Philadelphia Catholics Mark Anniversary Of Haitian Quake

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Cardinal Justin Rigali celebrated mass today at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to express spiritual union with the Haitian community on the eve of the earthquake a year ago.

By all accounts, the impoverished country, which is 80% Catholic, is struggling a year later to rebound.

Cardinal Rigali called for a special moment of prayer for, as he put it, "all the pain and anguish of the people of God in that beloved nation."

While the world community initially flocked in with food, water, and medical help that saved countless lives, international aid organizations like Oxfam say progress has been slow across the board.

The consul-general of Haiti in New York is Felix Augustin (right), who visited the cathedral for the mass.

"Our situation is desperate, it is true, but I really think that if we continue doing what we're doing, we'll have good results in the future," he told KYW Newsradio after the mass.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which ministers to 2,300 Haitian Catholics within its borders, has contributed about $2 million to Catholic Relief Services toward the rebuilding of Haiti.

Also, more than $1.5 million has been contributed to that organization, directly from individuals, schools, parishes, and institutions within the archdiocese.

Reported by Steve Tawa, KYW Newsradio 1060.