Reverend Pierre Labine, C.S.C.

In 1999 Reverend Pierre Labine of Montréal, Canada began a project to provide free eye care to needy people in developing countries. Pierre Labine joined the Congregation of Holy Cross Fathers in 1985 and became an ordained priest. After serving 12 years as the chaplain of a secondary school in Cornwall, Ontario, he rejoined his Oratory and, while in Brazil, observed children not wearing glasses because their families could not afford them. Shortly afterwards some of his former high school students who had become optometrists mentioned to him a humanitarian aid project in Mexico to provide eye care to needy villagers. A visionary leader and generous, passionate man, Reverend Labine in 2001 founded a non-profit organization Voluntarios de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Volunteers) to provide eye care and glasses to needy persons in developing countries. In 2003 Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH)/ International invited Reverend Labine to join their organization. Voluntarios de Santa Cruz became VOSHSanta Cruz in 2006. Father Labine continually strives to improve the efficiency of preparation and progress of the VOSH-Santa Cruz missions to provide better eye care to more people. Several times a year he organizes humanitarian missions with teams of optometrists, opticians, optometry students and volunteers to set up temporary clinics in developing countries where eye care and glasses are provided to people of all ages. Since founding his project, Reverend Labine has led over 70 missions to developing countries while treating over 200,000 patients. In 2013 VOSH/International recognized Reverend Labine for his outstanding work with its VOSH Humanitarian of the Year Award. Pope Francis and the Congregation of the Holy Cross in 2019 bestowed the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Award on Reverend Pierre Labine for his distinguished service to the Church through his work providing eyecare and glasses to the poor of developing countries.