August 2, 2025 • 23 mins
On this Sunday Aug 3, 2025 Episode of CAROLINA Focus with Sharon Thorsland and Ed Billick
23rd Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive - guests include the folks from St Matthew RC Church. They discuss their mission from Meal Packing to fund raising and the great work in Haiti. Guests: Brother Prisca and Father Saran–Brothers with the Missioaries of the Poor in Cap Haitien, Haiti. They serve the Lord by caring for the disabled, orphans and the ailing elderly with love and respect, at their mission facility. Steve Favory – Co-Leader of the MMWHD and Executive Director of Hands for Haiti which operates St Marc’s School in Tremesse, Haiti.
Deacon Daren Bitter – Daren is a Deacon at St Matthew Catholic Church and is on the MMWHD leadership committee. He has led multiple Mission Trips to Haiti to work with the Missionaries of the Poor. Robert Manning – a member of the MMWHD leadership team and on many occasions, he has volunteered his time in Haiti. Bruce Anderson – serves on the MMWHD leadership team, and he has helped complete several projects and Sean Balbirnie – who has been a very active young adult at St Matthew. He and his team created and have led the Hoops for Hunger event which is a component of the MMWHD campaign. The Hoops for Hunger effort has been very successful in drawing kids, teens and young adults for a day of fun while bringing awareness to the plight of others and generating funds in support of the MMWHD. Conversations w/Ed
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, welcome back to Carolina Focus. Carolina Focus is on
News Talk eleven to ten, ninety nine to three, WBT
Mix one oh seven nine and ninety two seven Sports
Radio w f NZ. Carolina Focus is our public affairs show.
And welcome back to the team, the wonderful team from
Saint Matthew World Hunger Drive. It's twenty third annual and
(00:22):
we also have some folks from Haiti on the call.
This has been special, special conversation with us, Steve Favorie. Steve,
we want to cover a few things here in the
second half, and one of them, of course is Saint
Mark's School down there in Haiti. Why don't you tell
us a little bit about that, And I mean it
continues to grow as we're educating those young children in
(00:43):
the country of Haiti, right, Steve.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
That's correct.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
The school started back in two thousand and nine, and
at that point it was then a tent and then
expanded to what we call it a teaky hut building,
and then over the years we kept adding a grade
after a grade. Now this year where it's primary secondary
and Haitia goes up to the thirteenth grade, we've added
(01:09):
trade school for sewing trade School for agriculture, and we
also focus.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
On the community on that. In this area where the
schools at, it's tremez. It's very rule.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Most of the families live in mud huts with mud floors,
no running water, no electricity. Their family is usually an
extended family with uncle and ants hate to say, but
usually without a father, and a lot of the children's
parents uncles have never been to school and this is
(01:45):
their first chance. The children that go to Saint Mark's,
it's really their first chance for the whole family to
have some need to get an education. On that, so
it's very very special. Our administrator down there is Fatherly
who's doing an incredible job.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
On that.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
So we we we've done some great uh we've made
great progress with the school. But the most progress we've made,
which I'm most proud of, is expanding evangelizing our Catholic
faith and we've done a great job with that. As
the children receive their sacraments, as they go to Mass
at least once a month at the school.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
That's really what I'm proud of. You know what, With Steven,
it's just so important. It's not funds that are going
to help feed if you're building that sustainability, you're helping
the next generation, and that is that is so beautiful. Now,
we mentioned earlier in the first segment about the challenges
of unloading containers in Haiti. What's the what's the alternative
(02:49):
plan this year?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Boy?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, of course, the brothers that lived it, so we've
in the path have always shipped containers down.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
There's a lot of benefits for that.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
First of all, the brothers have the food on premise,
so they know that they don't have an issue supporting
their residents. It's a lot less expensive if we could
shift containers this year. The customs, the government, the gangs,
whoever controlling the ports are putting on a ransom one container.
We've have been told after we file their program completely
(03:23):
fifty five thousand dollars to clear the container. So obviously
we can't clear the container, so we have to refocus.
And what we've done is now working through the banks,
we send funds directly to the brothers so they could.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Buy food locally. And this is where the sustainability is
so critical.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Because the brothers have and the school have chicken, eggs,
tilapia and crops to help them, they'll still have to
buy food so that's a major shift in our program
this year. We're just reacting to the situation in Haiti
and pray that sometime in the future we could send
containers once again. But as of now, no containers to Haiti.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
You know, I'd just like to say that the Holy
Spirit is working miracles and helping make the better decisions.
You know, guys, as we're talking here, we have the
World Hunger the meal packing event. But how can our
listeners donate if they want to help out with this?
I mean, our goal this year is four hundred thousand dollars.
