Haiti Mission Appeal 2025

St John Paul II called for parish twinning relationships between international parishes. 

St Mary Catholic Faith Community responded with love and generosity 25 years ago and it continues now.

Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say, to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.

St John Paul II

We are celebrating the faith, hope, love and our 25 year sister parish relationship between St Mary and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Haiti.

Grounded in prayer, mutual respect and love we have grown together over two and a half decades. Many have traveled back and forth over the years experiencing the deep faith we share. We learn from each other that we are more the same than different and are all cherished by our Lord.

Those of us blessed to spend time in Latiboliere agree that it is one of the most impactful faith experiences of our life. Beauty, resilience, kindness and optimism in the face of extreme struggle is part of the fabric of the Haitian people. They embody hope, and reveal God to us. It is a privilege to share their gratitude and prayers for all we do to support them here at St Mary. Gratitude seeds abundance and we are very blessed to walk in solidarity with Pe Bellegarde and his vibrant Catholic parish. 

2025 Update

Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Latiboliere, Haiti

This year unrest in Haiti grows. Over 1.5 million people are displaced causing many to move out to the country to avoid violence. The parish school has grown by 50 percent. Food is scarce because of disrupted supply routes and scarcity. Many agencies that helped can no longer operate safely or have withdrawn support.

Support from St. Mary Parish had been feeding the school children lunches daily last year. Now the same support only supports lunches 3 days a week. The only thing Pe Bellegarde requests this year is support for feeding their students. We've committed that the proceeds from this years mission appeal will be used for food. Our reserves will cover the other initiatives as we are able. 

Your generosity over the years has enabled the support of ongoing faith formation, health care, education and community initiatives. We will continue to do what we can.

Pe Bellegarde sends his blessing, gratitude and commitment that he and all of his faith community will be praying for us. Unfortunately it is both dangerous and expensive to travel here from Haiti at this time. 

Rest assured that through trusted Haitian leadership and communication through cell phone and satellite connection, the resources we send are used wisely and accounted for. Pe Bellegarde continually tells us that without St Mary’s support their life would be much more difficult.

We have been the first to respond to hurricane and earthquake natural disasters providing a lifeline. We helped with clean water when cholera was introduced for the first time. St Mary matters a great deal to this remote village in Haiti.

In return the constant prayers shared between our two communities opens both communities to the abundant blessings God bestows and helps us recognize the Spirit working in our troubled world.