IGNATIUS GROUP____
For immediate release:
Saturday, March 23, 2013
For more information: Paul Kendrick, 207-838-1319, Paul Kellen, 781-526-5878.
WHO: A small group of child protection advocates will hand out leaflets to parishioners outside St. Cecilia's Church in Boston.
WHERE: St. Cecilia's Church, 18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA
WHEN: Sunday, March 24, 2013; 9:00 am to 11:30 am.
WHY: For many years, Father John Unni and St. Cecilia's parish members provided generous support to the St. Joseph's Family of Homes in Port au Prince, Haiti. During the past two years, allegations of physical and child sexual abuse have resurfaced against Director Michael Geilenfeld. Some of the alleged victims are in the Boston area and they need help now (see letter below).
LETTER TO REV. JOHN UNNI, PASTOR OF ST. CECILIA'S CHURCH IN BOSTON, MA.
March 22, 2013
Rev. John Unni
Pastor
St. Cecilia's Catholic Church
18 Belvidere Street
Boston, MA
Dear Rev. Unni,
I am compelled to stand peacefully, with a sign, outside the Palm Sunday mass at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church in Boston.
I will distribute leaflets to mass attendees, asking them to stand in solidarity with a young, abused and physically challenged young Haitian man who, three months ago, fled Haiti because he fears being further abused at the St. Joseph's Family of Homes in Haiti.
This Haitian man is seeking asylum in the United States. He came to Boston to find safety in the company of friends.
THIS POOR, FRIGHTENED AND ABUSED YOUNG HAITIAN MAN HAS ONLY THE CLOTHES ON HIS BACK.
HE HAS NO MONEY.
HE IS PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED BY CEREBRAL PALSEY.
HE IS DEPENDENT UPON OTHERS FOR A DAILY RATION OF FOOD.
HE HAS NO PERMANENT SHELTER.
Why am I asking you for help, Rev. Unni?
For many years the St. Cecilia's faith community provided generous amounts of time and money to the St. Joseph's Family of Homes in Haiti.
In fact, many of you have known this Haitian man since he was a child. He was a featured and popular dancer while a member of the St. Joseph's Resurrection Dance Theater. He performed more than once at St. Cecilia's parish in Boston.
When, in your presence, this man and other members of the Haiti dance troupe played the drums loudly and danced on your altar, you all rose to your feet in deafening applause.
Two years ago, when allegations of child sexual abuse resurfaced against Michael Geilenfeld, Director of the St. Joseph's Homes, you resigned your position as a board member of the orphanage and withheld parish donations to the St. Joseph's Homes.
(Michael Geilenfeld is a former member of Mother Teresa's "Brothers of the Missionaries of Charity")
Since that time, I have been begging you to redirect some of your caring, passion and treasure towards providing funding for professional counseling for victims who allege they were sexually abused by Geilenfeld, and are now living in the Boston area.
I must admit, Rev. Unni, I am frustrated by your lack of urgency in this matter. I have already told you that a Haiti social justice group in Boston is assisting this man through the long legal immigration process.
But more help is needed, at least in the short term.
The man is physically challenged. He will eventually need to find a group home that can meet his needs.
He needs our love, care and support. He is afraid to return to Haiti.
I don't pretend to have all the answers, Rev. Unni.
However, I do know that efforts to help this man need to be coordinated. I offer my own time to this task.
Perhaps, after the mass on Palm Sunday, a few members of your Haiti Committee will agree to meet with me.
The Poor are the Church.
Respectfully,
Paul Kendrick
Freeport, ME
207-838-1319
