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Haiti Updates
Gang violence in Port au Prince, continues to displace people in Haiti, forcing many to move into the countryside to seek shelter and assistance. Fr. Claude says Bouzy has seen an influx of families to their community. They bring very little with them, and come to him asking for food or assistance, and want to send their children to school.
We recently sent extra funds in response to the additional burdens on the parish. Fr. Claude used these funds to purchase food staples including rice, ground corn, beans, spaghetti, and oil, which they portioned into bags to distribute to those in need. He sent us photos of the food distribution at the parish. Fr. Claude expressed their gratitude saying “Thanks be to God for your 15 years of support, for your understanding and response to our needs, and for your prayers.” -
Celebrating Our 15th Anniversary Partnership with HaitiFall 2024
Why our Haiti Ministry is important for our Parish
The reason for our partnership goes beyond responding to their lack of basic needs. We go to
share God’s love and build friendships. This relationship also creates an opportunity to see poverty through someone else’s eyes.
One of the things that we try to understand is why is poverty so hard to overcome? Haiti has experienced many corrupt dictators, political turmoil and disastrous outside interventions throughout their history. This has led to systems that are unfair to most Haitians and the root cause of corruption and poverty. The tragic gang violence we now see in Haiti is a response to poverty. The country has installed a new transitional government and is working toward free and fair elections in the future. Fr. Claude asks us to pray for an end to the violence and a just new government.
Reflecting on the relationship over 15 years, we can better understand their culture, and we have experienced their joy and felt their suffering. Our Haiti mission changes us, so that we can see more clearly and work together for a better world.
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After months of debate Haiti has new leadership.Haiti opened a new political chapter with the installation of a transitional council tasked to prepare for eventual presidential elections. The newly installed council chose Fritz Bélizaire as Haiti’s new prime minister on Tuesday, April 30th as part of its monumental task of trying to establish a stable new government. The council also seeks to end the gang violence that continues in Port-au-Prince after the installation. More than 90,000 people have fled the capital looking for safety in other communities, and more than 360,000 people have been left homeless in recent years as gunmen raze communities in rival territories.
The transitional council will work to gain international support to help them as they lead the country to peace, economic recovery and social stability. They will also function as the country’s presidency until it can arrange an election some time before it disbands, which must be by February 2026.
Please pray for their new leaders and continue to pray for our dear friends in Haiti.
Spring 2024
Friends of Haiti,
This year continues to bring challenges to our brothers and sisters in Bouzy. The lack of a government and gangs controlling the Capital, roads, and ports have made getting supplies and food more difficult and caused prices to double.
Even with the inability to travel to Haiti for several years we have been able to regularly send funds to: support the schools, the clean water program, and obtain medications thru our trusted friends there. We are also planning to continue to work with them to complete the church so they can begin to use it for worship soon.
Your prayers and support have been vital to keep all our programs going. Our spring Haiti 2nd collection is this weekend. Anything you can contribute is important. They count on our help and prayers. You can give to Haiti thru the SJTW website or by cash or check in the collection baskets with Haiti in the memo line.