Prayers for missing loved ones dominated a weekly prayer service by members of Windsor, Ont.'s close-knit Haitian community on Wednesday night.

About 15 Haitian-born citizens gathered at the eastside home of Evena Jeudi, whose mother, sister and brother all live in Port-au-Prince, where a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday afternoon.

She, like many in attendance, were desperate to hear news of friends and family members.

Evena Jeudie, whose mother, brother and sister live in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, hosted a prayer service at her home in Windsor, Ont., on Wednesday night. (Jim Lagogianes/CBC)"I don't know nothing about them," said Jeudei.

"I'm very afraid for them because they have a building, and I don't know if the building is going down.

"I pray God to let them survive, and I think God will let them survive."

'I have to keep praying.'— Wilson Charlot

Renel Sanon, pastor of the Haitian Evangelical Baptist Church of Windsor, led the informal service, which included a hymn and prayers.

"Tonight, we will focus on saying prayers of comfort," said Sanon, in French, a Bible in his hand. "We will pray for Haitians in Haiti, particularly those in Port-au-Prince."

"My heart is hurting so much," said Jeanne St.-Victor, whose uncles, aunts and cousins live in Port-au-Prince and whose parents live in Les Cayes, south of the capital city.

"It is like I'm there, because it is a tragedy."

A small, close community

There are approximately 85 Haitian-born people living in Windsor, less than one per cent of the total number of people of Haitian descent living in Canada, according to Statistics Canada.

Wilson Charlot moved to Windsor from Haiti just one year ago, leaving behind a brother who is a priest and college teacher in Port-au-Prince. After a sleepless Tuesday night, he received a message on his cellphone.

"They say they find him, and he's okay. He's fine," Charlot told CBC News. "And I say, 'Thanks God.'

"I have to keep praying for the rest of the people. They have to fight, and débrouille [get by, cope]."

Anxious father sees daughters in CNN footage

Across town at his home in Walkerville, Wilner Sianselan sat helplessly, desperate to know the fate of his wife, five children, parents, brother and three sisters, all of whom live in Port-au-Prince.

He was at the carwash talking to one of his sons on his cellphone when the line suddenly "just cut off."

"I say 'Hello? Hello?'" Sianselan told CBC News. "I had a calling card. I tried to call. I can't get contact."

He tried calling throughout the day on Wednesday, too, with no luck.

Then, late Wednesday night, he finally got news: a video clip on CNN showed two of his daughters lying on the ground and waiting for help.