News From Bouzy

We have much to share with our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Please donate online or text SJTW give to 77977.
Checks can be sent or dropped in the 2nd collection the weekend of April 17-18, or at the parish office.

PLEASE DONATE TO HAITI

(Select "Haiti Donations" in the "Fund" window.)

Water and light.  So crucial to life, so taken for granted where they are plentiful, so precious in Haiti.  Water and light are among the gifts our sisters and brothers in Haiti celebrate this Easter, thanks to God and to you.

Life in Haiti rolls from one crucial shortage to another, so much so that Fr Claude becomes reluctant to ask us for help, and we become reluctant to receive one more request in these difficult times.  Yet we both realize that difficult asking and difficult receiving are God's gifts to us, and we continue to give & receive.

So one winter night I got an email from Fr Claude explaining that they were in the dark in the rectory.  Their old, smelly, noisy generator had finally died.  The generator that extended their day from 6 pm to 9 pm, when they could afford fuel.   As we deliberated how we could afford to help, a generous parishioner sent a check for exactly the cost of a new generator.

This month, Fr Claude revealed that he got someone to dig a new well! It will be a new water source for the community and a way to bring running water to the rectory. But it needs a pump.  As we pondered how to support this life-giving request, while we struggle to build a church with them, a generous parishioner said, no problem, I don't need my stimulus check, and water is life; so my windfall is theirs.  Another generous parishioner heard this story and did the same thing.  Water is on its way.

Time after time, this story repeats at St Joseph the Worker and St Catherine's in Bouzy.  Thank you, God. He is Risen and is among us! Thank you, thank you all for your extraordinary generosity to our brothers and sisters in Haiti these past 12 years. We are great gifts to each other. Our following (twice a year) second collection for Haiti will be this weekend or any day you can give. Please keep our sisters and brothers in Bouzy in your prayers.

Bon Fet Pak/ Happy Easter!

-Deacon Kevin

We received some encouraging pictures of progress with the construction of St. Catherine's in Bouzy! Exciting to see cement walls,  floors, and pillars. This week they completed the floor, roof supporting columns and wall caps on one side of the church.  Next week they will move their elaborate wood scaffolding to the other side of the church and commence the same work there.   While there is still a lot to be done, this progress is a sign of hope to our Haitian family.  As always, a big Thank You for your love and support.

Early in February Fr. Claude informed us that it was not safe for him to travel at this time to Port au Prince because of the political protests and danger from bandits. Reports of travel dangers have periodically surfaced the past 18 months. We follow them closely. They are usually centered in Port au Prince, and to a lesser degree in other major cities. Fr Claude is generally comfortable traveling in the Bouzy countryside. Sadly, Haiti has never had a government that we could claim is of the people and for the people. Here is a digest from recent news reports on the causes of current unrest in Haiti:

The political upheaval and protests in Haiti have worsened as opposition leaders claim that President Moise’s five-year term has ended, and they demanded that he step down on February 7th. But on that day the government announced that, 23 people including a supreme Court Judge were arrested for plotting to over through his government. The reason for the disagreement is because the constitution allows the president to serve a 5-year term, his opponents argue that he has already reached that limit. When Moise won a chaotic election in 2016 he received more than 50% of the votes but only 26% of the people were able to vote. Because of low turnout and a contested election, the government appointed a provisional president for a year so Moise was not sworn in until Feb. 2017.

Moise and other officials have been accused of embezzlement, fraud and political corruption related to government contracts. Critics recently accused him of ruling the country by decree ever since he dissolved the parliament in January 2020 after failing to hold legislative elections in 2019. He has created an intelligence agency that answers only to the president and limited the powers of the courts.

The New York times recently reported that Haiti has not had much respite from political corruption and chaos in the last 35 years since democracy was restored. Mr. Moise is widely blamed for making the Haitian’s lives even worse through rampant plunder and mismanagement. Months of violent protests against Mr. Moise have repeatedly brought life in Port-au- Prince, and other cities and towns to a halt. Fuel shortages are common, public transportation has been halted and businesses have closed. The rampant violence from gangs has forced schools to close for fear for student’s and teacher’s safety.

Recently the US state department agreed with Mr. Moise’s argument that he has another year to go adding that “the Haitian people deserve the opportunity to elect their leaders and restore Haiti’s democracy”.

It is unlikely the protests will end until new elections are held (scheduled for fall of 2021).