Last year over three hundred thousand. How can folks donate,
(04:33):
Robert or Bruce or any one of you.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's Saint Matthew, Catholic Church dot org backslash World Hunger Drive.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
If they put that link and they'll go right.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Into the World Hunger Drive section of the of the
web page and they can make a donation, a one
time donation's greatly appreciated.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Absolutely, and those donations and those dollars go directly direct
to the folks that are in most need with us
in Haiti. I want to give them a few minutes
here as we get into the second half of the show,
Father Saran and brother is it Pisca brother, Brother Risk Risca.
(05:15):
You know we have him on video and this to me,
this is so exciting from Haiti. On a zoom call
here on Carolina Focus, Father Saran, we talked about your career.
What is your role down here? What do you do?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Our role here in coupation here, you know missions is
to take care of our poor brothers and sisters where
we have elderly. We have three premises in our compound,
which is one is for elderly, the other is for
handicapped children, and one is for HIV patients. So all
(05:50):
together in that three premises we have approximately two hundred
residents who benefit from all that service that you use
send to us here in Haiti through your park meals
and all those things. At the same time, also we
as a Catholic church, we also continue to provide all
(06:11):
the ministerial the aspect of it in caring for the
least of our brothers and sisters, in fulfilling particularly the
fulfilling the Gospel of marth You twenty five where the
Lord says, when I was hungry, you fed me. When
I was thirsty, you gave me drink and all those things.
That's our primary work among the list of our brothers
(06:32):
and sisters in everyday caring. And that is the benefit
from that, from your care and love and with you
also it is not only simply just a physical benefit
that you give through food, but they also see that
it is coming for the act of love that you
have for them, which drives that. The act of love
(06:55):
is the source is comes from the love of God self,
which comes down to us. Love of God and love
of neighbors is a one coin, two sides of the
one coin, which always makes that value, and it is
there understood that and also a ministering to them bringing
(07:15):
the sacraments as myself as a priest, we also do that,
bringing them sacraments and all that spiritual the needs are
provided as well at the same time physical needs are provided,
so that is our evangelization. We do not only simply
needs their meed needs, their physical needs, but also meet
(07:38):
their spiritual needs. So we literally prepare them everything for
the Lord.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
You know, you said it so beautifully. And it's the spiritual. Yes,
it's the mental and it's the physical needs. And how
can you not go how can you not go wrong?
With that, because you're creating the next generation. We're talking
the World Hunger Drive and we've covered a lot of
the aspects and if you're just joining us on Carolina Focus, Yeah,
there's a meal packing event at Saint Matthew Catholic Church
(08:07):
on on August sixteenth, and they're gonna pack thousands and
thousands of meals. There's the fundraising. Let me go back
Sean to you this pretty cool thing if folks didn't
catch it the first time around the hoops for a
Hunger it's a basketball three on three tournament And what's
the what's the purpose there again?
Speaker 6 (08:26):
Yeah, Ed, the purpose is to collect shoes, flip flops,
and funds, you know, for the folks in Haiti. You know,
one thing that we've noticed is the kids, you know,
play outside barefoot, and you know, we want to change that.
You know, our goal is to make every day play
and more enjoyable and safe for the kids there.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Yeah, so there's this basketball tournament where you're collecting shoes
and flip flops and any kind of other foot apparel, right.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
So we've you know, in years past, we've we've sent
boxes and boxes of shoes, you know, you know, close
to close to a thou and pairs of shoes have
been have been sent and you know, some of the
images and videos that you know, Steven team have been
able to share of, you know, the the kids unboxing
the shoes and flip flops are really powerful, you know,
(09:15):
and we have pictures of folks playing soccer over there
with the cleats that we've sent, and you know, you
can you can really tell that, you know, brings some
sense of joy and happiness, right and you know, these
are things that we we just think of as like, hey,
I have my shoes on my feet right now. We
take those for granted, and you know, it's a totally
different perspective that we're trying to you.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Know, fulfill.
Speaker 7 (09:39):
And you're bringing a little bit of a highlight the
mission that we have at World Hunger Drive.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
You know, you can't imagine going outside running around barefoot
and you hit a little piece of gravel or something
and that hurts. And these poor little kids that's their
life every day, they running around barefoot. So the work
you're doing in hoops for Hunker, I think is is
super special. Hey also with us the this morning, and
he was on earlier was Bruce Anderson. He's on the
leadership team. Bruce, your thoughts is what drives you, Bruce,
(10:08):
to participate every year in.
