Haiti Parish Twinning Program

For over 25 years, HR has been financially supporting its Twin Parish in St. Jean du Sud, Haiti.

Read the Haiti Twinning News Issue 2 – July 2020

The Holy Redeemer Haiti Twinning Program’s Mission is dedicated to establishing a supportive relationship between Holy Redeemer parish and our twin parish St. Jean du Sud, by providing assistance and support for their spiritual, financial, medical and educational needs, and raising awareness of the plight of the Haitian people in general.

Learn More About the Haiti Parish Twinning Program

How Holy Redeemer is Helping

This HR program operates in accordance with The Parish Twinning Program of the Americas. The PTPA was Co-founded in 1978 by Theresa Patterson and Harry Hosey, The Parish Twinning Program is a nonprofit organization focused on creating lasting sister parish relationships in the U.S. or Canada and Haiti or elsewhere. Harry Hosey believed that “if every parish in North America would adopt a parish in the Third World, then we would really begin to change the world”. Holy Redeemer is one of 330 American parishes making Harry Hosey’s vision a reality.

About St. Jean du Sud

St. Jean du Sud (St. John of the South) Catholic parish and town is located on the southern coast of Haiti 20 miles from the city of Les Cayes and 170 miles from the capital city of Port au Prince. The majority of the 30,000 people in this rural area live in extremely primitive conditions. Most families have a very humble thatched or tin roof home without running water or electricity. Their only means of survival comes from selling produce from the small plot of land they farm. Their average income is $60 / year.

Financial Support Initiatives

Financial Donation

Holy Redeemer provides ongoing financial support the parish of St. Jean du Sud as they have very limited financial resources. This money is used to cover a variety of operating expenses in the parish including things like parish staff salaries (chapel ministers, cooks, etc.), vehicle expenses (gas, repairs), food, rectory supplies, charitable giving, etc.

Sea Container Shipment

Each spring the Parish Twinning Program ships a wide range of supplies to member parishes in Haiti. Member parishes in the United States take or send shipments to Nashville, Tennessee to be combined and placed in large sea cargo containers which are then shipped to Port Au Prince, Haiti. Once the shipment is released by the Haitian Customs, the receiving parishes in Haiti pick up the shipments to be distributed in their parishes.

For additional information about the sea container shipment program contact Harry Bahr at 961-0230.

Education Initiative

Sponsor-A-Student

The Sponsor-A-Student program provides tuition, books, and hope to the children of St Theresa of the Infant Jesus Catholic School in St Jean du Sud. Many of the families in the parish are unable to pay for school for their children in either the Catholic School or at the National (public) School. People can send just $100 per school year to the Haiti Sponsor-A-Student program by using the S-A-S donation form. Money for the school year will be collected from March to August for the following school year which starts in October. Presently, HR sponsors about 150 children at St Theresa of the Infant Jesus School. The school serves about 600 children from pre-school to 8th grade. HR also supports the school and the children by sending donated school supplies each spring in the sea container shipment.

For more information, feel free to contact Corky Bahr at 314-961-0230.

Scholarship Program

The Holy Redeemer Haiti Committee Scholarship Program began in 2007 in an effort to support the educational pursuits of the youth of our sister parish, St. Jean du Sud, Haiti. Many young people of Haiti have the ability and desire to continue their education or pursue vocational training beyond the secondary level but are prevented from doing so because they do not have the financial means. Those who demonstrate a desire to improve their community and to contribute in positive ways to Haiti’s future are the students the Scholarship Program most wants to help.

For more information or to donate please contact Janey Menner at [email protected]

Harry Hosey School in Boyer

Donations made to the Harry Hosey School are used to pay the salary of the teachers as well as other costs. The school does not charge tuition and children are accepted as they are – with or without shoes and uniforms.

How you can get Involved

There are many opportunities to get involved with the Haiti Parish Twinning Program. Listed below are some of our ongoing volunteer needs.

Clean Water / Sanitation Programs / Health Committee – Activities have included a recent water study of the area by a hydrologist, introduction and training on water filtration products, and a newly initiated project to construct some public lavatories in the community. If you are interested in assisting us with these efforts please contact Kathy Murphy-Baum [email protected]

Fundraisers – Help with one of our fundraisers. The program has several fundraisers throughout the year including a pancake breakfast, Haiti Jam, etc. To volunteer or for more information please contact Carol Devanny at [email protected]

Your donation will make a difference!

Envelopes are provided for parishioners. Forms are provided to Sponsor a Student. We also have online giving through Holy Redeemer’s Online Giving Program.

You can donate to our efforts in Haiti either by check or credit card.

Checks – Make checks out to Holy Redeemer Parish. In the Memo line please indicate Haiti Program. If donating to a specific initiative please indicate that in the memo line as well i.e. Haiti Program – Medical Mission. Checks can be deposited in the weekly collection at mass or sent directly to the parish office at 17 Joy Avenue, Webster Groves MO 63119

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