 Made $ at our spaghetti supper!!  Bible Study - next Wednesday  Casserole sale next Sunday after 9am mass.  Everybody going skiing needs to bring a casserole – ask your MOM!  Ski meeting next Sunday (Jan 31 st )  Must attend if skiing!  And a special gift for those who helped with our St. Nicholas play…. ANNOUNCEMENTS

January 24, 2010 HAITI

 Haiti was already the poorest nation in our hemisphere  Many people lacked food, water, and homes.  And now, what was already bad, has become much worse….. HAITI – WHERE IT IS

 Jan. 12 th 2010  A huge earthquake struck Haiti, near the capital city of Port-au-Prince.  In seconds, homes, schools, churches, hospitals were destroyed.  Collapsing on the people inside.  200,000 people have died  Many more need medical care, food, water, and shelter. A TRAGEDY..…

 What would you do:  If you were there?  If your family and friends died, all at the same time?  If your home was destroyed?  You had a broken leg and couldn’t get to the doctor?  You had no food or water for days? THINK ABOUT IT

 John 15: 9-13  1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27  We are all together  One big, human family  We are called to reach out with love to help our brothers and sisters. CATHOLIC TEACHING

 God is NOT punishing the people of Haiti!  He allows natural disasters to happen.  God made this world a dangerous place.  He allows suffering.  Suffering teaches us to turn to God.  The world is “in a state of journeying” CCC  The way God made the world, teaches us to depend only on Him. IS GOD ANGRY?

 The perfect example REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING

In parks and backyards, anywhere a group gathers, the prayers of the Haitians can be heard. Last week, the call-and-response chanting and clapping that accompany those prayers pierced the darkness of night and the pre-dawn hours -- sometimes as early as 4 a.m. The singing and praying was particularly intense in Champs de Mars plaza, where hundreds of people have taken refuge. But the scene was repeated throughout the city, with preachers on megaphones exhorting the faithful, who responded with lyrics like "O Lord, keep me close to you" and "Forgive me, Jesus.“ -CNN "People don't blame Jesus for all these things," she (a young Haitian women) said. "They have faith. They believe that Jesus saved them and are thankful for that." QUOTES OF THE DAY

HOPE FOR HAITI

Let’s talk about it……. WHAT WE CAN DO

 After seeing the images of Haiti and hearing about the situation there, what thoughts do you have? How did it affect you?  Have you seen hope in the way the world has responded to the earthquake in Haiti? If so, where?  How can one person make a difference in a problem of this scale?  How are you called to respond?  What can we do now and in the LONG TERM? SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION

 Any ideas of what we can do to help?  Are you willing to commit to this idea as a group? LARGE GROUP DISCUSSION

 Now: Let’s do it!  Future challenge/something to think about:  Consider taking a year off from college or work and become a missionary in Haiti. CHALLENGE