Please join with our Haitian brothers and sisters to pray for peace and justice, and their safety.
 

Yearly Review – Haiti Education

Education in Haiti over the last year has faced many tribulations just like education has in our own country. The people of Haiti and the people of Bouzy had to overcome government strife as well as a pandemic. In 2020, government protests caused great turbulence in society and as such caused a destabilization of already weak educational institutions in Haiti.

Furthermore, with the COVID-19 pandemic, schools in Bouzy were closed for several weeks as a precaution in both instances. Father Claude reopened schools in late spring to make up for the time closed. Students in Bouzy made up the time lost by schooling throughout the summer with just a two-week break before returning to a new school year that started in September.

In Haiti, most schools are paid for by tuition with little government help. Those schools that do receive government help are secular, “public” schools, and as such, church schools like those overseen by Father Claude and the parish of St. Catherine’s do not receive government help. Through the generous donations of parishioners at St Joseph the Worker, we continue to support tuition reductions for students to attend school, knowing that an education will give the people of Bouzy their best hope for a brighter future. According to Father Claude, school attendance is up in the last school year, and we await news of attendance for this school year.
 

Hello Father Mike!

Today, all the faithful of Saint Catherine line up around me to say happy feast! Thank you for responding positively to Christ's call -through your message, your actions, and your testimonies of Christ.

Rev Father Mike, let me say Thank You for being our mother church. Thank you for what you are for the parish of Saint Catherine. Thanks for saying yes. We invite you to keep this yes until the end of your life faithfully. The Lord's vineyard needs priests. She needs good priests according to the heart of Christ. Priests who are able to speak of Christ not by words but also by deeds.

Rev father, we have no words to thank you at this auspicious time in your life. You are celebrating 40 years of priestly ordination. The number 40 is very symbolic. It reminds us of Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness. 40 years of the people of Israel in the desert. We cannot forget the 40 days of Noah's Flood. Everything to say that this figure must necessarily mark you.

Today, the parish of Saint would like to give thanks to God for you and with you for everything that during your 40 years of priesthood has enabled it to achieve.

May the name of God be blessed.
May your priestly ministry be successful.
May God always walk with you.
May the ecclesial community of Saint Joseph find in you the model they can follow.
May God bless you and may he bless your ministry as well.

Father Telemachus; Bouzy Parish

A reflection on our Haiti Sister Parish by Suzanne Koenigs
(traveled to Haiti 7 times - last trip April 2019)

10 years ago, I had just arrived home from my first trip to Bouzy.  The people of St. Catherine's changed me with their words and actions.  The people of Haiti barely get by each day and often go hungry but showed me how to have joy with nothing.  

I am blessed financially, have a good family, and society as a whole looks at me, and I am judged fairly.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is how to live more like the people of Bouzy.  In some ways, our roles reversed this year.  They often reached out to us to check in because they saw our country and state in turmoil.

My relationship with them over the past 10 years has made dealing with our present circumstance a little bit easier.  

I see the value in relationship through them

I understand through their example that materials things just don't mean as much

When I am hurting, they taught me to ask, who can I help?

We are of different races and social-economic status; they taught me I don't understand what others are experiencing but; 

I can listen

I can be open

I can be grateful

I can be there for others

Haiti is still in major turmoil. We haven't been there in 20 months because it's not safe for us or them.  We had to send food again this year as crops were devastated.  We need your help to continue our mission at St. Catherine's.  We ask you to give what you can, maybe this year it is just adding them to your daily prayers; whatever you do, we will be grateful.


Prayers, Best Wishes
Throughout this year, you have asked how our sisters and brothers in Haiti are doing.  This is a particularly difficult year for them, citing the coronavirus, hurricane-induced flooding, hunger, violence, government oppression, and increasing inflation.  We thank you for your prayers and financial support for our struggling sisters and brothers.
At the same time, Fr Claude tells us repeatedly that he and his people are deeply aware of our struggles and are praying for us every day.    Here is an excerpt from one of Fr Claude's messages, assuring us that in our time of difficulties, division, disease & fears, we are not alone, and we are much loved:
 "We pray for you; we pray for the faithful of Saint Joseph and the USA. Our mission, our duty, is to pray to God so that he will establish peace, unity, and concord for these great people. They are the models to other peoples. It's up to them to set the tone. May God in goodness act for the Americans, may he make peace reign."

