A Haiti fund-raising event held by the Jesuits at St Aloysius College raised nearly €9,000.

The event was launched with a football match between a team composed of members of Parliament from both sides of the House, and a team composed of Jesuits, Salesians and friends. The game closed with a score of 1-1.

People of all ages turned up to show their solidarity with the people of Haiti, and participate in the activities. Hundreds of youngsters took part in the football tournament, the table tennis tournament and marathon, the music marathon and also to volunteer with the stalls and services offered during the day. Members from Malta's immigrant community were also there to help, offering hair-braiding, drum-circles and ethnic food.

The day ended with Mass celebrated by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech. Jesuit Provincial Paul Pace sj, and Salesian Fr Eric Cachia concelebrated, together with several Jesuits and Salesians.

Fr Paul Pace expressed his gratitude to the huge number of people who came to support the cause, and Fr Eric Cachia thanked the Jesuits for their initiative to organize an event to raise funds for the Salesian missions in Haiti. ‘This is a wonderful occasion where we had the collaboration between Jesuits and Salesians. It was a pleasure to work together,' Fr Eric said.

Haiti Cries was organized by the Jesuits and their friends, to raise funds and awareness for the Salesian missions in Haiti, where eight of their eleven schools were reduced to rubble. A small portion of the funds were also raised for the Jesuit relief efforts in the area.