DC Church Holds Mass for Haiti Earthquake Victims
Saturday, Jan 23, 2010 | Updated 10:49 PM EDT
Ambrose Vurnis
A Catholic church in northwest Washington that serves the local Haitian community held a memorial Mass on Saturday for victims of the earthquake.
About 500 people -- including Archbishop Donald Wuerl, who presided over the Mass -- converged on the Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and D.C. officials advised drivers to detour around the area of 16th Street and Park Road until after 3 p.m.
The Mass began at 1:30 p.m.
One priest from Sacred Heart, the Rev. Arsene Jasmin, was in Haiti at the time of the quake. Word arrived three days afterward that he was safe. The news brought relief to many Haitians in the D.C. area.
Jasmin heads Haitian outreach for the Archdiocese of Washington and celebrates Mass in Creole at three parishes in the region.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC4 Washington
