When urgent needs arise, people of all faiths turn to the Catholic Church for help. We’ve seen with our own eyes how survivors of terrible tragedies — from hurricanes to earthquakes to cholera outbreaks — put their trust in local Church leaders to defend life and uphold human dignity. Communities count on us to be ready with compassionate aid, spiritual support and a path to recovery.
That’s why gifts to Cross Catholic Outreach’s Most Urgent Needs Fund are so important. These “unrestricted” gifts give our ministry partners the flexibility to address hunger, thirst and homelessness — and much more — whenever extreme challenges arise. These gifts allow our trusted network of priests, religious sisters and lay missionaries to take swift action and also plan ahead for long-term recovery efforts when necessary.
Nadege and her family no longer cower in fear during rainstorms — they have a sturdy new home to protect them! Their urgent need for safety was met by compassionate friends like you.
Generous Cross Catholic Outreach supporters recently empowered our ministry partner, the Kobonal Haiti Mission, to build 44 storm-resistant homes for vulnerable families living in the rural areas of the Diocese of Hinche.
When we visited Nadege and her family in the destitute community of Colladère, the first thing she shared was how thankful she was to God. She explained that they used to hide in a corner during rainstorms because their old house leaked so badly. She, her husband and their five children lived in constant fear because they worried a strong storm might cause the whole structure to collapse.
Even when there was no storm, they were in danger. Rats, snakes and other small animals would often find their way inside and bite her and her children. In addition, Nadege used to be terrified that an intruder could easily enter and harm her children.
Today, however, Nadege feels confident that her new home will keep her family safe. She says it is so solid that it will even outlast her. The family’s new four-room home is built with concrete blocks and has a solid cement foundation and a galvanized steel roof. It also features a solar light system for indoor electricity and an outdoor latrine.
During our visit, Nadege also celebrated that in addition to having a safe place to play, study and sleep, her children are getting enough to eat. She proudly asked us to observe how healthy her children were as she prepared food provided through the Kobonal Haiti Mission’s monthly food distribution program, which is also supported by generous U.S. donors.
Related: Building Safe Homes in Haiti
A gift to Cross Catholic Outreach’s Most Urgent Needs Fund equips our hardworking ministry partners to respond to unexpected challenges that threaten a ministry’s efforts to lift up the poor. This can include rising material costs or construction requiring special services or equipment. It also empowers local leaders to address natural disasters. In fact, this fund allows our ministry to pre-position hurricane relief supplies in strategic locations so we can respond quickly in the event of a storm.
Together as one body in Christ, we can bring hope to our brothers and sisters in their hour of greatest need!
Donations from this campaign will be used to cover any expenditures for this project incurred through June 30, 2027, the close of our ministry’s fiscal year. In the event that more funds are raised than needed to fully fund the project, the excess funds, if any, will be used to meet the most urgent needs of the ministry.
