OUR TWIN PARISH

Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Saut D'Eau
(Notre Dame du Mont Carmel de Saut D'Eau)

Website: http://www.sautdeauinfo.com/index.html

Diocese of Hinche, Haiti

MAP

The Haiti Ministry of Holy Spirit Catholic Parish was first formed in May 1996, following a visit to Haiti by then Parish Pastor Monsignor Thomas (Tom) Caroluzza in January of that year. The twinning of Holy Spirit Parish with our Lady of Mount Carmel of Saut D'Eau was proclaimed at Sunday masses on June 8, 1997. The Haiti Ministry was initially comprised of about 25 parishioners; current (2006) membership consists of about 10-15. The first visit to our twinned Parish by two members of the Ministry occurred during March 1999. Since then, an average of one visit per year occurs, to touch base with the clergy and Parish teachers and students at the Parish schools that we support. Holy Spirit Parish Pastor Ken Wood visited Saut D'Eau Parish and clergy during August 2004. There have also been visits to Holy Spirit Parish by the Pastor of Saut D'Eau Parish, on an average of once every 3 years.

The Parish Haiti Ministry is dedicated to the mission and goals of the Richmond Diocesan Haitian Twinning Commission: 1) To develop a meaningful relationship that consists of reaching out to the twinned Parish in a respectful, spiritual and cultural exchange; and 2) To learn more about each other and render mutual support and assistance, on spiritual and physical levels. Very often the ones doing the "more physical" helping don't realize that they are also being helped by those they are helping!

Established in 1952, Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Saut D'Eau Parish, is located in the mountains of the Central Plateau, about 60 miles north of Port-au-Prince, the Capital of Haiti. Long referred to as the "poorest country in the Western Hemisphere," Haiti is a predominantly Catholic country with people of strong faith. During the late 1990's, prior to the splitting of the Parish, there were over 37,000 people in the Parish, including more than 5,000 children. The large, main Parish church (legliz) and rectory (prezbite) are located at the Parish center in the large village of Ville Bon Heure (the eastern part of the Parish), with its numerous homes of thatched or corrugated metal roofs, and earthen walls and floors. Ville Bon Heure is not far from the sacred Saut D'Eau waterfall that has made the Parish famous. This village is often referred to as both "Saut D'Eau" and Ville Bon Heure by local Haitians.

In 2002, the Parish split into two other new Parishes. The southern portion of Saut D'Eau Parish, including Pernier village (Holy Spirit Parish had supported Pernier by paying teachers salaries and completing construction of the new Chapel's roof and interior), became part of a new Parish called Trianon. This new Trianon Parish also included much of the adjacent Mirebelais Parish (Mibale in Kreyol). It became twinned with another Virginia Parish shortly after its formation.

In 2003, Pere Phito Gilles (pronounced Feeto Gsheels) became Pastor, and Pere Banive, Associate Pastor, at the same time. Their emphasis continued to be education of the Parish children; providing good, salaried teachers; the Women’s “Cana Center;” and improving Church grounds and buildings in Ville Bon Heure – to accommodate Parish programs and the flood of pilgrims from all over the world, during the annual July Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. After a 15 year hiatus (the foundation was constructed in the early 1990’s), Holy Spirit Parish visitors were surprised to notice that construction on the “Parish Hall” re-commenced in 2004, and was completed in 2005; thanks to another unknown Catholic charitable organization. A lack of funds had prevented additional Holy Spirit Parish support on this project. Now needed space is available for other Parish activities, including Leadership meetings, Adult Formation and special events.

In early 2005, Pere Banive was transferred to another Haitian Parish. In September 2005 Pere Wadler Jossaint arrived to assist Pere Phito as Associate Pastor. Holy Spirit Parish representatives met Pere Wadler during their annual visit and were impressed with his evangelistic spirit. In many respects, the Church is not only the spiritual center, but also the social and medical center for local Haitians.

As of 2005, Saut D’Eau Parish includes five Chapels (mentioned earlier) that serve as worship centers in the more distant reaches of the Saut D’Eau Parish. These are periodically visited by Parish priests to provide mass and the sacraments to local parishioners. Parish priests travel on foot, or by mule or horse, to reach most of these remote Chapels. These trips can take 2-3 days to reach those furthest west of Ville Bon Heure. Sunday services are sometimes conducted by Parish lay leaders, when a priest can not make the long journey. Good roads do not exist in most of Saut D’Eau Parish.

(left to right) Interpreter Nodieu Delmas, Pastor Phito Gilles, Parishioner Merle Ann Meyer and Assocaite Pastor Wadler Jossaint.

