Saint Elizabeth Parish in Rockville has been engaged in a Haiti parish-support/twinning program since the early 2000s. Haiti was chosen in view of relatively short travel and as it was and is the poorest country in the Latin- America, and the Caribbean region. The Notre Dame de Esperance parish in Magagnosse was chosen as it was not yet covered by other support programs from churches or other donors. The impact of the catastrophic earthquake of 2010 made St. E’s support only more necessary.

St. E’s program has made a school possible (Ste. Marie de Magagnosse) and supports school-lunches; a modest “nurses’ station”; and it has included some special one-off projects: improvements to latrines; helping the pastor buy a (used) vehicle; renewal of a corrugated roof over part of the school; provision of a cistern on the hill; a large water tank; early modest life-stock and planting support; an expansion of classrooms to accommodate the growth of the school; and a donation from the Youth Group to the school, including some fun items for the children. A new youth initiative to support the purchase of some learning materials is on the way; the Sodality has recently donated rosaries, and other initiatives are being considered.

The main focus has been and is the school (including the daily school-lunch, the one nutritious meal the children can rely on). It is doing very well, accommodating 132 students in 2018/2019, with a high percentage of passing grades and recognition as one of the better schools in the region.

There has been an active interest from the St. E. parish with 22 individuals visiting over 11 trips.

Initiatives for 2019/2020 include firstly continued support to school and school-lunches. A new visit is due but delayed until circumstances in the country allow for it. St. Elizabeth has for several years maintained a ‘student-sponsorship’ program and wants to restart that again this school year. We are also working on exchanging information with other parishes with programs in Haiti.

We are currently looking for parishioners to set up a working group to help with support and with the ongoing development of the Haiti program.

Fons Marcelis (Contact person Haïti Program)

Deacon Mark Asselin