Our challenging time of coronavirus has been particularly difficult for our sisters and brothers of St Catherine’s in Haiti.  We are saddened that we have not been able to visit Bouzy for 18 months now.  But we have stayed very connected through calls, messages, photos and gifts to support our struggling Haitian friends.  A short update on all the good things we are doing follows.

Financial Support:
At this time, I need to ask your help for our Haiti ministry.  Fundraising is difficult for us at this time of the coronavirus.  We need increased support to sustain our life-giving programs of education, safe water, and health at St Catherine’s, and to help our friends rebuild their church.  Since we couldn’t do our regular Haiti Fun Run fundraiser this year, we are doing a Virtual Haiti Fun Run.  I ask everyone to participate in the Virtual Haiti Fun Run however you are able, with your prayers, in walking or running for Haiti, and in supporting participants with pledges or gifts to our St Joseph the Worker Haiti ministry. 
 
The Walk:
This week, I began a walking marathon for Haiti.  I pledge to walk at least 100 miles for Haiti over 3 weeks and to get at least $40 per mile (formerly $20- I know we can do more!) in pledges to support our good work.  I pray as I walk every day for our struggling sisters & brothers - the last mile or 2 is a daily struggle, but that’s when I pray best.  So far, I’ve completed mile 30. If you would like to walk with me, I can take a companion, or 2 or 3.  If you can help financially, any amount you can do is a big help to us.  Pledge your family, or me, or make a direct gift online or by check to St Joseph the Worker.   Thank you for your prayers & financial support.  Our Haitian sisters and brothers are great gifts to us, and your gifts sustain this blessed ministry.

Obstacles:
While the people of Haiti struggle every day, this year, their struggles are more profound than ever before.  They have COVID 19, like us, but with no medical care, they have no way to manage it or even name their losses.   This year alone, they’ve suffered floods from hurricane Laura, hunger, economic privation & violence protesting their corrupt, oppressive government. Despite all their losses, the people of St Catherine’s remain people of great faith.  As things get worse there, our consistent prayers and support bring hope.  They would not have St Catherine’s school, clean water, medications, vaccines & medical programs in their dispensary without us.  

Church:
We are delighted to report that work on their new church has progressed quite well despite weather, coronavirus & disturbances in Haiti.  The prep & foundation work is done.  Much of the walls and columns are up.  We will get another accounting when walls, columns, and floor are completed.  Then they move toward roofing, which will need more funding to complete.
 
Mesi anpil! Thank you very much for being great sisters and brothers to our Haitian friends.

Bondye ave ou/ God be with you

Deacon Kevin
for the SJTW Haiti Core Committee and
the people of St Catherine’s in Bouzy

Online Donations can be collected via pledgestar at http://pledgestar.com/sjtw. Cash and Check donations are also accepted. Checks made out to SJTW with Haiti Fun Run on the memo line.

Progress Continues on Rebuilding of St. Catherine's – August 2020





We're Building the Walls - July 2020
We are so excited to inform you the walls are being built! Praying for continued safety while our Haitian brothers and sisters build the new St. Catherine’s.  

The seven stages of the foundation related work are complete for the church rebuild. We are delighted to inform you, they have done a tremendous job staying on budget. For continued progression, another $48,000 from the church building fund was sent for the walls and columns.

Each day this construction site brings hope as the parishioners walk by knowing they are not alone, and God’s love shines through. As always, thank you for supporting our Haitian family.






 

Friends of Haiti,
You are invited to join in another Novena.
The feast day of St. Joseph the Worker is Friday May 1. This Novena started Thursday April 23 and it will end nine days later on the feast day.
Visit Relevant Radio online and join with Catholics throughout the United States and the world as we pray together with St. Joseph our patron.

A Note from Fr. Rocky - Relevant Radio;
Did you know that 150 years ago, Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church?  St. Joseph helped the Church through those difficult years, and the Pope experienced his protection first hand.  He knew that, besides Our Lady, St. Joseph is the greatest saint who ever lived and is a powerful intercessor before God.  St. Joseph is the head of the Holy Family after all!

https://relevantradio.com/faith/st-joseph-novena/



Together We Build

We have great news to share!  Work to rebuild St Catherine's church in Bouzy has begun. They have a new church design.  Their engineer/architect has prepared a good plan to build in stages, which we support.

We have wired the first installment from your generous gifts, to assist in foundation and footings.  They are working diligently to get as far as they can before their rainy season.

