All Souls Weekly                 
Volume 3, Number 31, June 27, 2010

FROM EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE: AN UPDATE ON HAITI

During a recent visit to New York City, Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin told Episcopal Church Center staff that he hopes his diocese and nation can “rebuild a new mentality.” He delivered to Church Center personnel what he called “part one” of the diocese’s master plan for rebuilding. The document is an assessment of the damage to diocesan institutions by the magnitude-7 earthquake that struck on January 12. “We wanted to do it professionally, so it has taken time,” he said. The next part of the master plan, Duracin said, will be an assessment of other diocesan buildings that were less damaged than those covered in the first assessment, but still in need of repairs.

“A new vision has to be in the master plan—not physical design and cost—but we have to rebuild a new mentality for Haitian people,” he said. “I find that we have learned so many things in the earthquake where all people—rich, poor, educated and non-educated people—are living in tents. I think that we have learned something [and the question is] how to use that to teach a new generation.” The bishop said that he wonders about “how to use the earthquake now to seek opportunities to live together in unity. It's very important.”

Among the institutions that were destroyed, Duracin said, were the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince and its adjacent educational complex that once served 4,000 students ranging from an elementary school to a trade school. Also lost were the secondary school College St. Pierre, St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children, the Episcopal University and the diocese’s seminary. “We have a lot to do,” Duracin said. “We have lost so many churches, so many other schools in the countryside which have to be rebuilt.” And, Duracin added, he worries about the fate of the thousands of people still living in tent settlements as the rainy season, with its hurricanes, settles in. “I worry about the situation of people now because we have too many people in tents,” he said.

In February, it was reported that the diocese was caring for between 25,000 and 30,000 quake survivors in 60 settlements. Duracin said that the diocese is now trying to count how many people remain in those settlements. Some have found other living arrangements and there is some pressure to disband or reduce settlements near schools which have now resumed.

Despite the work ahead of it, Duracin said people elsewhere in the Episcopal Church ought to be assured that “the church [in Haiti] is there because faith is there. The communities are there. Even though we have no buildings, people gather regularly on Sunday for services. Faith has become greater.”

The bishop also expressed his gratitude to the larger church for “its support to us and I ask the whole church to continue to pray for us and act with us for rebuilding of the diocese. “We are a resurrected church,” he said. Mary Frances Schjonberg, national correspondent for Episcopal News Service.

Around the Parish . . . The Rector will be on vacation June 25—28 . . . Attendance last Sunday at the 8:30 a.m. Mass: 29; at the 11 a.m. Mass: 122. 

Your prayers are asked for . . . Walter Hollis, Gene Dunn, Susan Johnson, Jim Wallace, Susan Kornacki, Frasier, MaryJane, Bob and Louise Osborne, Joan Shapiro, Ann Dixon, Lorenzo Martinez, Family of Tom Martin, Hugh Yeomans, Helen Horne, Erling Hansen, Mona Bauer, Mary Backus, Sandy Jenkins Dixon, I. Kathryn McKewen, Thais Blanchard, Bruce MacDonald, Bob Colborn, Elizabeth McKee, Freddie Cameron, Robert Long, Barb Chaffee, Harriet Martin, Chris Cobb, Landis Vance, Vickie Drell, Stephanie Russell, Ruth & Fred Huber, Jim St. George, Mark Henderson, Martha Holdgate, Chip Meyers, Walter and Sally Jason, Arthur Andrew Warren, Mary Beth McCutcheon, Bryan Powell, Regina Dading, Julia Gutierrez, Ted Field, and for the repose of the soul of S.S. McClendon III, cousin of Sally MacDonald . . . Pray for members of the parish in the foreign service and others who are working overseas, especially Tim Zladitch, Chuck Hunter, Steve Kerchoff, Brad Moore, and Michael Pate . . . Pray also for the members of our Armed Forces on active duty, especially Jack Severson. . . If you wish to participate in our ongoing Internet Prayer Circle please contact Vicki Lowe at lowevg1@verizon.net.

Liturgical Notes . . . Tuesday, June 29 is the Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul.  Matins is offered at 7:15 a.m., followed by Low Mass at 7:30 a.m. . . .Flowers at the High Altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of John E. and Elizabeth J. Curry and Edward L. Curry, given by Harriet Curry . . . Flowers in the Mary Chapel are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Portia Hoffman, given by her devoted son Mark. . . This Sunday, June 27, the Rev. Ronald Conner will be the celebrant and preacher at both Masses.

Are you new to All Souls? . . . Please join us for a newcomers wine and cheese this afternoon, Sunday, June 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the undercroft to learn more All Souls and more about becoming involved in our parish family.  This is a wonderful time to meet others in a casual atmosphere.

A Request from Transitional Housing Corporation . . . All Souls recently furnished an "adopted apartment" for the Transitional Housing Corporation (THC), but the need for housing remains great. THC is working to furnish four apartments this summer and needs a few specific items: Reclining chair (immediate need which THC can come pick up), new baby cribs, sofa, loveseat, television, and microwave. If you can provide any of these items, please call Andrew Adams, THC volunteer coordinator at (202) 557-5632.

South Africa Mission . . . The Rev. Sharron Dinnie in South African has confirmed our dates for visiting her congregation, the Kwasa Centre, and the Diocese of the Highveld October 11 through October 20, 2010. Airfare costs approximately $1,300 and we will plan to stay at a Bed and Breakfast or inn in Springs, South Africa.  More information will be available as plans develop.  If you are interested in joining the mission trip, please speak with Marcia Anderson or Father Beddingfield.

National Cathedral Sing-along . .  . On Sunday, June 27 at 5:30 p.m. the Cathedral Choral Society will present a sing-along of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana in the great choir of the Cathedral. Participants enjoy a lively interaction with CCS Music Director J. Reilly Lewis. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at http://www.cathedralchoralsociety.org/CONCERT6.htm

Readings for the Daily Office

All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church

The Reverend John Beddingfield, rector; The Reverend Christopher Worthley, adjunct clergy;

Mr. Seth Walley, seminarian; Mr. Isaac Borocz, parish administrator; Dr. Philip Cave, director of music and organist

2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008-1505;Voice: 202-232-4244, Fax: 202-232-8593

Email: allsouls1@aol.com; website: www.allsoulsdc.org