastor of St. Blase, the pastor of St. Anne in Detroit had told him about a statue of St. Blase they had found up in the attic of the church. After a number of inquiry calls we headed down to St. Anne’s. By the looks of the statue and the dust accumulated it was estimated that it was probably 30 to 40 years old. No one could answer how St. Blase got into the attic of the oldest church in Detroit. We estimated the statue to be approximately 5 ft.
tall and about 70 lbs. (We would discover over the next five months, we were not very good at estimating weight.)

Episode II
In our last episode, St. Blase was found in the rafters of St. Anne’s Church in Detroit. St. Blase was then transported to his temporary home at St. Blase at Sterling Heights. We found that the statue had some cosmetic damage and was in need of a “make-over”. We also needed a place to keep him until we determined how to make him suitable for travel to Haiti. Our
cooperative staff suggested we could put him in the old confessional in church which was not being used. Have you ever thought of the confessional as “The Penalty Box”? Perhaps Fr. Randy prayed to St. Blase for a Stanley Cup for his beloved Red Wings and when his prayers weren’t answered, he sent the Bishop (Blase) to the Penalty Box. We next searched for a competent and talented hand to perform the “make-over”. We called on Kathy McGrath, who
heads our church’s Arts and Environment Committee. Kathy suggested we talk to one of the members of her committee who might be able to help with the plaster make-over. The person
agreed to do the work free for us, but requested to remain anonymous. If finding St. Blase at Saint Anne’s was the first miracle, the “make-over” was the second. The transformation
was truly stunning! The defects were completely eliminated. St. Blase sparkled with a fresh coat of paint, and with a new staff, he was ready to travel.

Episode III
Now that St. Blase looked fantastic, it was time to pack him up for his final destination. We had decided early that we would bring Saint Blase with us on our flight to Haiti as cargo. This decision was based upon the high cost of sending him UPS and our concern that if we were to ship the statue in a container as freight—it might not make it to the orphanage (which happened on our previous experience with shipping items to Haiti). John Messina and Ron McKay started constructing a wooden box strong enough to protect the statue during the voyage.

Actually, the box was strong enough to protect it even in a hurricane. Knowing that the box was to be handled by different people during the trip, the crew decided they needed to create secure handles for the box. They came up with the idea to install braided rope handles at the sides of the box. The next problem was, even though braided rope handles were a great idea, neither John nor Ron knew how to braid. As the two pondered over this problem, they spotted an older woman—that
neither knew—passing by John’s garage where the construction was taking place. Seeing her pass, the ever-debonair Ron, approached and asked, “Excuse me ma’am, but do you know how to braid a rope?” She responded in a saintly voice, “Sure.” They explained the project and she immediately gave them a lesson in braiding (a lesson they will not soon forget).

The placed the statue of St. Blase in the box and weighed it. The both said, “oh no!” Saint Blase in a box weighed in at 118 lbs. The allowable weight for cargo on a passenger plane is ‘100 lbs. absolute max’. The team began looking for new packaging options. They believed that they could reduce the weight by putting the statue inside a cardboard box, bubble-wrapped, and with what seemed like a million Styrofoam peanut shells (especially when they were cleaning up the shells from the floor outside of the airport.

Episode IV
We arrived at the airport approximately three hours early. John quickly made contact with the chief skycap at American Airlines and explained how important it was for us to get the statue to the orphanage in Haiti, hopefully in one piece. He said he would be glad to help us, but he could not do anything if St. Blase in a cardboard box exceeded the 100-pound maximum weight limit.

The time for the weigh-in finally arrived. Twenty of our fellow travelers going to Mirebalais joined us. We gathered aroung the scale in the breezeway where the scale was located. The box was placed on the scale as we held our collective breaths. The skycap announced 111 lbs. We gasped and asked, "How much can we be over?" He responded, "It cannot be over 100 pounds." Our minds raced. We decided the only way that we could possibly get the statue on the plane was to ship St. Blase without the box and without the Styrofoam peanuts. We cut open the box and the peanuts nearly covered the walkway. People now entering the terminal, stoppd and wondered what was going on.

We quickly put St. Blase, now only protected by bubble wrap, on the scale. The skycap smiled and said ninety-nine pounds. People were hugging and yelling. We slapped fragile stickers around Saint Blase and sent him on his way. We then proceeded to clean up the mess and get in line to board the plane.

We flew from Detroit Metro to Chicago to Miami to Port-a-Prince, changing planes at each location. We attempted to watch at each destination hoping to see the statue being unloaded and reloaded on the correct plane. We were obsesses. When St. Blase was finally unloaded in Haiti, there were tears in many eyes.

Final Episode
After clearing customs in Port-a-Prince, Saint Blase was laid carefully in the van carrying our luggage, and we were on our five hour bus ride to Mirabalais (the five hour trip is approximately 60 miles). We arrived at Saint Louis Rectory and decided that it would be best to wait until Sunday afternoon to bring the St. Blase statue to the orphanage for his unveiling or if you prefer his "un-bubble wrapping."

Sunday morning we went to Mass at St. Louis at 5:30 a.m. Saint Louis is a large church and it was filled to near capacity. After lunch we loaded the statue in the bus and all twenty-four of us proceeded to the orphanage, which was a half a mile away. As we pulled up to the orphanage, the children came running out the doors with smiles of anticipation. We unloaded the statue and placed him, still wrapped, on the porch directly under the sign in Creole "Pension de L'Orphelinat St. Blase."

The unwrapping process started and we still didn't know in what shape or, how many many pieces the statue might be in. When St. Blase was finally unwrapped, he was in near perfect condition! There were a few minor scratches on the back of his cloak, but otherwise St. Blase looked pious and beautiful. And how did the children respond to the ceremony? They jumped with glee for at least fifteen minutes. Of course they were jumping with glee, because they were jumping on the bubble wrap that had protected the statue. It sounded like the 4th of July! How appropriate for St. Blase on the first day in his new home!

St. Blase Haiti Outreach Committee