Haiti Ministry

At Gesu, we are called to touch lives in our local community - and beyond our parish borders.  One way we answer this call is through our twinning relationship with Sts. Simon and Jude Parish in Mon Opital, Haiti.

Twinning is a spiritual, cultural, and economic relationship between two faith communities.  View our "twinning covenant."

Our relationship with Sts. Simon and Jude Parish began in 2002.  Over the years, more than 40 Gesu parishioners have visited Haiti.  In turn, the pastor of Sts. Simon and Jude Parish visits Gesu annually.

While current political conditions have curtailed our travel to Haiti, we continue to actively support Sts. Simon and Jude Parish.

We provide:

• Noon meals five days a week for more than 600 elementary and secondary school children.  The meal of rice, beans, and occasional meat is often the only reliable food the children receive.
• Salaries for the school cooking staff.
• Support for the only health clinic in the region, including the salaries for the staff nurse and her assistant.
• Supplemental water in the dry season.
• Food support for the elderly.
• Assistance with capital projects, including cistern repair, perimeter fencing and solar power system maintenance.
• Funding for unanticipated needs, like vehicle repair.

Learn more about Sts. Simon and Jude Parish and our involvement.  Download the Haiti Outreach Flyer.

Our Haitian brothers and sisters depend on our prayers, financial contributions, and advocacy.

You can help:

• Financial Support
  • We support our twin parish primarily through Lenten almsgiving, the annual mission appeal, and "Change for Haiti" collection cans.  Contribute throughout the year by noting "Haiti" on the memo line of donation checks or give through our online giving page.
• Prayer
  • Attend the Thursday, 12:05 pm Mass, which includes a special intention for Haiti, and stay for the rosary.  Add these two prayers - the Prayer for the People of Haiti and the Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Haiti's patron saint - to your spiritual practice.
• Advocacy
  • Consider asking your elected representative to advocate on behalf of Haiti.  Here are some sample letters.
• Join Our Committee
  • Plan to attend a Haiti Outreach/Twinning meeting.  The committee typically meets every month in the Gesu Parish Center.