Greetings!

Medical Mission Weekend was a success! 

We were able to get a lot of exposure for the committee's accomplishments while thanking our fellow parishioners for their ongoing support. The real winners were the good folks in Marbial Parish as we gave them a voice and reasons for continued assistance. Many thanks to all of you who made it to one or more of the Masses and/or the set-up Saturday afternoon. Also many thanks to Father Donahue for allowing us to show the video before Masses and allowing me to speak for a few minutes at the end of each Mass. 

There was quite a bit of interest from our fellow parishioners. We even had parishioners from the 7 am Mass spend time and engage us in conversation which was a surprise. Usually that crowd is out of the church with stunning speed after Mass.

We did not solicit one dime. Every contribution we received was someone wanting to donate, not asked in any way to donate. When we counted the donations at the end of the day, we were beyond pleasantly surprised to find we received $839 in donations give or take a dollar or two. $96 came from the raffle, $565 came from container on the table that I mainly worked that was just under Haiti Wall, bulletin board and $178 was donated at the birthing table which was under the watch of Eleanor Garvey. The generosity of our fellow parishioners is amazing.

Carolyn will be bringing the donations to the rectory for Meghean in the next day or so. 

I took a couple of pictures before the 7 am Mass. Nothing great but I attached a couple for you to peruse. A couple of you liked my sunset photo that I took last December at Walnut Beach that was on the front of my notebook. I included a couple of more photos from that night; one from Walnut Beach and the other of Charles Island from Gulf Beach. Note there was no fire that night...

More to follow. Our next meeting is Monday October 5th. Have a great week!

All My Best,

Andy

August Meeting Summary

Twinning Committee Update

Summary from Meeting 5 August 2015

Notes were not taken at the last meeting. I jotted down a few things but this will serve as a meeting summary. Please write me if there is something to add or if I got something wrong Thanks.

Medical Mission Video

·         Bob Cammisa who is creating the video was a guest at the meeting. He showed us what is essentially the final cut of the video. It was very good.

·         The plan is to create a couple of smaller videos that can be used to send and present to parishioners, donors and others so we aren’t always showing the same video.

·         Bob also showed us some options for donor website landing page for us where we could take online donations. We need to take some time to review the options – certainly after Medical Mission Weekend.

·         Many thanks to Bob for taking the time to come to the meeting, explain and show the Medical Mission video and to prep us on online fundraising options.

Chair Remarks

I went over the key points from my meeting with Father that included the information I sent in my July 16 email to all of you. They included for Medical Mission Weekend; having us speak at the Masses for no longer than 3 minutes; showing the video in Father Cronin Hall after Masses, selling items and having raffles as long as we don’t pressure parishioners into giving. Father suggested we put in a bulletin insert that was part of the mailing discussion.

Father also gave his OK for the Healing Tree during Lent which is huge for us for besides giving parishioners another way to give back in the spirit of Lenten season (the Alms giving part of lent -  taken from Wikipedia… the three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigor during Lent are prayer –justice towards God; fasting-justice towards self; and almsgiving – justice towards neighbor.) it has the potential to go a long way to helping our committee to be self-sustaining based on what we were able to raise with the Healing Tree a number of years ago. Next year and in most years, the Healing Tree during Lent falls just before the Medical Mission itself so the timing is very good.

Father also Ok’d the Haiti Wall in the Hall that Carolyn had suggested in the June Meeting.

Father rejected the Tribute/Memorial card idea that we had discusses as he felt they would interfere with the Mass card program.

Father’s support of our committee continues to be dare I say it? a Godsend for us!

Medical Mission Weekend (Specifics to be worked out as we get closer to Medical Mission Weekend)

·         Dr Garvey will give the video presentations and take questions.

·         Bob Lessard will take care of the Coffee and the And.

·         Someone, probably me, will speak to the parishioners during the Masses.

·         Our goal is to have at least two committee members at each Mass to engage parishioners and answer questions.

·         Carolyn with Val will create the bulletin insert.

·         Carolyn will also start planning the Haiti Wall. (I plan to suggest in another email that we have a work party for a few hours some night or weekend to help Carolyn get the project moving.)

Finance- Meghean Hayes – No Report – Meghean could not make the meeting.

