Our parish supports Joan Martin on mission in Haiti. " As disciples of Jesus we are called to love and to care for one another. We accept our call to reach out to all God's people, especially to those in need, so that the reign of God may be realized in our community, in our nation and in our world."
To learn more about her ministry:
Father Greg's Did You Know from June, 2023
Did you know that we received a beautiful letter of thanks from Fr. Leonville Canois, who is returning to HAITI, following his year of sabbatical/medical treatment? Fr. Leonville was the pastor of our “sister parish”, Mole St. Nicolas, in NW HAITI, and is now being reassigned within the Diocese of Port-de-Paix. Fr. Leonville’s letter was a ‘thank you’ for all the support received from St. Andrew’s/Good Shepherd parishioners, and a heart-felt appeal that we will not forget our sisters and brothers in Mole St. Nicolas! Through our own Joan Martin (now living in Indiana), we have kept in touch with the situation in Mole St. Nicolas and the desperate need in HAITI, where the collapse of government has made conditions chaotic. One of the ‘points of light’ is a Parish, like Mole St. Nicolas, where spiritual life continues to grow and whose small parish schools continues to educate and give hope to children and their families. Because of serious health concerns, Joan is unable to return to HAITI at this time and is also restricted on travel. She will not be able to be with us personally next weekend but has made a video presentation to share with us, to ask for our continued support for our “sister parish” – especially, to provide the needed funds to pay teachers’ salaries ($100 per month), as well as other parish needs, such as food and fuel for the Priests. Through Joan’s contacts in HAITI and the very high regard with which she is held by the Bishop, Clergy, and Sisters there, our donations to the HAITI PROJECT are secure and fully accounted for in regular reports.
A note from September, 2022 from Joan Martin in Haiti:
I just read the "Did You Know" (How to live in a Third World Country) in this week's Sunday bulletin. I wanted to say that it is a fairly good description of life in Haiti. I would only add:
1. The "no police force" item is more important than it seems. With no police and with the gangs having more guns than the few police that are still around, there is no security for anyone. People are afraid to travel or even to go to the market.
2. Haiti had rampant inflation, and now the US dollar has again been devalued. So $1 US now gets much less local money in the exchange. The price of food and water has not gone down.
3. It is hard to know who actually devalued the US dollar, because there is no functioning government (Some people might see that as a plus). There is no president since President Jouvenel was assassinated); the prime minister is somewhat self appointed; there have been no elections for 4 years (so no Parliament or Senate).
But we try not to look at the big picture. We do what we can for those parishes or problems that are put right in front of us (or right behind us as the article mentions).
Thanks to you and St. Andrew parish for all you do for Fr. William and the people of St Nicolas in Northwest Haiti.
Joan Martin