The Missions Department of the Congregation, in collaboration with the Salesian Mission Office in New Rochelle, (United States) and the “Don Bosco Network” (DBN) is busy creating  a net-work to collect funds from the Provinces and from benefactors around the world. The Provinces in Spain, Venezuela and Italy are already actively engaged.

The Salesian Missions are working with “Catholic Charities”, “Catholic Relief Services” and “Feed the Children” to deal with the more urgent food and health emergencies.

The Missions Department is working on the idea, at a later stage, of  coordinating the offers of human voluntary resources coming in from various places.

Communication in and with the country is still difficult: the “Feed the Children” organisation is trying to contact the various Salesian houses in Haiti also using satellite connections.  Meanwhile  attempts are being made to establish a network of  e-mails communications between the Salesian Mission Offices and the NGO which are in the country so as to coordinate relief efforts.

From early this afternoon, Italian time, a special bank account will be open for the collection of money to help the victims of the earthquake.
The details are
  Citibank
  238 North Ave.
  New Rochelle, NY 10801
  Account Number: 9959015692
  Swift Number: CITIUS33
  ABA Number: 021000089

Meanwhile more news has been coming in about the Salesians in the “Blessed Philip Rinaldi” Vice Province of Haiti: Fr Attilio Stra, Rector of the house at Port-au-Prince-Enam has been injured, Fr Simon Gatine Joseph Maceus, the creator of the “Timkatec” Project for street children in Petion-Ville, has been taken to Miami (United States) for medical treatment, although his condition is not causing too much concern. There is still no further information about the  200 + pupils in the Port-au-Prince-Enam school.

It is still proving difficult the establish contact with those in charge of the Vice Province and with other Salesians.

Published 14/01/2010