Container Shipment – John Defeo –John could not make the meeting but asked me to report that shipment arrived “where it was supposed to” and that we took a donation of fabric that is worth in the neighborhood of $500.

Water – Joe Debbs – No Report

Fundraising – Bob Lessard – expressed his appreciation, as we all did for Father allowing us to bring back the Healing Tree. We can eliminate the Fall Event (last year it was the band in Bridgeport event)

Hearts for Haiti is confirmed for January 30^th with the Rum Runners at NDHS-West Haven.

Communications – Valerie Carlson – nothing beyond what was discussed as part of Medical Mission Weekend

Marketing – Carolyn Dennis – nothing beyond what was discussed as part of Medical Mission Weekend.

Many thanks to Dick and Eleanor Garvey for sharing their home with us for a few hours for the meeting. Their home is stunningly beautiful and one could not ask for a prettier venue for the meeting…

August Meeting - 5 August 2015

 TWINNING COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA

Wednesday, August 5th 2015, 7:00 p.m. @ Dr Garvey’s Home

Please note: The agenda is fluid. The focus will be on Medial Mission Weekend. We can add, subtract or change agenda items as needed…

Opening Prayer/Comments on Last Meeting Notes

Chair Remarks

Team Leader Reports

Finances – Meghean Hayes

·         Update Summary

Container – John Defeo

Water- Joe Debbs

·         Update on Gift of Water

·         Pepsico Opportunity

·         Water Fundraising if any further thoughts

Medical Mission /Medical Mission Weekend -  Dr. Garvey/Carolyn Dennis/Valerie Carlson

• Medical Mission Update
• Video

o   Medical Mission Mailing(s)

o   Medical Mission Copy for the 4”x6” Card & the Bulletin

o   Discussion of plan for Medical Mission Weekend

o   Any other Medical Mission issues or topics

Fundraising – Bob Lessard

Communications – Valerie Carlson

Marketing – Carolyn Dennis

Haiti-Twinning Wall

NEXT MEETING DATE  

Haiti Wall Ideas

Greetings!

As Carolyn is our committee's creative, please give her any ideas you might have for the Haiti Wall.

Thanks!

July 2015 Meeting Notes

Twinning Committee July 2015 Meeting Summary

Meeting came to order at 7:00

Opening Prayer – Andy Ancel

Chair Remarks: None worth mentioning J

Finance-Meghean Hayes

Meghean reported that she had spoken to Daniele and Dawn and will do a detailed spreadsheet of the medical mission expenses. The cost for the medical mission is about $24,948 a cost that doesn’t vary much year to year.

$11,699 in the general fund

$1,745 Wine Tasting

$7,357 Water

The Parish Council will give us $2,000 if needed. (I will have an update on this at the meeting)

Container Shipment – No Report

Medical Mission – Dr Garvey & Committee

·         The video is ready but Dr Garvey has not yet received it.

·         There are three other shorter videos also and there was a brief discussion on how we can utilize social media.

·         Medical Mission Weekend will be the weekend after Labor Day September 12^th & 13^th.

·         There was discussion on who and what we will send in the mailing. It was decided to reach out to all the parishioners we have address for to expand our visibility in the parish. Carolyn will check prices with Marlen and other  printing houses.

·         Bob Lessard offered to take care of the Coffee And that weekend.

·         Dr Garvey said he was in contact with another doctor(s) who suggested the concept of Sustainability - that we increase the scope of our ministry to help get a permanent doctor/nurse/practioner at Marbial. Such an endeavor might find us collaborating with larger medical assistance groups out of the Dominican Republic and groups that can provide medications. Dr Garvey will get more information. One of the questions that came up was that of our parish’s liability if we help sponsor such a program. Andy offered to look into the liability and insurance issues. (He did).

Clean Water

Joe Debbs reported:

·         That the water system technicians have been paid and are happy. Father Chery will not say how much they were paid. Joe did that supplies are not free. Joe did speak with one of the Gift of Water contacts.

·         Joe will need to talk to Gift of Water to clarify the $300 number that they feel we owe them.

·         Joe would still like to raise more funds for water but does not want to interfere with the medial mission. Ideally Joe needs $3,000-$4,000 a year. He would like them to be self-funded by selling the buckets and parts. He and Andy will discuss at another time.