Speaker 8 (10:09):
This personally, you know one of it. One of the
drivers is being a member of the parish and knowing
the friendships and the helping hand that the parish has
been able to provide, and the motivation to stay active
in terms of serving the least among our brothers. Fifty
plus years ago, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in
(10:32):
South America and these mountains in the jungle, and it's
hard for me to believe that, as Steve mentioned, what
the communities are like now, dirt floor's, adobe huts, no electricity,
no running water. Those were conditions that I worked in
(10:52):
over fifty years ago, and in many parts of the
world have now been alleviated through economic growth. The problem
that we face in Haiti is that that growth has
not occurred for a variety of political, economic, climate related
you name it. They've had a lot of curve balls
(11:13):
thrown at them. So I have a personal motivation, that
spirit of volunteering and knowing that there are still hundreds
of thousands, if not millions, of people who do not
have the basic necessities we mentioned, you know where the
meals will be going to Cuba. Well, I think people
(11:36):
that maybe watch the news heard that there were at
least two times this year where there was a nationwide
power blackout for days on end. All the different factors
that are have been generated and Steve, you know, I
thought on the question of Saint Mark and the theme
of sustainability. You want to mention about the trade school
(11:58):
because and what's been added there, because that's part of
sustainability is skill building and skills that are in need
in the community.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, for sure, and that your percent correct, ruth. You know,
we educate them up through secondary and then we thought about, okay,
what's the next step. How can we rehelp them to
earn a living and we decided a trade school. What
was the natural next step, which sewing was our first trade.
(12:30):
If you go down to Haiti, every school has a
unique uniform and so there was a need for tailors there,
so that was our first one.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Our students love it.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
We've hired two sewing instructors and they're training the kids
and some of them as soon as they complete the
trade school, they'll get the sewing machine.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
So have a mechanism to earn money.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Agriculture there is we're out in the rule area, there's
land available. If we could teach the community how to
grow more crops or raise more chickens, that also helps
a big time. And they can sell it their crops
and eggs and chickens at.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
The market, which we've been to their market.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
And actually that's where the food's coming from for the
school for lunch and breakfast. So praise schools are critical
and remains in our strategy going forward.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Steve, you mentioned talapia farms and for us here in
the States, that's especially talapia's delicious fish. Yet you're growing
your own talapio there.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yes, the brothers have a talapia pond. The schools talapia
pond is much larger, and the Holy Spirit has helped
because literally Pie twelve years ago we threw the first
thing fish into the tilapia pond.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
The brothers actually helped us to get the fish.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Twelve years later, every month we harvest ten pounds of fish.
But we've never had to replenish the tlompy pond because
the fish itself reproduced that quick.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And and you talk.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
About all the expertise I'm trying to raise flompy and
we have none of that at the school, but the
Good Lord keeps letting that pond.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Raise Telapia.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And as I said, every month we get two big white,
five gallon buckets of Flompy out for lunch for the children.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
You know, Father Saran, I'm sitting here and get a
little goosebumps. It's like the loaves and fishes. Huh. You know,
it just continues to expand. As Jesus said, right, yes,
brother Prisca, we are going to be wrapping up the
show here in the next few minutes. Do you have
like a minute or two to share your love and
appreciation and and thank all of our listeners for those
(14:48):
that are contributing.
Speaker 9 (14:49):
Brother yes on the community the point, we want to
say thank you to all our friends in a special way.
It wasn't my to Perish and mister heavy League that
organize this guard in this meeting in our way to
make the people know more about missions of the pool.
(15:13):
And we're happy, we're grateful for that, and we can
say we went by the everyone as much they can
come to visit our mission. He and capatient and hating
that's will bring joy and happiness to us alve borders
missions of the pool and to our people that we
are setting in our homes and in the neighborhood, because
(15:34):
once they see our visitors come, they are happy because
they feel that the love of the mother or the
father that they or the children that they lose they lost,
they get it back from our friends once against we
are thinking, we think all our friends that always support
us continuously in our missions in capatient because with our
(15:55):
they support the mission.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Of love, bringing love and happy.
Speaker 9 (16:00):
This to allow people that's loveless that that cannot happened,
and with all of them for all days sowhat then
will continue to aquait that the love continue to move
they have, but this love continue to floatsh.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Brother brother, thank you very much, folks. As were wrapping
up the Carolina focus on this Sunday, I want to
go round the table for final words as as we
conclude this World Hunger Drive Special broadcast. Robert Manning, Robert
final words for our listeners, final thoughts for the folks
in Haiti.
Speaker 10 (16:36):
Well, the folks in Haiti, they're oppressed and one of
the things is does our mill packing aids and a
bit oppressed people, and as Steve mentioned earlier in the program,
we are truly moving into the world hunger world and
it's you know, we talk about it, but until you
actually experience it, they're oppressed. But when you're physically on
(16:59):
the ground with these people, they smile, they hug you,
and they're very positive. And regardless of we're of ben
in Haiti, it's always a welcoming and you goes out
for them and you just want to help, and that's
part of my.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
It's beautiful Robert, and thank you for those thoughts, Bruce.
