SWAMPSCOTT — Longtime Deacon of St. John the Evangelist Church Andrew Acampora plans to retire next month, but in the spirit of his parish community, he’s asking that his retirement party be focused on raising funds for a church in Haiti after the country was devastated by an earthquake in August.
The St. John’s social committee is organizing the fundraiser, which will coincide with Acampora’s retirement party on Oct. 16. Benefiting from the donations will be St. Catherine D’Arnaud, a parish located in the Grand Sud region of Haiti; St. John the Evangelist has been donating funds to this church for more than 20 years.
St. Catherine D’Arnaud provides education and school supplies to children in the Grand Sud region; it also functions as a community church, said head of the St. John’s social committee Carla Guarnieri.
“It’s just horrible; the situation is so bad there,” said Guarnieri. “It’s just a shame.”
On Aug. 14, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake decimated Haiti’s Grand Sud region, leaving 650,000 people in need of humanitarian aid. The earthquake killed more than 2,000 people and left more than 12,000 people injured.
“We usually send $10,000 every year,” Guarnieri said. “This year, I’d like to see it be a lot more.”
The church requests that invitees RSVP by Oct. 6 for the retirement and fundraiser dinner. The dinner will be from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 16. Invitation confirmations can be filled out at St. John the Evangelist Church, 174 Humphrey St.
