Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2010 / 'They have not given into despair' Bishop Gumbleton says after Haiti mission trip
'They have not given into despair' Bishop Gumbleton says after Haiti mission trip
by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published February 5, 2010
DETROIT — Bishop Thomas Gumbleton arrived home Monday night from what he called an exhausting and "almost overwhelming" trip to give assistance in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, following last month's earthquake there.
He said the trip went well, although he came back very tired. "There's so much you take in emotionally, seeing all the suffering that's going on with people and hearing their story," he said. "Yet, compared to what they're going through, it's very minor. The suffering is extreme."
Bishop Gumbleton, a retired auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Detroit who has remained active in social justice issues, headed down to Haiti Jan. 25 with a small delegation of medical professionals to help at the Klinik Sen Michel in Port-au-Prince. He said while he expected to assist with medical procedures and give spiritual leadership, one of the things he didn't expect was to encounter the grief and emotional stress Haitians were experiencing.
One man in particular said he was tired and had a headache, so he received some medicine, Bishop Gumbleton remembered. But when he came back the next day for the same reason, he opened up about his grief from losing his son and house. "You see that and realize, this is just grief, emotional stress, and he just had nobody to grieve with," he said.
He returned home this past Monday, and said many people still don't have food, water or real shelter. The houses that are standing aren't safe, as they've been damaged enough that one aftershock would send them tumbling. Many are living in tents or makeshift tents of sticks and blankets.
To help:
Klinik Sen Michel: Donations may be sent to Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, 4800 Grand River Ave., Detroit 48208.
Catholic Relief Services: Donations can be made by sending a check payable to the Archdiocese of Detroit c/o 1234 Washington Blvd., Fourth Floor, Detroit, 48226. Include "Disaster Relief" in the lower-left memo line on the check. Donations can also be made online at www.AODonline.org.
Haiti Outreach Mission: Donations may be sent to Haiti Outreach Mission 2025 W. Long Lake Road, Suite 108, Troy 48098-4100, or made online at www.haitioutreachmission.org. |
And relief programs still weren't reaching many neighborhoods, with the United Nations finally opening nine food distribution centers by the time he left, with more yet to be opened. "There's a desperation in the situation developing," he said.
Another thing that bothered him was realizing that dead were still buried in the rubble, likely never to be recovered. "If you had someone in a building like that, it would break your heart, knowing that you can't get to them to give them a burial," he said.
The group was able to bring down medical supplies, such as bandages and medicine, and stayed in the hospitality house Matthew 25, setting up the soccer field behind the house into a field hospital. Bishop Gumbleton himself was able to counsel people, assist with medical procedures, and celebrate Mass.
But although the week was intense and draining, Bishop Gumbleton said seeing the faith of the Haitians was "so inspiring." "They have not given into despair," he said. "They have not gotten angry. They grieve for those they have lost; (but) they have strong confidence God will bring them through."
He plans on returning as soon as possible with more supplies, adding that he would appreciate donations of money to buy medical supplies and food.
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