Final words for our listeners here on Sunday morning.
Speaker 8 (17:25):
Well, just one point and that is that we focused
a lot on Hoops for Hunger and also the World
Hunger Program UH and these are key events that we
have going on now. The sign ups in that in
July and August, but really there's a way to volunteer
and participate throughout the year. We talked about the other
meal packing events at churches and schools and donations are
(17:47):
always accepted. We mentioned the website for Fate Direct and
all year round. You know, if you are so motivated,
we know that the needs are you around, please go ahead.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yes, thank you, thank you. Bruce. Final word, Sean for
the younger folks, huh.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
I know everybody's got some shoes and flip flops in
and around in their closet. I'd really encourage you to
bring those over.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
To Saint Matthew Parrish. If you bring them over to
the gym, we'll be there collecting them and we could
really appreciate.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
You know, you bringing those out.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
That's pretty cool. Just drop by Saint Matthew Catholic Church
off your extra shoes or your flip flops and you
know a child in Haiti will definitely appreciate them. Steve,
before I have you wrap it up, Father Saran, final
words for our folks here in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yes, I personally want to say thanks to all of
you that you have participated in this world hunger drive
that is really beneficial to help people here. It is
as I have said, that it is your love that
you have for the Lord. You make it into reality.
Love is not simply that simply we talked, but it
(19:03):
is made into reality that is visible and people can
see it with their own eyes. That so and then
they are able to appreciate and so much so thank
you for all those benefits that you have. Let you
know that all that you're doing is the fulfilling the
gospel gospel of Matthew twenty five. Whether the Lord says,
(19:25):
when I was hungry, you fed me. Although you are
directly not doing like being here, but you are also
putting together all together all that line that comes you
put together. You sacrifice your time and your resources and
brings send it down to us, and we here as
(19:47):
instrument of God putting them together and working along with them.
So it is all that in one hand is a
long stretch. But to stretch it is to express our
love for the brothers and sisters, and which is reaching
to them. And they are happily and glad to receive that,
and they see us that the act of love that
(20:08):
is beingved to them.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Thank you Father Sarn and he's live in Haiti. As
we're going around the table. Final thoughts here on this
Sunday morning, Carolina Focus. By the way, I wanted to
thank the whole team and even our guests in Haiti
for a wonderful discussion today. Deacon there and your final
thoughts as we wrap up the show.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Yeah, I would say despite the difference in miles and economies.
We are very close to our brothers and sisters in
Haiti and other areas around the world that we've talked
about on the show. I would just invite the listeners
to do what they can in some small way and
not be overwhelmed with the magnitude of it, because every
(20:50):
little bit helps, every grain of rice, every bit of
support that we provide to our brothers and sisters those
truly in need, does make a massive impact. So but
that's ultimately my point. This isn't a Catholic thing now,
this is beyond a Saint Matt's thing. Yeah right, I
mean these people are in desperate need. Eleven million people
(21:12):
and half of them are starving. I want to thank
you and the show and your listeners.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, and of course for those that are prayerful, prayers
will go a long way in helping those folks, as
long as the monetary donations.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Oh yes, prayer is so impactful and so many of
your listeners will never be able to see and experience this,
but rest assured it makes a difference. If there's one
thing that the Brothers, one message they have consistently left
me with as I've departed Haiti each time don't forget
(21:49):
about us. Please continue to pray for us. I'm in
regular WhatsApp chats with friends that I have made in Haiti,
both with the Missionaries of the Poor and at Saint
Mark's School, and regularly with several of the brothers at
the Missionaries of the Poor. Knowing that we are united
with Him in prayer is essential.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Feak and Darren Bitter, thank you, Steve Favorie, bring us,
bring us home. Conclude it and how can folks donate? Okay, great?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Yeah, the most I'm so proud of the bridge of
Pope that we've been able to create and working with
the Missionaries the Poor, Saint Mark's School, Venezuela and India
on their side, they have created incredible opportunities for their folks.
(22:41):
They're able to feed them, they're able to give them education,
and that's the bridge of hope. And it takes too.