Fundraising- Bob Lessard

·         Fundraising ideas were discussed. Bob suggested a golf tournament which could potentially bring in $2,000 and said that we had received between $5-6,000 in donations from the Giving Tree. One idea was to recruit other parishes but at least one other parish, St. Gabriel’s is twinned with an African parish. Meghean suggested bringing back the Healing Tree. Andy was in favor of the idea. Bob suggested that Andy clear it with Father Aiden. (I did).

Communications – Valerie Carlson

No report

Marketing-Carolyn Dennis

Over and beyond Carolyn’s role in Medical Mission Weekend, she suggested as a fundraising idea that we create a memorial or tribute card.  She would be willing to make some up and if they are popular would arrange to get them printed. Andy offered to draft an outline of the program.

The next meeting will be on August 3^rd at Dr Garvey’s house.

Meeting adjourned at 8:25

Hearts for Haiti

Has been confirmed for January 30, 2016! 

Things to think about.

• Should we try a Chinese or Silent Auction?

• When should we start getting this event on people's calendars?

• How should we let people know about Hearts for Haiti at Medical Mission Weekend?

Meeting Agenda Monday 6 July 2015

 TWINNING COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA

Monday July 6, 2015, 7:00 p.m. Rectory Basement

Please note: The agenda is fluid. We can add, subtract or change agenda items as needed…

Opening Prayer/Comments on Last Meeting Notes

Chair Remarks

Team Leader Reports

Finances – Meghean Hayes

·         Update Summary

·         Finalize/Identify information needed to wrap up Med Mission Expenses

Container – John Defeo

·         Update (if there is one)

Water- Joe Debbs

·         Update on Gift of Water

·         Pepsico Opportunity

·         Water Fundraising if any further thoughts

Medical Mission /Medical Mission Weekend -  Dr. Garvey

• Medical Mission Update
• Video

o   Medical Mission Mailing(s) – Carolyn Dennis

o   Medical Mission Copy for the 4”x6” Card & the Bulletin – Valerie Carlson

o   Discussion of plan for Medical Mission Weekend

o   Any other Medical Mission issues or topics

Fundraising – Bob Lessard

·         Fall Event Update if any

·         Any other topics to bring up

Communications – Valerie Carlson

·         Update or topics to bring up

Marketing – Carolyn Dennis

·         Update or topics to bring up

NEXT MEETING DATE  

Did You Know?

That the unemployment rate in Haiti is around 40%

That 80% of Haitians live below the poverty line

Yet suicides are are less than 1 per 100,000 population. 

It seems there are a lot of hardy folks in Haiti who live life the best they can and never give up...

June Meeting Notes

Twinning Committee June 2015 Meeting

Meeting came to order at 7:00

Opening Prayer – Andy Ancel

Chair Remarks: None worth mentioning J

Finance

Meghean could not make the meeting but texted in the following…

$11,699 in the account

$1,745 Wine Tasting

$7,357 Water Technicians

$1,014 Medical Mission

$185 to be sent in June for education

Container Shipment – No Report

Medical Mission – Dr Garvey

·         Dr Garvey will be meeting soon with the videographer

·         Dr Garvey showed a 4x6 photo on a card and suggested giving it out. Carolyn mentioned that she has done that in the past. Val mentioned she has a contact whose work is reasonably priced. Bob Lessard suggested sending to those people who have church envelopes instead of putting it in the envelope. Andy suggested that the mailing could go into the backpacks of the St Mary School Students.

·         Dr Garvey has gotten the OK to hold Hearts for Haiti at NDWH High School again. A possible date might be the Saturday before Valentines Day.

·         Medical Mission Weekend (what I’m calling it anyway)

o   There was a discussion of potential lists to use of the mailing. Carolyn has a list and the Carnival list was mentioned.

o   Bob Lessard said that summer is a bad time to hold events and do mailings.

o   There was discussion on holding Medical Mission Weekend in September before the car raffle tickets go on sale. The reasoning being that school will be back in session and summer vacations are over and we can make a bigger impact then.

