Giving Hope to a Devastated Nation 

The Haitian Apostolate has been subsidized by Partners in Charity since its founding in 1989.

This ministry is an outreach to the poorest nation in the world, our brothers and sisters in Haiti. The Diocese of Worcester has a covenant with the Diocese of Les Cayes, Haiti. With the establishment of a twinning relationship between the two dioceses, both partners are walking hand-in-hand in solidarity and share their values with respect and dignity for the spiritual growth of both communities. The twinning relationship between the parishes, schools and institutions is a tangible sign of solidarity that brings monthly financial aid to support the pastoral ministry of the sister parishes and the completion of community projects in the diocese there. 

After the devastating earthquake in January 2010, the Haitian Apostolate was overwhelmed by the tremendous needs of the Haitian population. Families with injured children lost everything; children lost their parents and were left alone. Many fled to Les Cayes in search of a shelter. Upon their arrival, they found shelter in church yards, rectories, schools, with individual families, on soccer fields, hospitals or any open space where they could put their tents. Witnessing this situation, the Apostolate brought medicine, clothes, towels, soap, shampoo, body lotion, toiletries, crutches, wheel chairs and more to those living in tents. Thanks to the efforts of the Diocese of Worcester, the families and children have been placed in the care of a family at a parish under the guidance of the pastor.

Knowing that education is the only way out of poverty and can bring hope to this hopeless nation, the Haitian Apostolate tries to alleviate the suffering of the people as much as it can. Thanks to Partners in Charity, 115 children who survived the earthquake were able to enroll in a Catholic School in Les Cayes. These children received full-year tuition, books, a uniform and a hot meal each day. These "survival children" are not yet in our Adopt-a-Student education program as we are still looking for benefactors for them. However, the Haitian Apostolate was able to see to the needs of these children thanks to the generosity of Partners in Charity.

As stated by Pope John Paul II: "Education must bring the children to a knowledge of and respect for the moral norms as the necessary and highly valuable guarantee for responsible personal growth as human beings and as Christians." Unfortunately, no Haitian has access to school if they are unable to pay the tuition. This is why there is such a high rate of illiteracy and causes this unbearable misery in the country.

The Haitian Apostolate of the Diocese of Worcester is able to reach out to this devastated nation thanks to support from Partners in Charity. In the apostolic exhortation of Pope John Paul II to the clergy and to the faithful of the whole Catholic Church on the role of the Christian family in the modern world he states: "In a society shaken and split by tensions and conflicts caused by the violent clash of various kinds of individualism and selfishness, children must be enriched not only with a sense of true justice, which alone leads to respect for the personal dignity of each individual, but also and more powerfully by a sense of true love, understood as sincere solicitude and disinterested service with regard to others, especially the poorest and those in most need."

See also "Come to Haiti, Come Meet Jesus in the Poor," The Catholic Free Press, April 27, 2012.

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