It takes our parishioners, the donations, the love and on
the other side, we work very close with our family
to make sure there is a major impact and there
has been over twenty three years. So I want to
(23:01):
thank everybody who has donated the World Hunger Drive for
that and the eediest way to donate is go to
Saint Matthew's Catholic Church dot org backslash World.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Hunger Drive and you'll be able to donate on the website.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Steve for you and the whole team. Thank you guys
for sharing your desires, your passion, your love for this
endeavor and for the two of father Sarana brother Pisco
down here in Haiti. Thank you guys for joining us
this Sunday on Carolina Focus. Just to clarify, the Hoops
for Hunger tournament was yesterday, yet folks can still drop
off shoes or flip flops at the entrance of the
(23:37):
parish gym at Saint Matthew Catholic Church until Sunday, August tenth.
I met Billick along with Sharon Thorsland. Have a great Sunday.
Talk to you all next week right here on Carolina Focus.
Well, welcome back to Carolina Focus. Carolina Focus is on
News Talk eleven to ten, ninety nine to three, WBT
Mix one oh seven nine and ninety two seven Sports
Radio w f NZ. Carolina Focus is our public affairs show.
And welcome back to the team, the wonderful team from
Saint Matthew World Hunger Drive. It's twenty third annual and
(00:22):
we also have some folks from Haiti on the call.
This has been special, special conversation with us, Steve Favorie. Steve,
we want to cover a few things here in the
second half, and one of them, of course is Saint
Mark's School down there in Haiti. Why don't you tell
us a little bit about that, And I mean it
continues to grow as we're educating those young children in
(00:43):
the country of Haiti, right, Steve.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
That's correct.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
The school started back in two thousand and nine, and
at that point it was then a tent and then
expanded to what we call it a teaky hut building,
and then over the years we kept adding a grade
after a grade. Now this year where it's primary secondary
and Haitia goes up to the thirteenth grade, we've added
(01:09):
trade school for sewing trade School for agriculture, and we
also focus.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
On the community on that. In this area where the
schools at, it's tremez. It's very rule.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Most of the families live in mud huts with mud floors,
no running water, no electricity. Their family is usually an
extended family with uncle and ants hate to say, but
usually without a father, and a lot of the children's
parents uncles have never been to school and this is
(01:45):
their first chance. The children that go to Saint Mark's,
it's really their first chance for the whole family to
have some need to get an education. On that, so
it's very very special. Our administrator down there is Fatherly
who's doing an incredible job.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
On that.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
So we we we've done some great uh we've made
great progress with the school. But the most progress we've made,
which I'm most proud of, is expanding evangelizing our Catholic
faith and we've done a great job with that. As
the children receive their sacraments, as they go to Mass
at least once a month at the school.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
That's really what I'm proud of. You know what, With Steven,
it's just so important. It's not funds that are going
to help feed if you're building that sustainability, you're helping
the next generation, and that is that is so beautiful. Now,
we mentioned earlier in the first segment about the challenges
of unloading containers in Haiti. What's the what's the alternative
(02:49):
plan this year?
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Boy?
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Yeah, of course, the brothers that lived it, so we've
in the path have always shipped containers down.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
There's a lot of benefits for that.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
First of all, the brothers have the food on premise,
so they know that they don't have an issue supporting
their residents. It's a lot less expensive if we could
shift containers this year. The customs, the government, the gangs,
whoever controlling the ports are putting on a ransom one container.
We've have been told after we file their program completely
(03:23):
fifty five thousand dollars to clear the container. So obviously
we can't clear the container, so we have to refocus.
And what we've done is now working through the banks,
we send funds directly to the brothers so they could.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Buy food locally. And this is where the sustainability is
so critical.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Because the brothers have and the school have chicken, eggs,
tilapia and crops to help them, they'll still have to
buy food so that's a major shift in our program
this year. We're just reacting to the situation in Haiti
and pray that sometime in the future we could send
containers once again. But as of now, no containers to Haiti.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
You know, I'd just like to say that the Holy
Spirit is working miracles and helping make the better decisions.
You know, guys, as we're talking here, we have the
World Hunger the meal packing event. But how can our
listeners donate if they want to help out with this?
I mean, our goal this year is four hundred thousand dollars.
Last year over three hundred thousand. How can folks donate,
(04:33):
Robert or Bruce or any one of you.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
It's Saint Matthew, Catholic Church dot org backslash World Hunger Drive.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
If they put that link and they'll go right.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Into the World Hunger Drive section of the of the
web page and they can make a donation, a one
time donation's greatly appreciated.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
Absolutely, and those donations and those dollars go directly direct
to the folks that are in most need with us
in Haiti. I want to give them a few minutes
here as we get into the second half of the show,
Father Saran and brother is it Pisca brother, Brother Risk Risca.
(05:15):
You know we have him on video and this to me,
this is so exciting from Haiti. On a zoom call
here on Carolina Focus, Father Saran, we talked about your career.
What is your role down here? What do you do?
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yes?