Clean Water

Joe Debbs reported:

·         The funds were transferred to Father who sent two emails. The money was for the technicians. One is in high school the other in college. Joe feels that Father should be the one to determine the amount to pay the technicians as they are working part time.

·         Gift of Water called to say that $300 needs to be paid.

·         Joe would like to raise more funds for water but does not want to interfere with the medial mission. Ideally Joe needs $3,000-$4,000 a year. He would like them to be self-funded by selling the buckets and parts.

Fundraising- Bob Lessard

·         Bob is thinking of having the same type of Fall Event in Bridgeport with the same band as last Fall.

·         Bob said that one of the outcomes of the Heart for Haiti event is that it created a lot of buzz around the parish which should help us generate more attendees next year. He said the Rum Runners really bring in a crowd.

Communications – Valerie Carlson

·         Val will write the copy for the Medical Mission Card and wil write something for the bulletin.

·         Val mentioned that the Devon Rotary donated $1,000 and that the Bridgeport Rotary would like to help.

Haiti Area in Hall – Carolyn suggested that a Haiti area be created in the Hall. Andy suggested that the painting donated by the artist in Haiti that is currently hanging in the entry/exit way on the left hand side of the church between the church and Father Cronin Hall be moved to the Haiti area if the area is created.

Correspondence

·         PTPA is asking for a donation of $1,000-$2,000 for retried priests in Haiti

Very Short CDC Article on Haiti

Greetings!

I came across this short article on the CDC website about their efforts to help Haiti. Thought you might find it interesting. Click on the green link below...

Remarkable Progress Five Years after Haiti Earthquake, Haiti rebuilding national public health system with help from CDC

Agenda Items Reminder

Greetings

I created a box on the right hand side of the blog that contains agenda items for the next meeting. These are items that I see in correspondence, pick up in discussions and are reminders. 

Please send me an email if you have any items you want added to the list.

Thanks,
Andy

Hearts for Haiti Update

Greetings!

It appears that we are close to firming up plans for Hearts for Haiti next Winter. The Rum Runners have agreed to play again. Notre Dame West Haven High School has agreed to let us have the event on their campus. We now need to find a date that will work for us and the school. We are shooting for Saturday January 30th. Dr. Garvey is spearheading the logistics. We'll let you know the date as soon as we confirmation on one...

Next Meeting July 6

Greetings!

Just a quick mid-month reminder that our next meeting is Monday July 6. 

Although there is no agenda, among the items we will be covering is our proposed Medical Mission Weekend right after Labor Day. Parishioners will be back from vacation, school will have started and the thought is that we can make a bigger impact then than during the summer.

Sharing Medical Mission Pictures

Twinning Chair Mike Mercurio asked that the link to pictures of the medical mission, courtesy of Danielle Harris, be posted on the blog...

Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2012 3:19 PM
Subject: Sharing Pictures

Hello everyone.
I created a Walgreens account for all of us to access and share pictures from haiti. Go to the website, click on "photo" and sign in. The login information is below.

I created an album and uploaded all of my pictures for each of you to view and save. To save a picture, right click on the picture, click "save as" and save the image to your computer.
Walgreens
Website: http://www.walgreens.com/
Username: haitimission2012@yahoo.com
Password: marbial2012

Danielle

Medical Mission Article for Milford Mirror

This is a copy of the article written by Valerie Carlson that was published in the Milford Mirror recently...

HAITI AID:  ST. MARY PARISH TO SEND SECOND MEDICAL MISSION TO SISTER PARISH IN MARBIAL

MILFORD, CT – Members of the St. Mary Parish Twinning Committee are leading a second medical mission to their sister parish, Ste. Therese, in Marbial, Haiti from March 3 through 10. This mission has an extra charge beyond what the group accomplished during its first mission two years ago.

In addition to providing general medical and surgical services as in 2010, the plan this year is to also provide inoculations for polio, tuberculosis and tetanus – a disease with high mortality and low immunization rates in remote areas like Marbial. The village is about 11 miles from Jacmel, the nearest city. The trip takes approximately 1½ hours in an all-terrain vehicle along a riverbed only accessible only during the January to March dry season.