We thank you all for the continued support shown to our brothers and sisters in Bouzy. God truly is working through you.

- Jill Kitterman and the Haiti Core Committee
 

The first weekend of April is our customary time for our twice a year Haiti Sister Parish Second Collection in supporting clean water, education, and health. We find this challenging as we try to navigate the ramifications of this pandemic and its grasp on the world. We simply ask you to donate if you can and to continue praying for our Haitian friends as COVID-19 has invaded their country as well. Please also remember our own parish first as donations have declined, and need is great. Pray for health and safety while remembering that we are one in the Lord in our Lenten struggle. We will all get through this together.
To give you can use Push Pay, or go to http://sjtw.net/donations , mail a check, or drop off a donation at the church parish office.
Thank you for your love for our Haitian sisters and brothers.

- Jill Kitterman and the Haiti Core Committee
 

Friends of Haiti,

You are invited to join in another Novena. This will be similar to the two previous Novenas, this past November and December.

If you wish to join with us in prayer, you can do it from home and choose a time of day that’s convenient for you.

The Novena is to St. Joseph in honor of his feast day, March 19.

We will start day one of nine days, Tuesday March 10.

The ninth day of the Novena will be Wednesday March 18 which is the day before the Feast of St. Joseph.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Dan Koshiol at dj.kosh@embarqmail.com. Blessings to you on this journey as we pray in communion with the faithful of St. Catherine’s in Bouzy, Haiti.

Download the St. Joseph Novena

I have just recently received a final 2019 report of contributions to our Haiti ministry at St Joseph the Worker.  So I would like to take this opportunity to send a special thank you/ mesi anpil to you who have so generously supported our Haitian sisters and brothers this past year, a particularly difficult time for our Haitian friends. Not only did they suffer the great calamity of the collapse of their dear church, but Haiti's political and economic crisis has escalated throughout 2019. You are a ray of hope in dark times for the people of St Catherine's. Because of you, they know they are much loved.

Every time I talk to Fr Claude he begins by thanking you for your generosity, for as he says, we can do nothing without you; but with you we do so much.  Thanks to your generosity we can sustain our ongoing programs to support education, water and health.  You also raised sufficient funds to begin rebuilding St Catherine's church, as soon as we can agree on a building plan that they can afford.

So on behalf of Fr Claude, the people of St Catherine's, our Haiti core committee and all friends of St Catherine's in Bouzy, I say thank you very much, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for your love for our Haitian sisters and brothers. Thank you for your involvement in this blessed ministry and for your financial gifts.  Thank you for your prayers.

Please continue to keep Fr Claude and all the people of St Catherine's in your prayers.


May all your days be blessed.
Deacon Kevin



 

 

Christmas Greetings from Fr. Claude

Hello Deacon Kevin!
On behalf of all the faithful of St. Catherine and myself, I want to wish a Merry Christmas to all the faithful of St. Joseph the Worker. May the birth of the Son of Man bring you joy, peace and health.


Bonjour Diacre Kevin!
Au nom de tous les fidèles de sainte Catherine et en mon personnel, je tiens à souhaiter joyeux Noël à tous les fidèles de saint Joseph Travailleur. Que la naissance du Fils de l'Homme parmi nous vous apporte la joie,la paix et la santé.

I suspect that you have heard already about the severe political and economic crisis in Haiti.  I hear now that it is become a humanitarian crisis too.
For the past 7 weeks gas, food, water, electricity security and hospitals are inaccessible to most Haitians.
It is unsafe to travel anywhere for Haitians as well as visitors.
Trucks with food cannot get to markets due to roadblocks and other circumstances.
The prices in the markets are higher now than most Haitians can pay.

Now its unsafe for the clergy too, especially those with US ties- a former pastor of St Catherine's was kidnapped this past week and held until ransom was paid.

Please pray with me for justice and peace in Haiti.

On our vacation last month I had the opportunity to visit the Shrine of St Ann de Beaupre near Quebec City in Canada.  For 400 years this has been a place of refuge where many French speaking people travel to pray for healing.  So I have begun to pray a short novena, to St Ann,  for our French and Creole speaking friends, which I found online and tailored to our prayers for peace and justice. 