Speaker 5 (05:28):
Our role here in coupation here, you know missions is
to take care of our poor brothers and sisters where
we have elderly. We have three premises in our compound,
which is one is for elderly, the other is for
handicapped children, and one is for HIV patients. So all
(05:50):
together in that three premises we have approximately two hundred
residents who benefit from all that service that you use
send to us here in Haiti through your park meals
and all those things. At the same time, also we
as a Catholic church, we also continue to provide all
(06:11):
the ministerial the aspect of it in caring for the
least of our brothers and sisters, in fulfilling particularly the
fulfilling the Gospel of marth You twenty five where the
Lord says, when I was hungry, you fed me. When
I was thirsty, you gave me drink and all those things.
That's our primary work among the list of our brothers
(06:32):
and sisters in everyday caring. And that is the benefit
from that, from your care and love and with you
also it is not only simply just a physical benefit
that you give through food, but they also see that
it is coming for the act of love that you
have for them, which drives that. The act of love
(06:55):
is the source is comes from the love of God self,
which comes down to us. Love of God and love
of neighbors is a one coin, two sides of the
one coin, which always makes that value, and it is
there understood that and also a ministering to them bringing
(07:15):
the sacraments as myself as a priest, we also do that,
bringing them sacraments and all that spiritual the needs are
provided as well at the same time physical needs are provided,
so that is our evangelization. We do not only simply
needs their meed needs, their physical needs, but also meet
(07:38):
their spiritual needs. So we literally prepare them everything for
the Lord.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
You know, you said it so beautifully. And it's the spiritual. Yes,
it's the mental and it's the physical needs. And how
can you not go how can you not go wrong?
With that, because you're creating the next generation. We're talking
the World Hunger Drive and we've covered a lot of
the aspects and if you're just joining us on Carolina Focus, Yeah,
there's a meal packing event at Saint Matthew Catholic Church
(08:07):
on on August sixteenth, and they're gonna pack thousands and
thousands of meals. There's the fundraising. Let me go back
Sean to you this pretty cool thing if folks didn't
catch it the first time around the hoops for a
Hunger it's a basketball three on three tournament And what's
the what's the purpose there again?
Speaker 6 (08:26):
Yeah, Ed, the purpose is to collect shoes, flip flops,
and funds, you know, for the folks in Haiti. You know,
one thing that we've noticed is the kids, you know,
play outside barefoot, and you know, we want to change that.
You know, our goal is to make every day play
and more enjoyable and safe for the kids there.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Yeah, so there's this basketball tournament where you're collecting shoes
and flip flops and any kind of other foot apparel, right.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
That's right.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (08:53):
So we've you know, in years past, we've we've sent
boxes and boxes of shoes, you know, you know, close
to close to a thou and pairs of shoes have
been have been sent and you know, some of the
images and videos that you know, Steven team have been
able to share of, you know, the the kids unboxing
the shoes and flip flops are really powerful, you know,
(09:15):
and we have pictures of folks playing soccer over there
with the cleats that we've sent, and you know, you
can you can really tell that, you know, brings some
sense of joy and happiness, right and you know, these
are things that we we just think of as like, hey,
I have my shoes on my feet right now. We
take those for granted, and you know, it's a totally
different perspective that we're trying to you.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Know, fulfill.
Speaker 7 (09:39):
And you're bringing a little bit of a highlight the
mission that we have at World Hunger Drive.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
You know, you can't imagine going outside running around barefoot
and you hit a little piece of gravel or something
and that hurts. And these poor little kids that's their
life every day, they running around barefoot. So the work
you're doing in hoops for Hunker, I think is is
super special. Hey also with us the this morning, and
he was on earlier was Bruce Anderson. He's on the
leadership team. Bruce, your thoughts is what drives you, Bruce,
(10:08):
to participate every year in.
Speaker 8 (10:09):
This personally, you know one of it. One of the
drivers is being a member of the parish and knowing
the friendships and the helping hand that the parish has
been able to provide, and the motivation to stay active
in terms of serving the least among our brothers. Fifty
plus years ago, I was a Peace Corps volunteer in
(10:32):
South America and these mountains in the jungle, and it's
hard for me to believe that, as Steve mentioned, what
the communities are like now, dirt floor's, adobe huts, no electricity,
no running water. Those were conditions that I worked in
(10:52):
over fifty years ago, and in many parts of the
world have now been alleviated through economic growth. The problem
that we face in Haiti is that that growth has
not occurred for a variety of political, economic, climate related
you name it. They've had a lot of curve balls
(11:13):
thrown at them. So I have a personal motivation, that
spirit of volunteering and knowing that there are still hundreds
of thousands, if not millions, of people who do not
have the basic necessities we mentioned, you know where the
meals will be going to Cuba. Well, I think people
(11:36):
that maybe watch the news heard that there were at
least two times this year where there was a nationwide
power blackout for days on end. All the different factors
that are have been generated and Steve, you know, I
thought on the question of Saint Mark and the theme
of sustainability. You want to mention about the trade school
(11:58):
because and what's been added there, because that's part of
sustainability is skill building and skills that are in need
in the community.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, for sure, and that your percent correct, ruth. You know,
we educate them up through secondary and then we thought about, okay,
what's the next step. How can we rehelp them to
earn a living and we decided a trade school. What
was the natural next step, which sewing was our first trade.
