Parish Twinning Project

The Cathedral of the Assumption and St. Louis parish in Jèrèmie, Haiti, formed a sister parish relationship in November of 2000 through the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas. The goal of a sister parish relationship is to share the gifts and talents among the members of the two communities while also learning about each other’s cultures and spirituality. Catholic Social Teaching calls us to live in solidarity with others, and part of the way we live out this principle is to form relationships with our sisters and brothers in Haiti. The Sister Parish Committee is responsible for maintaining awareness and for keeping the communication flowing between the Cathedral of the Assumption and St. Louis parish.

A clean water project at Ecole St. Therese was completed in 2011.

The following links provide more information about Haiti and about our sister parish:

Facts about Haiti
Facts about St. Louis Cathedral and Jérémie
Map of Haiti

Part of our twinning relationship involves visiting one another and forming relationships based in our common Catholic heritage. In August 2008, Fr. Tony Leolien, pastor of St. Louis, visited the Cathedral of the Assumption. In March 2009, four travelers visited Jérémie.

Click here for April 2018 Update

In June of 2014, Fr Marc-Arthur Emile was named pastor of St Louis. Jack Lydon and David Puckett met with Fr Marc-Arthur in March 2015.

Fourth Grade First Communion Class at St Therese, January 2015

In the fall of 2014, additional donations to Cathedral Haiti funds were targeted to enable St Louis to begin feeding homeless people three days per week.

Below is a picture of the small building in which people are fed as well as feeding in progress. Hardly the Sandefur Dining Hall, but the end result is not much different. In March 2015, Jack Lydon and David Puckett met with Fr Marc-Arthur to discuss a project to work with local people to provide minor concrete repair and painting of the building they are using.

Click here for more about the Homeless Bldg

Currently we support St. Louis parish in Jérémie in the following ways:

Pew Project: We have raised enough funds to replace the church’s 143 old, termite-ridden pews with new, locally made pews.

École St. Theresè: St. Louis parish runs a Montessori school for 345 children from age 3 to 5th grade. The Cathedral of the Assumption provides funds for the schoolchildren and staff to receive a nutritious, filling lunch every school day. During our March 2009 visit, we also brought donated school supplies and hygiene products for the school children. On subsequent trips in 2012, 2013 and 2014, parishioners have donated school supplies and soccer balls.

Cafeteria and classroom at St. Therese

Car: Along with a German organization, we have provided funds for a parish car

Laptop: A laptop computer was donated to St. Louis parish by a Cathedral of the Assumption parishioner

Future project possibilities include:

Solar panel/electricity projects
Water purification systems
Collaboration with parish artisans
A sound system for the church
Technology for the rectory (printer, copier, etc.)
Pews and possible renovation for a school at Holy Family Chapel

If you would like to be part of any of these projects, please consider joining the Sister Parish Committee. Monetary donations can be mailed to the Cathedral of the assumption. For parishioners who receive monthly envelopes, a green envelope for Haiti projects is provided. For parishioners who contribute through automatic withdrawal, contact the Cathedral Business Manager to include Haiti in your contribution.