St. Joseph the Worker Team Brings Medicine, Care to Haitians

A 12-member team from parish in Orefield have returned from a second medical mission to Port au Prince, Haiti, where they provided care to more than 1,000 people.

Team leader Jeff Joyce reported that the physicians, nurse practitioner, nurses and support staff to Ss. Simon and Jude Church:

* Transported and dispensed nearly three-quarters of a ton of medicine and supplies, with a retail value of more than $75,000.

* Transformed Ss. Simon and Jude church into a clinic, operating as many as five exam rooms at a time.

* Provided medical care to about 1,100 people, including treatments for high blood pressure, coughs, colds, allergies, infections, malnutrition, pain, skin conditions, diabetes and malaria.

* Prescribed and distributed more than 400 reading glasses.

Joyce reported that people from seven churches in the Diocese of Allentown and the Lehigh Valley had contributed supplies during St. Joseph the Worker's medicine drives. St. Joseph the Worker school and PREP students donating toothpaste, toothbrushes and other supplies.

Because of donations, Joyce said the team was able to leave more than $1,000 to the ministry at Ss. Simon and Jude, which is ministered by Rev. Andrew Labatorio.

Team members also visited Blessed Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity orphanage in Port au Prince's slum.

The mission was supported by the parishes of St. Joseph the Worker, St. Francis of Assisi in Allentown, St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Fullerton, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Bethlehem, St. Paul's in Allentown, St. Patrick's in Pottstown, Sacred Heart in Palmerton and St. Ann's School in Emmaus.