(12:30):
If you go down to Haiti, every school has a
unique uniform and so there was a need for tailors there,
so that was our first one.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Our students love it.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
We've hired two sewing instructors and they're training the kids
and some of them as soon as they complete the
trade school, they'll get the sewing machine.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
So have a mechanism to earn money.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Agriculture there is we're out in the rule area, there's
land available. If we could teach the community how to
grow more crops or raise more chickens, that also helps
a big time. And they can sell it their crops
and eggs and chickens at.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
The market, which we've been to their market.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
And actually that's where the food's coming from for the
school for lunch and breakfast. So praise schools are critical
and remains in our strategy going forward.
Speaker 1 (13:25):
Steve, you mentioned talapia farms and for us here in
the States, that's especially talapia's delicious fish. Yet you're growing
your own talapio there.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Yes, the brothers have a talapia pond. The schools talapia
pond is much larger, and the Holy Spirit has helped
because literally Pie twelve years ago we threw the first
thing fish into the tilapia pond.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
The brothers actually helped us to get the fish.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Twelve years later, every month we harvest ten pounds of fish.
But we've never had to replenish the tlompy pond because
the fish itself reproduced that quick.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
And and you talk.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
About all the expertise I'm trying to raise flompy and
we have none of that at the school, but the
Good Lord keeps letting that pond.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Raise Telapia.
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And as I said, every month we get two big white,
five gallon buckets of Flompy out for lunch for the children.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
You know, Father Saran, I'm sitting here and get a
little goosebumps. It's like the loaves and fishes. Huh. You know,
it just continues to expand. As Jesus said, right, yes,
brother Prisca, we are going to be wrapping up the
show here in the next few minutes. Do you have
like a minute or two to share your love and
appreciation and and thank all of our listeners for those
(14:48):
that are contributing.
Speaker 9 (14:49):
Brother yes on the community the point, we want to
say thank you to all our friends in a special way.
It wasn't my to Perish and mister heavy League that
organize this guard in this meeting in our way to
make the people know more about missions of the pool.
(15:13):
And we're happy, we're grateful for that, and we can
say we went by the everyone as much they can
come to visit our mission. He and capatient and hating
that's will bring joy and happiness to us alve borders
missions of the pool and to our people that we
are setting in our homes and in the neighborhood, because
(15:34):
once they see our visitors come, they are happy because
they feel that the love of the mother or the
father that they or the children that they lose they lost,
they get it back from our friends once against we
are thinking, we think all our friends that always support
us continuously in our missions in capatient because with our
(15:55):
they support the mission.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
Of love, bringing love and happy.
Speaker 9 (16:00):
This to allow people that's loveless that that cannot happened,
and with all of them for all days sowhat then
will continue to aquait that the love continue to move
they have, but this love continue to floatsh.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Brother brother, thank you very much, folks. As were wrapping
up the Carolina focus on this Sunday, I want to
go round the table for final words as as we
conclude this World Hunger Drive Special broadcast. Robert Manning, Robert
final words for our listeners, final thoughts for the folks
in Haiti.
Speaker 10 (16:36):
Well, the folks in Haiti, they're oppressed and one of
the things is does our mill packing aids and a
bit oppressed people, and as Steve mentioned earlier in the program,
we are truly moving into the world hunger world and
it's you know, we talk about it, but until you
actually experience it, they're oppressed. But when you're physically on
(16:59):
the ground with these people, they smile, they hug you,
and they're very positive. And regardless of we're of ben
in Haiti, it's always a welcoming and you goes out
for them and you just want to help, and that's
part of my.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
It's beautiful Robert, and thank you for those thoughts, Bruce.
Final words for our listeners here on Sunday morning.
Speaker 8 (17:25):
Well, just one point and that is that we focused
a lot on Hoops for Hunger and also the World
Hunger Program UH and these are key events that we
have going on now. The sign ups in that in
July and August, but really there's a way to volunteer
and participate throughout the year. We talked about the other
meal packing events at churches and schools and donations are
(17:47):
always accepted. We mentioned the website for Fate Direct and
all year round. You know, if you are so motivated,
we know that the needs are you around, please go ahead.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Yes, thank you, thank you. Bruce. Final word, Sean for
the younger folks, huh.
