Denver Catholic

PAID ADVERTISEMENT When Father Glenn Meaux established the Kobonal Haiti Mission in 1989, families living in that region were trapped in material and spiritual poverty. Seeing their extreme needs, he felt called by God to make a difference in their deeply impoverished villages and developed a plan to provide help. His first outreaches were small, but they quickly expanded as others joined his cause and offered their support. The impact of his faithfulness to God's calling has been inspiring to see. Through his obedience to the Lord and unwavering commitment to follow the Holy Spirit, thousands have been blessed beyond anyone's expectations. "An incredible transformation has taken place in Kobonal, Haiti, and it all began with a bold decision to respond to God's calling and to serve as the Lord's instrument of mercy," confirmed Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, one of the largest and most effective Catholic relief and development ministries working in the region. "That's really how every effective ministry begins. Someone encounters a situation that breaks their heart or challenges them spiritually, and then God tells them, 'I want you to be a part of the solution!' At times like those, we need to step out in faith and let God work through us. Those are acts of obedience and merciful service that both glorify God and bless lives." Sagarino knows Fr. Meaux well because the ministry she leads has been championing his efforts for more than two decades. During that time many U.S. Catholics have also become aware of the Kobonal Haiti Mission and have joined the cause too. "While I celebrate the many wonderful things that have been accomplished at the Haiti Kobonal Mission, I'm currently focused on helping the children and families there that still have extreme needs," Sagarino said. "For example, I know there are children in the region who are still illiterate and desperately want to go to school. I want to be sure they get that opportunity. Then there are the families who will be going to sleep tonight in a ramshackle, unsanitary dwelling. I want them to have a safe place to live. Fr. Meaux has created a powerful ministry to support Haiti's poorest families, but the individuals he is trying to reach can't be supplied with what they need unless we step forward to fund those works of mercy. That's how we can make a difference and bless lives." According to Sagarino, Cross Catholic Outreach's current and specific goal is to help Fr. Meaux's team provide another group of needy families with new homes. (See related story on the opposite page.) "His house building ministry has become very popular with U.S. Catholics because it provides struggling families with simple but sturdy homes — a foundation for building a better life. People want their charitable donations to produce major benefits and have an impact that will last. My hope is that as people learn more about what Fr. Meaux is accomplishing in Kobonal, Haiti, they will experience the same calling he has to help the poor and will also want to be a part of the solution." Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach's work for the poor can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax- deductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC03009, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Use the inserted brochure to become a Mission Partner. Priest's Success in Haiti Proves Faith-Filled Action Can Bless Thousands of Lives The new homes being built for needy Haitian families are seen as an answer to prayer. Catalog of Merciful Gifts Provides Catholics With Unique Lenten Almsgiving Options The long-held tradition of almsgiving during Lent has always been a blessing to Catholic households, but there have been times when families longed for ways to extend their compassion to international communities where the ravages of poverty are often more extreme. We know those needs exist. The challenge is in finding a way to address targeted needs in specific places. This year, the respected relief and development ministry, Cross Catholic Outreach, has offered a solution — its Easter Catalog of international mercy projects in need of funding. Through the catalog, individuals, families and parishes can build homes for the homeless, provide meals to combat malnutrition, sponsor educational scholarships for poor children, address urgent medical needs and undertake many other acts of compassion, all under the supervision of respected Catholic leaders in the countries being served. The opportunities listed in the catalog truly span the globe, including missions of mercy in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Africa, and beyond. "And because the projects listed in the catalog are very specific, those who donate will know exactly how their alms are being utilized," explained Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. "That creates some wonderful opportunities for parents with young children being taught the importance of almsgiving. Imagine the excitement of your son or daughter knowing their contribution at Lent built a home for a struggling family or ensured an illiterate child would finally be able to attend school. These are not just symbolic charitable efforts. The projects being accomplished are life-transforming." This unique Easter Catalog is easy to access. Readers will find a link for it at the ministry's website (CrossCatholic.org), or they can reach it directly by entering the web address: CrossCatholic.org/Easter. "Lenten almsgiving is always a blessing, but its impact is even more significant when it blesses those with the greatest needs," Sagarino said.

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