We’ve all been transfixed on the news stories coming out of Haiti recently after the devastating earthquake that country experienced. Recently I had a chance to speak to Catholic priest, Fr. Murat Dorcent, who was present during the earthquake that hit Haiti. I met him as he traveled through the Northeast telling Americans what they can do to help and to thank people for their generosity. Fr. Dorcent traveled a circuitous route through the Dominican Republic to get to the United States.
Fr. Dorcent is the pastor of Our Lady of the Nativity parish in Verrettes, Haiti. It is approximately 1.5 hours by car from Port-Au-Prince. His large parish encompasses one mother church, 14 mission chapels and 6 schools that educate over 1400 children. Some of the mission chapels can only be reached on foot. Fr. Dorcent’s parish community serves over 50,000 people. He described the area where he works as a mountainous area in the country. However, he happened to be in Port-Au-Prince the day of the earthquake. His country parish is now receiving survivors and refugees fleeing from the carnage of Port-Au-Prince. He related to me that he has told his staff to receive anyone fleeing Port-Au-Prince. He is providing food and shelter to all those who make it to his parish. Below is a map of where Fr. Dorcent’s parish is in relation to Port-Au-Prince.
In the weeks since the quake, Fr. Dorcent has received over 50 orphans into his parish and close to 1000 people who have fled the city. He is trying to equip one of his schools with sewing machines to teach the displaced how to sew so that they can have a skill in order to find work. He will feed them and house them as long as there is a need.
Fr. Dorcent speaks French and some English. The last time I spoke French was in high-school. The interview below is the best I could do given the language differences.
Father, can you tell us exactly what happened the day of the earthquake?
“I happened to find myself in Port-Au-Prince that day. I was near the Presidential palace. The earthquake was violent shaking up and down, left and right. Every building just fell down. I was outside, near the Presidential Palace and saw it collapse. I rushed to the seminary where 200 seminarians were trapped. Thousands of people screaming, fleeing, yelling. It was beyond awful in scope. No words can describe what I saw that day.”
How bad are things in Haiti now?
“Today, we talk only about matters of life and death. Like it says in the book of Isiah, suffering has been brought unto us. We have seen Good Friday, we don’t know when Easter will come.”
What are your immediate needs?
“Our short term need is for food. Any donations right now go toward feeding and housing the homeless. Our long term needs are for our schools. We have children but we also are trying to teach adults technical trades.”
I know you have traveled to the United States with a message for Americans. Can you tell us this message?
“May God bless and protect the people of North America. Now and forever. Haiti is forever grateful.”
Fr. Dorcent is returning to Haiti this week. To send a donation directly to him, I have listed his address below. He assured me that all aid he receives goes directly to those in greatest need. He has told the Huletts Current that he will give us further updates in the months ahead.
Pere Murat DORCENT
Cure de la Paroisse Notre Dame de la Nativite des Verrettes
Boite postale # 45 HT4310
Saint Marc, Haiti