Pere Renan Germain was pastor of Saut D’Eau Parish from 1995-1999, with Pere Wythny as the associate pastor for more than six years, during our introduction period to Saut D'Eau Parish. Pere Germain placed emphasis on physical improvements to the Parish Church and many Chapels' electrical systems, and the Women's Cana Center (a Parish training program for single parents who wished to learn such trades such as sewing, cooking and other skills). Pere Clarck Dela Cruz replaced Pere Renan as pastor in late 1999 and remained as pastor until 2003. Pere Clarck placed an emphasis on education of the Parish children; providing good, salaried teachers; and the Women's Cana Center. In 2003 Pere Phito Gilles (pronounced Feeto Gsheels) became pastor, and Pere Banive associate pastor, at the same time. Their emphasis continued to be education of the Parish children; providing good salaried teachers; the Women's Cana Center; and improving church grounds and buildings in Ville Bon Heure, to accommodate Parish programs and the flood of pilgrims from all over the world, during the annual July feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

The native language of Haiti is "Kreyol," a dialect with both French and African roots; although many Haitians also speak French, Spanish and the more difficult English. Parishioners live in an extremely rural, mountainous area with simple homes of either cinder block or adobe and stick walls, and palm leaves or sheet metal roofs. As in most of rural Haiti there is no substantial way to make a living, other than agriculture and trade at the local markets. The local economy is based on farming. Rice, mangos, plantain and sugar cane are local crops that are sold in the marketplaces of the many Parish villages. Water for domestic use must be transported (often by children carrying jugs) from the local Saut D'Eau River/Creeks to meet the laundry, cooking, and hygiene needs of the people; although several new artesian and manually pumped wells also exist in some areas. Some limited electricity is provided by a local power company, but it is often shut off at any time. The Parish had a generator and several solar panels (purchased with Holy Spirit Parish funds) that provided power during the early morning ( 5 AM) and evening church services. During the 2004 visit, it became apparent that the Parish generator had been ingeniously repaired (with hoses to water-cool it) to extend its life. In 2005 it was no longer functional, and had been replaced with a smaller portable unit that did not meet the needs of the Parish center. Our Parish has also sent a processional cross (used at Masses), manual sewing machines, and annual (April) Sea Container shipments since 1999.

Currently Holy Spirit Parish has taken responsibility for paying the salaries of 23 teachers in the five Parish schools. Each teacher is paid $30 (US)/month (approximately $125 Haitian dollars). School directors/Principals are paid $35/month. They are located in the Parish villages/chapels of Brillant, Laboule, Grand Hutte, Mont Terrible and Rechimeau. During 2005, six additional teachers were hired by the Parish in these existing schools, because of the need. In 2004, a new Parish school was opened in Fatima, not far from Ville Bon Heure, with six additional new teachers, including a school director. Unfortunately, these eleven teachers and one director are only receiving a stipend from the Parish instead of the usual salary. Our Ministry is working on paying the salaries for six of these new teachers in the original five schools, during 2006. During the 2005 visit, the teachers of the Grand Hutte School requested a pay increase, which the Pastor supports. However, it is not currently possible for us to meet this need.

Saut D'Eau Waterfall

Reconstruction of the Grand Hutte School were funded by both Holy Spirit Parish and another supporting charitable organization. They were underway during 2004. The school was near completion during our Parish’s 2005 visit. The large, open-sided thatched hut has been replaced with a solid, cinder-block building with corrugated metal roof that houses seven class-rooms. This is a big improvement over the prior school without walls. In addition, our Parish’s annual Sea Container shipments provide school supplies, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, hygiene items, sewing supplies and fabrics donated by our parishioners.

Children in New Grand Hutte School-room

During the 2005 visit, Pastor Phito showed us the new CompuSat Internet Service dish that he obtained in early 2005. It now provides them with e-mail capabilities and other benefits for the Parish, including capabilities for a small Parish radio station that reaches most villages in the Parish. Holy Spirit Parish agreed to pay the $149/month internet fee of our Twin, during 2005. Our Ministry and Holy Spirit Parish are also committed to praying for our Twinned Parish, personally and through the Prayers of the Faithful at weekend masses.

Enroute to Grand Hutte School on Mules and On Foot

The Holy Spirit Parish Haiti Ministry/Committee is committed to working together with our Twin, Notre Dame du Mont Carmel de Saut D’Eau (Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Saut D’Eau) in supporting the mentioned improvements and others that arise, within our Twin-Parish. Through this Twinning Relationship both our parishes are experiencing the growth, new cultural understandings and spiritual development that come from working together to live out the Gospel, and meet the needs of God’s people in both our parishes.

Current (2005) critical needs identified by our Saut D’Eau Pastor, and not yet funded, follow. They are arranged in the priority order given by Pastor Phito Gilles during September 2005 (costs are in US Dollars):

In addition, a periodic medical mission (basic medical and dental care) to the people of our twinned parish is badly needed. Efforts to meet this need are in progress on the Diocesan level.

Although the above needs are well above what this Ministry is currently able to support, we trust that God will provide, and those who share our passion for God’s less fortunate people will also assist. Donations to this Ministry can be made by contacting the Parish Secretary, Kathy Laskowski or Peace & Justice Coordinator Abby Causey at (757) 468-3600/3601. If you are a member of the Parish, please use the “Pink Envelopes” in your Sunday collection envelope packets, check off the Haiti Ministry box, and drop your donation into the Sunday collection basket. Without your support we can not do as much as we feel God is calling us to.

Our Parish Haiti Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Holy Spirit Church, after the 7PM Mass. All are welcome to inquire and join these monthly meetings. Questions can be addressed to the Co-Chairpersons of this Ministry, Anna-Claire McKee and Terri Gallegos, by calling the phone listing in the Parish Directory.

Newly Finished Parish Hall with Internet Dish