April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
HAITI TO HOLY LAND
Retired priest finds new mission: fundraising for poor overseas
Retired priest finds new mission: fundraising for poor overseas
"My limited health has allowed me to be more of the priest that I was called to be," said Father Forno, who usually celebrates two weekly Masses either in the Albany Diocese or in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., since he lives part of the year in each. "I have been unencumbered by full-time pastoral duties to advocate for the poor."
Diagnosed in 2012 with polymyalgia, an inflammatory condition that causes muscle stiffness and pain, after already suffering from fibromyalgia, Father Forno took his doctor's advice and retired from his pastorate of St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph's parish in Rensselaer.
But after a year of retirement, he said, "I wished that I could do more."
In April, Father Forno went on a donor pilgrimage to Haiti with Food for the Poor (FFP), an international Christian aid organization that works in 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Led by Rev. Tony Palazzolo of Florida, the mission trip was focused on La Fosse, an extremely poor rural community in Haiti.
Moving moments
In La Fosse and other villages, Father Forno travelled with other donors and missionaries for three days, assisting and blessing the people they met. Their plight moved him.
"They're the poorest of the poor," he said. "The images are searing in my psyche."
The trip wearied the priest physically, as well. He'd planned to preach about FFP after returning, but wasn't able to; he had to take a few days to recuperate. Traveling, he thought, would be too medically risky -- but he soon found another way to help.
With other pilgrims, Father Forno created the "FFP Champion" fundraising website for La Fosse village. Using the internet at home, the priest can contact potential donors and educate people about the work that Food for the Poor is doing in Haiti.
"I discovered that one could help raise needed funds for projects that assist the poor in using social media," Father Forno told The Evangelist. "The internet and social media have been a great way to spread the good news of Jesus, and have been a great source of great joy!"
Besides, he said, "it's what we're supposed to do. The Gospel is all about reaching out to the poor."
Help, please
Today, Father Forno spends a good amount of time sending emails to solicit donations, which has brought in contributions ranging from $50 to $7,000 -- some of which, he noted, came from parishioners at St. John's/St. Joseph's.
FFP will use the funds to build 10 homes in La Fosse that will have plumbing and will be lit by solar and water-powered lanterns. According to Father Forno, these efforts are one step toward a "larger dream" for the village: building a health clinic, a community center and a new water system.
The Champion page's current fundraising goal is $65,250. As of Sept. 11, $37,300 had been raised.
"After this Champion page is completed, I would be happy in my small measure to assist FFP or any other relief organization," Father Forno said.
In fact, he's already doing so: The priest recently raised money for a scholarship program for Bethlehem University, the only Catholic university in the Holy Land.
The scholarships are awarded to Holy Rosary sisters who live in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.
Those granted the scholarship receive two years of tuition assistance for Bethlehem University. A book of jokes compiled by Father Forno called "Father Forno's Wholly Humor" was released earlier this year to benefit a scholarship for a Rosary sister.
"Praying is not enough," the priest said. "There has to be an active component in working with the poor and disadvantaged."
(To donate or learn more about FFP's work in Haiti, visit https://champions.foodforthepoor.org/fundraise?fcid=465774 or email Father Forno at [email protected].)[[In-content Ad]]
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