Nun updates parish on Haiti money spend

Sister Mary Hardiman who is providing relief work in Haiti following the earthquake disaster this week wrote to the Meath Diocese to update people on how money they donated is being spent. The diocesan appeal, which included churches in Tullamore and Durrow, raised just over €300,000. The funds from the appeal have been allocated to Trócaire and to Sr Mary's projects in Haiti. Sr Mary said a big thanks to all who contributed so generously to the appeal. She explained that, having helped with the emergency response, some of the funds will go towards rebuilding the university in the area. "This is a vital project as many of the young people who are alive really want to finish their education," said Sister Mary. "This will give courage to the Haitians to see the people of Ireland supporting them. We hope and pray it will materialise. I will keep in touch with you throughout the process." The report from Haiti gives an insight into life in Sister Mary's parish and the local refugee centre, which cares for people who are homeless since the earthquake. "At the moment we are trying to find out how many families are in the Refugee Centre so that they can be helped to help themselves," she said. "Our parish priest and his team feel it is very important to help them move on. We give them money in accordance with the size of the family and what they intend to do and where they are going; all this has to be worked out. The local clergy know the culture and how they can survive. If they have problems, they can return and receive more help. It is a slow process. They are more than happy to take a risk and try it out. Hopefully they will be helped along the way by other organisations. We also have many families in our parish who have wounded people in need of help. The United States has set up a hospital for those who need limbs to help them walk."