Haiti Ministry
The St. Bede's Haiti Outreach Ministry began in 1987 when St. Joseph Parish, located 10 miles South of Hinche, in the village of Thomonde, was designated our twin parish. That year, five St. Bede parishioners traveled to Thomonde where they were hosted by Pe Leveque Bien-Amie. Since Pe Bien-Amie became the pastor of St. Joseph in 2000, he has visited our parish annually.
This ministry is an outgrowth of a Richmond Diocese sponsored program. In 1983 Bishop Sullivan initiated the concept of linking parishes in the Diocese of Hinche, Haiti’s major city on the central plateau, with those in the Diocese of Richmond. The diocesan program is part of the larger Nashville, Tennessee-based Haiti Parish Twinning Program (HPTP).
The Haiti Outreach five areas of involvement are:
- AWARENESS: Learning about our Haitian parish is a first step. Articles in the parish newsletter keep parishioners updated. Haiti occupies the Western half of the island of Hispanola; Port-au-Prince is its capital and largest city. Our twin parish, St. Joseph, is located 10 miles South of Hinche in the village of Thomonde
- EDUCATION:
The primary focus of St. Bede’s Haiti ministry is education. We sponsor an annual fund drive during August, with proceeds used to buy teaching aids and materials for teachers, to fund teacher training, and to assist parents in purchasing their children’s text books and supplies.
- PRAYER: We encourage everyone to remember our Haitian sisters and brothers daily in prayer. Prayer cards are available through Haiti Outreach.
- PARISH VISITS: Parish “working retreat” visits are planned annually. Consider joining the Haiti Outreach visit to Haiti next year.
- ACTIVITIES: Haiti Outreach organizes several annual activities. They range from sponsoring one of the Friday night Lenten Soup Suppers to attending the Diocesan Haiti Gathering each spring in Charlottesville.
For more information, contact Chuck & Mary Haines (757) 220-2654 (cmhaines@widomaker.com).
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