Rome Italy,
January 26, 2010

Updates on the situations in Haiti and Vietnam

Dear Confreres, Sisters, Associates and Friends,

Once again, I am writing to you about Haiti. There has been a very generous response on the part of the whole Congregation to the appeal for help. Many units have directed donations to the Solidarity Fund of the General Government. Others have sent contributions to the Ste-Anne de Beaupre Province. Some have sent assistance to Haiti through the Province of San Juan. Many units have also made significant donations to international humanitarian organizations to assist the suffering people of Haiti as quickly as possible.

The Province of San Juan was successful in bringing some emergency supplies directly to our confreres in Port-au-Prince through the Dominican Republic. Fr. Adonai Jean-Juste, Regional Superior, assures me that the confreres are in good spirits, assisting in helping others, and grateful for the prayers and cooperation of confreres, associates, and friends from around the world. Some of the Haitian students have been accepted to study in other units during this period of crisis, and for this, we are very grateful.

Through the Solidarity Fund and the special contributions for Haiti, the General Government will respond to the urgent needs of our confreres in Port-au-Prince, in cooperation with the Province of Ste-Anne de Beaupre and other units. We also foresee that there will be a longer period of rebuilding and reconstruction necessary. Of course, it is too early to establish exactly how this will be done and what the costs will be. It is also clear that the Congregation must provide for the ongoing needs of the Region even as this reconstruction takes place. Other donors have come forward to commit themselves and their organizations to the rebuilding and financing of social projects and schools. Our commitment to Haiti must persevere for the next number of years. As the details of this commitment become clearer, information will be shared with you. I would like to stress that Haiti will continue to need the support of the Congregation and our co-workers for the long term.

Thank you for all you have done so far. Let us continue, both in prayer and solidarity, to accompany our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

I also want to give you an update on the situation affecting our confreres in Vietnam, and especially the Redemptorists and parishioners in Dong Chiem Parish (Hanoi). I received the very good news that Brother Anthony is recovering from his injuries at home. It seems that there will be no permanent damage.

On the other hand, news reports from the state media accuse the Redemptorists of instigating riots, and urge the government to severely punish them. Other articles in the Catholic media report that parishioners have been harassed and beaten.

http://vietcatholic.net/News/Clients/ReadArticle.aspx?ID=76141

The Redemptorists have urged parishioners and all Christians to avoid violence, and to work and pray for peace. They have begun the practice of praying the Prayer of St. Francis (Lord, make me an instrument of your peace) at every service. I urge all Redemptorists and associates to pray this prayer in solidarity with our Redemptorist confreres and Catholic brothers and sisters in Vietnam. I will include this prayer at the end of this letter.

Fr. Vincent Pham Trung Thanh, Provincial Superior, has written me to express his gratitude for the support and prayers of so many people. Prayer services have taken place across Vietnam, and around the world. It is our prayer that the Vietnamese government will ensure that justice is done.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/redemptorist_superior_general_urges_prayer_for_persecuted_vietnamese_catholics/

Once again, thank you for your prayers and solidarity. May Jesus our Redeemer continue to walk with us as strive to bring his Good News to the abandoned and the poor.

In the Redeemer,

Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R.
Superior General

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where this injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.