30501: SFclinics (news) Catholic Herald--Parish teaches Haitians to fish (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: SFclinics1@aol.com

By Alfonso Aguilar
Catholic Herald Staff Writer
HAITI — The delivery of state-of-the-art boats to fishermen in Haiti honors
the popular saying that goes “Give a man a fish, and you feed him today. 
Teach
him to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Recently, a delegation from Nativity Parish in Burke, headed by its pastor,
Father Richard Martin, in collaboration with the humanitarian group Food for
the Poor in Miami gave away 12 seaworthy boats to three villages in 
Cap-Haïtien,
on the northern coast of the Caribbean nation.
In the short two-day journey, the delegations visited Petite-Anse, Bord De
Mer and Fort-Liberte, fishing villages that share the abject poverty affecting
the majority of their population.
In these villages, once renowned as the “Paris of the Antilles,” there is a
scarcity of potable water; crowded, unhealthy living conditions; absence of
proper sanitation, and enormous percentages of illiteracy and unemployment.
Most residents survive on small commerce, modest crops grown on the outskirts
of the city and fishing. The average income for those fortunate to have a job
is barely $400 per year, or about a dollar per day.
     The Food for the Poor model for fishing villages aims at helping to
break the cycle of poverty and despair. The project develops a long-term,
sustainable solution to improve the economic situation for the entire 
communities.
Fishermen are provided with 24-foot fiberglass boats, with reliable engines,
fishing tackle and safety equipment.
“The boats enable the fishermen to work in deeper, more bountiful waters (600
to 1,200 feet depth), thus catch larger and more marketable fish like queen
snapper and yellowtail,” said James McDaniel, Nativity parishioner.
“From now on, you can go into deeper, unexplored water and bring your
community 300 to 400 pounds of fish,” said Robin Mahfood, president of Food 
for the
Poor.
The total cost of establishing a fishing village is $50,000. A regular boat
is commanded by a captain and four or five fishermen — both women and men.
Villagers are taught deep-sea fishing and business practices that are both
ecologically friendly and economically sound. The boats have coolers and 
freezers to
store their catch, and usually a fish shop is established in the community.
In return for this help, the fishermen agree to contribute a percent of their
catch to help feed others in their communities who are less fortunate. Those
working on the boats are required to pass along their skills and knowledge to
younger members of the community.
In the shop at Bord De Mer, Haitian Father Duken Augustin showed visitors
during their last day of the trip a big queen snapper, “just catched today 
with
the new boats,” he said.
“This is hope realized,” said Father Martin, whose parish has raised $1.6
million in nine years to help people in Haiti.
Nativity parish funded the Nativity Fishing Village in Petit-Anse, which
included five boats bearing the names of Father Martin’s relatives in 
recognition
of his 40 years as a priest. His bother John Martin from Rhode Island, and
parishioners James McDaniel, Jennifer Schmidt, Philip Ricard, Richard Urban and
Joseph Pettit also joined the delegation.
“Tangible results of nine years of Nativity parishioners’ contributions
resulting in over 500 cinder block houses, a school, water wells, sanitation
facilities, a tilapia farm and five fishing boats inspired me to want to be 
part of
the future efforts,” said Pettit.
“What struck me was how one life can affect so many, if they’re hearts are
moved,” said Marilyn Ciccarone from New Jersey, who has conducted 
fund-raising
events and made personal contributions to pay for 13 houses.
The delegations visited Archbishop Hubert Constant, and Cap-Haïtien  Bishop
Chilby Langlois. Both participated in the blessings and ceremonies.
At the end they toured the elementary school built by Nativity Parish in the
capital, Port Au Prince. There, more than 300 students in bright yellow and
blue uniforms welcomed the delegation with the song “Merci et Bienvenue” 
(Thank
you and welcome).
At that final, touching moment, all visitors realized that there is hope.
IF YOU WISH TO NOT RECEIVE THIS EMAIL REGARDING HAITI, RETURN THIS MAILING TO
ME AND ENTER "REMOVE" INTO THE SUBJECT MATTER.  YOUR NAME WILL BE PROMPTLY
DROPPED FROM MY LIST.
I greet you with love in His name
Tommy Henderson
563-323-5068 <SFclinics1@aol.com>
2034 West 5th Street
Davenport, Iowa 52802-1006

VOCATVS  ATQUE NON ----VOCATVS  DEUS ADERIT
Bidden or not bidden, God is present

  Carl Jung









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