If you would like to pray this with me, its attached.
Or perhaps it will just remind you to pray in your own way daily for our suffering friends in Haiti

Blessings and thanks
Kevin

Novena to St. Ann 

PRAYER TO SAINT ANN

O glorious Saint Ann,
you are filled with compassion
for those who invoke you,
and with love for those suffer.
Heavily burdened with the weight of the struggles of our friends in Haiti,
I cast myself at your feet
 and humbly beg of you to take our prayer intentions,
for peace and justice for the people of Haiti into your special care. 

Please recommend it to your daughter,
the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and place it before the throne of Jesus,
so that he may bring justice and peace to Haiti. 

Continue to intercede for our Haitian friends
until our request is granted.
But above all obtain for us all the grace one day 

to see our God face to face in His kingdom of peace, 

and with you and Mary and all the saints
to praise and bless him for all eternity.  Amen. 

Our Father; Hail Mary; Glory be. 

Saint Ann, help us now and at the hour of our death!
Good Saint Ann, intercede for us! 

FIRST DAY 

Dear Saint Ann, I appeal to you and place myself under your great motherly care as I begin this novena in your honor.  Please listen to my prayers and requests.

Help me, also, to begin this time of prayer with a heart open to the loving grace of God.  Give me the strength to begin a new life that will last forever.

Finally, blessed Saint Ann, I ask you to recommend me to your daughter, the most holy virgin Mary.  Through her, may I receive the spirit of prayer, humility, and the love of God.

(Recite the Prayer to Saint Ann above, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be, and the invocation to Saint Ann after each day’s reflection) 
 

SECOND DAY

From the depths of my heart, good Saint Ann, I offer you my homage and I ask you to shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care.  Help me to purify my thoughts and desires.

Aid my decisions that all that I do may be done in love.
 

THIRD DAY

Good Saint Ann, you were the first to respond to the needs of Mary, the mother of our Savior.  You watched over her in her infancy, presented her at the temple, and consecrated her to the service of God.

By the great power God has given you, show yourself to be my mother and consoler.  Help me dedicate myself to God and to my neighbors.

Console me in my trials and strengthen me in my struggles.

FOURTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, you offered your daughter in the temple with faith, piety, and love.  With the happiness which then filled your heart, help me to present myself to God and to the world as a committed disciple of Jesus.

Take me under your protection.  Strengthen me in my temptations.  Show yourself to be a mother and help me to live a life of holiness and love.

FIFTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, by God’s special favor, grant consolation to us who invoke you.  Help us to grow in spiritual wealth for the life to come, and guide us in our temporal affairs as well.

Grant us the gift of continuous conversion and renewal of heart.  Help us to accept the Gospel of Jesus over and over again so that we may be ready to be true disciples in whatever situations we may experience during our lives.
 

SIXTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, free my heart of pride, vanity, and self-love.  Help me to know myself as I really am, and to learn meekness and simplicity of heart.

I realize God’s great love for me.  Help me to reflect this love through works of mercy and charity toward my neighbor.
 

SEVENTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, by the power and grace God has placed in you, extend to me your helping hand.  Renew my mind and heart.

I have unbounded confidence in your prayers.  Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom.  I place myself under your motherly care.

Pray that I may receive the grace to lead a devout life on earth, and that I may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.
 

EIGHTH DAY

Saint Ann, you gave birth to Mary, whose divine Son brought forth salvation to our world by conquering death and restoring hope to all people.  Help me to pray to him who, for love of us, clothed himself with human flesh.

May I be guided from anything that is displeasing in the sight of God.  Pray that the Spirit of Jesus may enlighten and direct me in all I do.

Good Saint Ann, keep a watchful eye on me.

Help me bear all my crosses, and sustain me with courage.
 

NINTH DAY

Good Saint Ann, I have come to the end of this novena in your honor.

Do not let your kind ear grow weary of my prayers, thought I repeat them so often.

Implore for me from God’s providence all the help I need to get through life.  May your generous hand bestow on me the material means to satisfy my needs, and to alleviate the plight of the poor.

Good Saint Ann, pray that I may praise and thank the Holy Trinity for all eternity.

In the decade we have walked with the people of St Catherine's, our sister parish, we have accompanied their deep daily struggles as well as the ravages of earthquake and hurricane.  But for many, 2019 is their deepest struggle yet.  Plagued by inept, corrupt and defiant government, Haiti is in the midst of a deep social and economic crisis. Many Haitians can no longer afford food in the marketplace or travel anywhere safely.  The people, fed up with years of living without infrastructure, order or hope, have responded with persistent demonstrations, roadblocks, and sporadic violence.   Shadowy forces, related to gangs or regime, inflict periodic violence.  Unrest continues unabated.