Doctor Richard J. Garvey, senior attending general surgeon at Bridgeport Hospital, and Mike Mercurio, chairman of the St. Mary Twinning Committee, have been planning the mission for over a year. The committee’s first medical mission to Ste. Therese Parish, which has a population of approximately 75,000, took place in March 2010, just after the January earthquake that devastated the country. The mission planned for 2011 had to be cancelled due to an outbreak of cholera in the country and concerns about bringing the highly-contagious disease back to Connecticut.

“This will be an expanded mission,” Mercurio said. “In addition to all the services we provided two years ago, Dr. Garvey traveled to Haiti early in February to arrange for Haitian health officials responsible for Jacmel and the surrounding areas to provide our team with up to 1,000 doses of the tetanus and other vaccines. This is an extraordinary accomplishment; our liaison, Domond Bertony, who has been assisting medical missions since 1993, said he never seen inoculations provided in a rural area. This will, without a doubt, save many, many lives.”

The medical mission’s primary focus is on providing immunizations to children less than five years old and to women of child-bearing age (15 to 45 years old). The children are susceptible to the infection because they play on the ground and sleep on packed earth floors where they are likely to encounter tetanus. Many women lose their lives during childbirth due to the rudimentary and unsanitary conditions they face, which may include cutting of the umbilical cord with used razors, a piece of broken glass or scissors.

The medical mission, which has the blessing and support of the new pastor of St. Mary Parish, Rev. Aidan N. Donahue, includes nine women and seven men, six of whom speak Creole and some French – the languages of Haiti. In addition to Dr. Garvey and Mercurio, Joan Calendrillo, Director of St. Mary's Pre-School and a member of St. Agnes Parish, will once again be a member of the medical team.

“Although I have been pastor for just shy of two months, I have been impressed by the scope of the work involved in helping the people of Marbial,” Rev. Donahue said. “I am also impressed by the dedication of the team and the generous support of the people of St. Mary. This very worthy outreach project is an excellent example of faithfulness to Matthew 25, the corporal works of mercy.”

[The medical mission’s planned itinerary and more information can be found on the Twinning Committee’s blog at stmaryhaiti.blopspot.com or the parish website at stmarychurchmilford.org under “Ministries”.]

During the first day at Ste. Therese, which will begin with a 6 a.m. Mass, approximately 10 physicians from the St. Mary Twinning Committee mission will identify candidates for surgery. Over the next five days Dr. Garvey will perform about 30 operations, primarily hernia repair surgery, at Klinik Pa Nous in Jacmel.

As during the 2010 visit, a medical clinic will operate on the grounds of Ste. Therese Parish. The group provided approximately 1,500 individuals with medical care, medications, medical supplies and vitamins in 2010 and is prepared for more this year. To support the tetanus immunization campaign, the mission is bringing 50 “Birth Kits” which include sterilizing wipes, a sterile razor blade to cut the umbilical cord, two pieces of twine to tie it, a sheet for the woman giving birth to lie on, and soap. The kits also include a sheet of paper with pictures showing how to use the items.
The group also will provide reading glasses to the parish. In the agricultural economy of the remote Haitian village, many find it difficult to see small seeds as they sow them. Likewise, numerous parishioners make their own clothing as well as garments to sell at weekly markets and threading needles can be difficult.

“We will have an eyeglass station providing 1,250 pairs of reading glasses of a variety of magnifying strengths,” Mercurio said.

The visit will also offer Mercurio and committee member Joan Calendrillo an opportunity to check the status of a clean water initiative, Gift of Water, that the committee launched in 2010. Gift of Water is a not-for-profit water purification program that has been operating primarily in Haiti for over 15 years. The self-sustaining program relies on a very simple, system using two buckets, chlorine tables, filters and activated carbon. It includes initial set-up, establishment and training of a local Water Committee and a local Community Water Technician.

“During the mission we intend to get a first-hand look at some of the 625 water filtration systems that the parishioners of St. Mary and other donors have so generously provided Ste. Therese over the past 18 months,” Mercurio said. These systems provide safe, clean drinking water for approximately 5,000 individuals in the parish.

