Haiti sets day of mourning: "to realize from where we have come. And to realize where it is we are going."

Today marks one month since the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing many more.

 The Haitian government has declared a day of mourning for reflection and public grieving to commemorate this grim anniversary. Haitian President Rene Preval plans to lead a mass at Notre Dame University in the morning, while other services will mark the day elsewhere, culminating in a moment of prayer at 4:53 PM (the time the earthquake struck), where Haitians at home and abroad will be asked to kneel and pray for the people of Haiti.

Ginette, a Haitian woman and supporter of ICC, characterized the day as a time for the people of Haiti to cross religious boundaries and gather “as a collective soul, united we will pray to one God. To realize from where we have come. And to realize where it is we are going.”

ICC staff and are joining with the people of Haiti in this day of prayer and remembrance, grieving the great losses sustained at a personal and national level, but also looking forward in hope that the strong people of Haiti will continue to fight for progress and recovery.

Read a BBC story on the day here. Click here to make a gift to ICC.