Marist High School Responds to Haiti Relief

Marist High School students, faculty and staff have responded to the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti with generosity and compassion. Immediately after the earthquake hit, Marist students, under the direction of Ms. Marianne Kehoe, Campus Minister, formed the Haitian Solidarity Committee to coordinate the school’s response to the disaster. After the earthquake, money collections were begun during breakfast and lunch each day. In addition, all money collected during last month’s Spirit Week and penny wars was designated for Haitian relief.

In addition, the committee has designated the week of February 1st as Haitian Solidarity Week. A bake sale will be held and on Thursday, February 4th, a “Haiti Teach In” will be conducted. On that day, students will wear red and blue, Haiti’s national colors and will donate $2.00 to the Haitian fund. During religion classes, students will be taught lesions about Haiti, using integrated resources from a variety of organizations, such as Catholic Relief Services. The week will culminate with a Mass celebrated on Friday, February 5th by Father Brian Cummings, SSE of St. Michael’s College in Vermont. The St. Michael’s College Choir will provide the music; Marist students, faculty and staff will serve as lectors, altar servers and ushers.

The victims and survivors of this earthquake will be remembered during the Mass. Although this one week has been designated as Haitian Solidarity Week, prayers for the Haitian people will continue indefinitely.  The committee will also look for new ways to respond to the crisis as new needs emerge in Haiti.