The ministry’s longer-term objective is to build a clinic on the grounds of Ste. Therese, which would make basic health care available to this community locally, Mercurio noted.
“Their options now are, in the dry season, to either to walk the 11 miles to the Klink Pas Nous, which can take two or three hours for a healthy person, or to try to arrange for the pastor, Rev. Bertrand Dieuvielle, to transport them,” he said. “Father Bertrand, however, is often traveling for several days to one of 14 other remote chapels in the parish, the largest in that diocese. During the rainy season it’s virtually impossible to get to the clinic in Jacmel.”

The St. Mary Twinning Committee forwards a shipment that includes medical supplies (and will include additional birth kits) once a year, generally in April. The shipment is organized through the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas, based in Nashville , TN.

Those who wish to support the St. Mary Twinning Committee’s efforts may write a check to St. Mary Parish with “Haiti ” in the memo line and mail it St. Mary, 72 Gulf St., Milford , CT 06460-4811 .

SM Medical Mission Schedule

Below is the Medical Mission Schedule that Chair Mike Mercurio sent to Domo...


Hello Domo,

Please be advised that our medical team will consist of nine woman and seven men.  Our anticipated schedule is as follows:

March 3 - Saturday - We will arrive at Port-au-Prince on American Airlines Flight #837 at approximately 2:55 P.M.  We will have about 40 pieces of luggage/shipping containers which includes carry-ons.  I will rely on your expertise regarding the size and number of vehicles we will require.  Please note that this arrival time is one and a half hours later than two years ago; therefore, it is most important that we leave PAP as quickly as possible.

March 4 - Sunday - We will attend the 6 A.M. Mass, have breakfast, and hope to begin setting up at 8 A.M.  Our intent is to return to the Rectory around noon for lunch and return to the Convent around 1 P.M.  We will work until about  5 P.M.  It will be great if dinner could be served between 6:30 and 7 which will allow us a little time to freshen up and discuss the days activities.

March 5 - Monday- First thing Dr. Garvey, Dr. Maxfield and Frantz will have to be taken to the hospital in Jacmel along with those individuals who will have surgery on Monday.  The other team members will be at the church treating patients, identifying additional individuals for surgery and hopefully giving the immunizations and the oral polio vaccine Dr. Garvey obtained during his recent visit.  At the end of the day the three members of the surgical team will need to be transported to Deacon Hammond's home where they will be staying in the evenings until Friday morning.  The remaining thirteen team members will be at the church until sometime on Friday afternoon.

March 6 - Tuesday - Dr. Garvey, Dr. Maxfield, and Frantz will have to be taken back to the hospital.  The remainder of the day will be the same as Monday.  New patients will have to be taken to the hospital and patients will need to be brought back to the church.  The surgical team will need to be brought back to Deacon Hammond's at the end of the day.

March 7 - Wednesday - Same routine as Tuesday

March 8 - Thursday - Same routine as Tuesday

March 9 - Friday -  Sometime in the afternoon all 16 team members will have to be returned to PAP where we will be guests of your family.

March 10 - Saturday -  We have plenty of time on our hands as our departing AA Flight #896 does not leave until 4:10 P.M.  It will be much appreciated if you can provide both breakfast and lunch.

It is my understanding that you, Father Bertrand, and others will provide crowd control.  It is our hope that you can provide us an absolute minimum of 5 translators with 6 being preferred.  Also, as you know, we are bringing with us 1,250 pairs of basic reading glasses and we are counting on the sisters to operate the Eye Glass Station for us.

Thank you very much, Domo, for your help with our medical mission.  We are most excited about returning to Ste. Therese.

Best wishes and God's Blessings,

Mike

Lenten Fundraiser Message to SM Parish

Greetings!

Below is the Lenten Fundraiser message from Chair Mike Mercurio that should be posted in the bulletin soon...


LENTEN FUNDRAISER FOR STE. THERESE

 During this Lenten Season we are once again inviting you to consider a donation to provide clean, safe drinking water to those at our Sister Parish, Ste. Therese. 


To date, we have provided Ste. Therese with 625 Water Filtration & Chlorination Systems which are serving approximately 5,000 individuals.  While  we cannot hear their spoken words of gratitude, or feel the warm embrace of a most sincere thank you, we can be comforted to know that over the past eighteen months we, the St. Mary  community, have saved many lives and significantly improved the health and well-being of thousands of our Haitian brothers and sisters . 