Haiti's leaders have stolen at least $2 billion US from PetroCaribe development funds, resulting in government payment defaults, severe gas shortages, periodic electricity shortages (for those cities that have electricity) and a 40% currency devaluation this year.  Consequently cost increases have priced many Haitians even out of food markets.  "The situation in Haiti is critical," Fr Claude says in a recent text. "We want the resignation of the president of the republic. There is demonstration in all the cities of the country. The streets are barricaded. Burning tires. The president has become incapable of assuming his responsibility. He does not keep his promises. People are angry at a president who has lost all his legitimacy. For almost a month, the schools have been closed (safety concerns). Thanks to God, we are, until this moment, the only school in the area that remains open."

Our interpreter, St Louis adds: The President will not leave.  People will not accept him.  Because of demonstrations, road blocks and violence, we cannot travel.  We cannot do anything.  I cannot even go to the market.  So we wait til the country is fit to travel.  All we can do is wait and pray."

The bishops of Haiti this week asked the President to listen to the "voice of wisdom," meaning please resign, now.   He continues to resist.  Demonstrators say they will not stop until they force a change.

Fr Claude cannot travel to banks, to cities for supplies, or to Port au Prince to see if his visa has been approved.

As we thank God for our affordable, accessible food and water, open gas stations, passable roads, general safety, & education, things everyone deserves, Please pray that our Haitian friends will soon be able to enjoy these life necessities again.  Pray for justice and peace in Haiti.  Just wait and pray.

-Deacon Kevin

We and our Haitian sisters and brothers spend much of our time seeking to understand each other. Though we love each other deeply, our differences in culture, geography, language, government, economics, and experiences generally leave us far apart. Simple examples:

· In the US, we smile for photos, even if we didn't feel like it. In Haiti, they don't smile for photos, even if they felt like it.

· In Haiti, abandoned partially completed buildings are signs of hope, not discouragement. When we remember that there are no loans, banks or insurance, and high inflation, this finally begins to make sense to us.

· When agenda-driven Americans arrive in Haiti, they are greeted by people who have all the time in the world for them, a gift that drives some of us nuts. Agenda driven Americans often encounter bright people who are unwilling to talk or make decisions because they must defer to more senior people in their hierarchical society.

· When Americans arrive in Haiti to do something good, we are surprised that we must first overcome centuries of harm and mistrust. When rebellion in Haiti first brought independence, America, still protecting slavery for another 60 years, treated Haitians as international pariahs and refused trade with them. After world war I, America occupied Haiti for 15 years, allowing the elite & US businesses to oppress the poor further and prevent rebellion. America continued to support decades of rule by the cruel autocratic Duvaliers. Well-meaning American business interests have often unintentionally crippled small Haitian businesses when they came to help- examples abound in rice, pork, construction, and other trades. Even after the earthquake, the US military turned back planeloads of volunteer doctors intent on saving lives, for several days, until they established complete command and control of airports and ports.

Yet the people of Bouzy love us- simply because we return, because we want to walk with them in their struggles, but also because we bring better health and water, & because we bring much-improved education opportunities for their children.

· We might believe that the unrest in the streets- roadblocks, tire burnings, & related violence is a thoughtless, angry, dangerous, & unproductive response, hurting struggling people more than the leaders they protest. But there's a logic, a history, and reasons why this response makes sense to Haitians. Haiti has never had rule by and for the people. Most Haitians are desperately poor and powerless. Their first such uprising bought them freedom from French slave masters in 1804. Since then, a long series of internal leaders have oppressed the masses and entrenched them in generations of poverty. There's no stabilizing middle class in Haiti, just a few elite and the many desperately poor. With little to lose, persistent resistance has brought regime change more often than you'd guess, though these changes never brought justice for all. Sadly, the next leader has always oppressed too.

· We plan and build very differently, too. We are presently seeking to bridge a few gaps in our understanding and preferences before resuming the rebuilding of St Catherine's church. We are confident that with God's help, there are no long-term obstacles between us.

More on this in our Haiti rebuild update.
-Deacon Kevin &
the SJTW Haiti Core Committee

Father Claude sent Deacon Kevin these videos from mass a few weeks ago.