At first, it was difficult for Bishop John M. Smith to call the memorial Mass he offered for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti a celebration.

But with Christ, there is always cause for a celebration, Bishop Smith assured the more than 200 folks from Mercer County’s Catholic Haitian community and others who came to St. Anthony Church, Hamilton, Jan. 17 to pray for the repose of the untold number of souls who lost their lives in the Jan. 12 earthquake as well as for all who were injured and were still reported missing.

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“The word ‘celebration’ does not seem to fit,” said Bishop Smith, who referred to the earthquake as being a “disaster of apocalyptic proportions.”

“I’m mourning and so are you. I’m questioning and so are you. I’m in doubt and so are you. So what are we celebrating?” he queried.

“We celebrate the only thing we have – our faith that Jesus Christ will come again to claim his people and bring us into the kingdom of his father,” said Bishop Smith. “Our hope is in Jesus Christ, and he is with us tonight, even in this midnight moment. Even in our midnight moments, we believe in the Son of God who is our hope, our light, our peace and even in our mourning, our joy. We are a believing people, even in the midst of darkness.”

As crises and times of need are occasions when people and communities are more inclined to join together in solidarity and prayer, Bishop Smith, in his homily, recalled the events of Sept. 11, 2001 and how in the days following the terrorist attacks, he had made pastoral visits to those parishes in the diocese that had lost significant numbers of parishioners.

In all, there were 265 people who were lost in the attacks and “that was horrible,” he said.

“But this disaster in Haiti is far, far bigger than that,” he said. “Hardly do you meet someone with Haitian roots who didn’t lose someone in that dreadful earthquake. Many of you have lost family, friends or have yet to hear about them.”

With great certainty, the bishop spoke of the losses that many of the Haitian Catholics from Trenton had endured in the 7.0 magnitude quake, then made specific mention of Father Pierre M. Alabre, who lost his brother, Reginald, sister-in-law, Kerlande, and young nephew, Tedley.

Father Alabre is a Haitian priest who oversees the spiritual needs of Trenton’s Haitian Catholic community. In his homily, Bishop Smith crafted an analogy between the day’s Gospel reading, the Wedding Feast at Cana, and the grave situation in Haiti by focusing on the role of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Even though the Gospel story “seems like a lightweight story for an occasion as solemn as this,” Bishop Smith told of how Mary wanted to be of help when she realized that the host had run out of wine.

“Mary calls on Jesus to help,” said Bishop Smith. “Mary has confidence in her son and Jesus performs a miracle and turns water into wine.

And, if Mary was concerned about this young couple having an embarrassing situation at their wedding, I am confident that she is with us in our great sorrow” that has resulted from the earthquake in Haiti. “Mary is the mother of Haiti in different ways and I’m sure she will intercede for all of us with her divine son, who is our Lord, our savior and our hope,” said Bishop Smith.

At the end of the Mass, Magda Dorleans, director of the diocesan Haitian Apostolate, announced that her office is sponsoring a collection of much-needed items and food to send to the earthquake victims. The collection will be held through Jan. 29, and persons wanting more information about the collection should call Dorleans at 609-588-8808, ext. 103.

Dorleans then presented a message of gratitude, thanking Bishop Smith and the people of the diocese for their prayers, support and expressions of sympathy and compassion.

“On behalf of the Haitian community of Trenton, I want to take this opportunity to thank you and the American people in general for the heartfelt generosity and kindness you have shown toward Haiti and the survivors of the terrible quake of this past Jan. 12. What happened is a tragedy that has set us back many years and even decades,” said Dorleans.

“Haitians are a resilient, courageous and deeply religious breed,” Dorleans continued.

“We have survived many trials and tribulations before. This latest catastrophe is no ordinary catastrophe though, even by Haitian standards. It is going to severely tax our world-renown lifeaffirming character. Please, keep us in your prayers. I know that God has not forsaken Haiti. I know that better and brighter days lay ahead.”

Those who gathered for the Mass with Bishop Smith were appreciative of his presence and willingness to celebrate a Mass for those who lost their lives in the earthquake.

Haitians are people of “great faith,” said Mildred Guiteau, who lost a sister-in-law in the quake.

“I think it shows that others are thinking about us and that we are not alone,” she said. “It was a great comfort to see Haitians comforting one another.”

As Michele Joseph stood with her godmother, Suzette Damier, after the Mass, she talked about having lost her own 5-year-old goddaughter, Christalle, in the quake, and waiting to receive word about her father.

“They are still looking for him,” said Joseph, who then acknowledged the tremendous support that has been shown to the people of Haiti.

“Please keep us in your prayers,” she said.

Bruny Bienneza said his faith has been a source of great comfort as he mourns the death in his sister, Cecile.

“With God, we can do anything,” he said.