Speaker 6 (18:07):
I know everybody's got some shoes and flip flops in
and around in their closet. I'd really encourage you to
bring those over.
Speaker 7 (18:14):
To Saint Matthew Parrish. If you bring them over to
the gym, we'll be there collecting them and we could
really appreciate.
Speaker 2 (18:21):
You know, you bringing those out.
Speaker 1 (18:23):
That's pretty cool. Just drop by Saint Matthew Catholic Church
off your extra shoes or your flip flops and you
know a child in Haiti will definitely appreciate them. Steve,
before I have you wrap it up, Father Saran, final
words for our folks here in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
Yes, I personally want to say thanks to all of
you that you have participated in this world hunger drive
that is really beneficial to help people here. It is
as I have said, that it is your love that
you have for the Lord. You make it into reality.
Love is not simply that simply we talked, but it
(19:03):
is made into reality that is visible and people can
see it with their own eyes. That so and then
they are able to appreciate and so much so thank
you for all those benefits that you have. Let you
know that all that you're doing is the fulfilling the
gospel gospel of Matthew twenty five. Whether the Lord says,
(19:25):
when I was hungry, you fed me. Although you are
directly not doing like being here, but you are also
putting together all together all that line that comes you
put together. You sacrifice your time and your resources and
brings send it down to us, and we here as
(19:47):
instrument of God putting them together and working along with them.
So it is all that in one hand is a
long stretch. But to stretch it is to express our
love for the brothers and sisters, and which is reaching
to them. And they are happily and glad to receive that,
and they see us that the act of love that
(20:08):
is beingved to them.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
Thank you Father Sarn and he's live in Haiti. As
we're going around the table. Final thoughts here on this
Sunday morning, Carolina Focus. By the way, I wanted to
thank the whole team and even our guests in Haiti
for a wonderful discussion today. Deacon there and your final
thoughts as we wrap up the show.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Yeah, I would say despite the difference in miles and economies.
We are very close to our brothers and sisters in
Haiti and other areas around the world that we've talked
about on the show. I would just invite the listeners
to do what they can in some small way and
not be overwhelmed with the magnitude of it, because every
(20:50):
little bit helps, every grain of rice, every bit of
support that we provide to our brothers and sisters those
truly in need, does make a massive impact. So but
that's ultimately my point. This isn't a Catholic thing now,
this is beyond a Saint Matt's thing. Yeah right, I
mean these people are in desperate need. Eleven million people
(21:12):
and half of them are starving. I want to thank
you and the show and your listeners.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, and of course for those that are prayerful, prayers
will go a long way in helping those folks, as
long as the monetary donations.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Oh yes, prayer is so impactful and so many of
your listeners will never be able to see and experience this,
but rest assured it makes a difference. If there's one
thing that the Brothers, one message they have consistently left
me with as I've departed Haiti each time don't forget
(21:49):
about us. Please continue to pray for us. I'm in
regular WhatsApp chats with friends that I have made in Haiti,
both with the Missionaries of the Poor and at Saint
Mark's School, and regularly with several of the brothers at
the Missionaries of the Poor. Knowing that we are united
with Him in prayer is essential.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Feak and Darren Bitter, thank you, Steve Favorie, bring us,
bring us home. Conclude it and how can folks donate? Okay, great?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Yeah, the most I'm so proud of the bridge of
Pope that we've been able to create and working with
the Missionaries the Poor, Saint Mark's School, Venezuela and India
on their side, they have created incredible opportunities for their folks.
(22:41):
They're able to feed them, they're able to give them education,
and that's the bridge of hope. And it takes too.
It takes our parishioners, the donations, the love and on
the other side, we work very close with our family
to make sure there is a major impact and there
has been over twenty three years. So I want to
(23:01):
thank everybody who has donated the World Hunger Drive for
that and the eediest way to donate is go to
Saint Matthew's Catholic Church dot org backslash World.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Hunger Drive and you'll be able to donate on the website.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Steve for you and the whole team. Thank you guys
for sharing your desires, your passion, your love for this
endeavor and for the two of father Sarana brother Pisco
down here in Haiti. Thank you guys for joining us
this Sunday on Carolina Focus. Just to clarify, the Hoops
for Hunger tournament was yesterday, yet folks can still drop
off shoes or flip flops at the entrance of the
(23:37):
parish gym at Saint Matthew Catholic Church until Sunday, August tenth.
I met Billick along with Sharon Thorsland. Have a great Sunday.
Talk to you all next week right here on Carolina Focus.
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