Haiti Outreach Ministry

The mission of this committee is to promote and maintain a permanent relationship between the communities of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Holy Family and Our Lady of Sorrows through mutual sharing of our time, talent, treasures, and trust in the daily living of our Christian values to assist the parish of Ste. Elizabeth d'Hongrie in Perodin, Haiti.

Background Information

OLPH and Ste-Elisabeth d'Hongrie, have been in a sister parish relationship as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore missions office twinning program with the diocese of Gonaives, Haiti.

Our parish sent a delegation to Haiti in February 2007, at which time Ste-Elisabeth d'Hongrie was identified as a possible sister parish.  After much discussion with the leadership of the OLPH parish and a period of discernment among the parish community, a decision was made to enter into a covenant relationship with Ste-Elisabeth d'Hongrie in Perodin, Haiti.  The partnership officially began in 2008.

Keeping within the guidelines of the Archdiocese of Baltimore this relationship has three important categories of objectives - spiritual (God), human/cultural (people), financial/material (things):

• We continue to strive to keep within these objectives by praying for each other at our Liturgies.
• We have worked to educate our parish on Haiti by holding presentations to our community, publishing a quarterly newsletter, keeping a Haiti board and general activities for both adults and children.
• We have visited our sister parish and vice-versa.
• We have worked in partnership with Ste-Elisabeth's parish council and pastor to identify and prioritize their needs.

To learn more about some of the projects in which we have been able to cooperate click here

Ste-Elizabeth de Hongrie, Perodin (Feast Day- November 17th).

Situated in des CAHOS, Department of Artibonite, Diocese of Gonaives, Haiti.

Pastor- Father Benoit Fleurissant

Approximately 16,000 parishioners among main parish and 8 chapels located throughout the CAHOS.  The chapels are overseen by trained leaders.

The original church was built in 1950 by French from Briton.  They remained at the parish for 37years, forming over 47 catechists during that period. 

Gracious God, we pray for everyone in Haiti as they continue to struggle with harsh economic problems.

We pray for the people of Haiti who endure shortages of food, shelter, and other daily necessities which many of us are fortunate to have. We lift up our brothers and sisters in Perodin, we ask You to give them strength and courage.

Great Loving God, we ask for your continuing support of the work done by the many volunteers in Haiti. May their work help the people of Haiti to make the changes necessary to improve living conditions.

God our Creator, you make all the people part of your family. You make all that is good in our lives fill us with your everlasting love. Bless us as we learn more about our sisters and brothers in Haiti. Help us to embrace our common blessings in serving You. Open our eyes to the gifts You give us in each other. Guide us to building bridges.

We ask this I the name of the Lord your precious Son, Jesus Christ, Amen