This is truly God's work--we are benefiting the neediest of the needy.  Donations of $40 (of course, any amount is appreciated) will purchase one self-sustaining system which serves 8-10 people. 


Please make your check payable to St. Mary Church with "Clean Water" noted on the memo line, and place in the collection baskets. 


Please remember:  We are people of Love and Faith helping people of Love, Faith, and Hope.

St Mary Returns to Ste. Therese!

Greetings!

Below is an article that our Chair Mike Mercurio has submitted for the bulletin.
--------------------------------------

ST. MARY RETURNS TO STE. THERESE

The 2012 St. Mary Medical Mission will take place March 3 thru March 10. 


Dr. Richard J. Garvey, a parishioner and a member of our Twinning Committee will once again be the Medical Director and he will also lead the surgical component of the mission.  We wil have three MD's providing adult care, three pediatricians, and four other medical professionals who will operate our Pharmacy and provide Tetanus Immunizations. 


Dr. Garvey met with Haitian Health Officials on February 7 and arranged for the immunizations to be made available to our team, A MOST RARE AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT. 


Additionally, we will have an Eye Glass Station where we hope to distribute 1,250 pairs of reading glasses.  Ten of the fourteen team members are paying for their own airfare so that we will have additional monies to purchase various meds, vitamins, and supplies. 


This is a most impressive undertaking of which St. Mary can be very proud of.  People of love and faith helping people of love, faith, and hope.

It's Twinning Season - The Blog is Out of Hibernation!

Greetings!

Wake Up!!!
The Twinning Blog has been updated with a couple of updated posts from our Chair Mike Mercurio. Both are in the form of letters that he sent out to our always faithful and generous supporters! It has been awhile since the Blog was updated. But the Twinning Committee is working as hard as ever and expect regular updates in the foreseeable future!

Please see the two posts below for the update...

Medical Mission
We are proud to announce that our second Medical Mission will take place in March. The Twinning Committee Medical Team leaves March 3 and returns March 10! Stay Tuned.


New Pastor at St. Mary
The Twinning Committee welcomes Father Aidan Donahue the new Pastor at St. Mary!


------
Andy Ancel
Twinning Committee Blog Ed

Twinning Update via our Thank You Letter!

On behalf of Father Cronin and the St. Mary Twinning Committee, I would like to thank you for your 2011 generous $50  donation which will educate, for one year, one student at our sister parish and also help purchase much needed school supplies for Ste. Therese. 


I am pleased to provide you with the following information:
Since “Twinning” with Ste. Therese in Marbial, Haiti, five years ago, St. Mary has supported our sister parish with $31,030 of financial assistance intended solely to help educate the nearly six hundred K through 8 and high school students at St. Therese.


In early March 2010, lead by Dr. Richard J. Garvey, St. Mary sent a sixteen person medical team to Ste. Therese for eight days, which proved to be extraordinarily productive and gratifying.  The team provided superior, sympathetic, and sensitive medical care to over fifteen hundred individuals and performed twenty-three successful surgeries.


Each year, St. Mary sends to Ste. Therese items to improve both the physical and emotional well-being of our Haitian brothers and sisters.  These products include over-the-counter medications, first aid kits, medical and school supplies, personal hygiene items, eye glasses, various tools, Treadle Sewing Machines, and recreational items such as soccer balls, which are all very much needed, most welcomed, and greatly appreciated.  Over the years our committee has developed an expression:  “Everyone in Haiti needs everything.”


During January 2011, we supplied 225 water purification systems to Ste. Therese, which will provide clean water for one year for approximately 1,800 individuals.  These clean water systems will not only save lives, but will substantially improve the general health of the community.  Earlier last month we supplied an additional 400 systems which will provide clean drinking water for approximately 3,400 more individuals.


Our exceptional response to the needs of our sister parish are possible only because of the remarkable generosity of the parishioners of St. Mary, their families and friends, as well as other supporters. 


As always, I ask that you keep our Haitian brothers and sisters in your prayers; let us all remember:  “Our love must not be a thing of words and fine talk.  It must be a thing of action and sincerity.”  (1 John 3:18)


With warmest regards,
Mike Mercurio
Twinning Chair