St. Mark’s and St. Andre — Over Twenty Years Together
The Latest from Canon Serena
Long-time St. Mark’s member Canon Serena Evans Beeks, D.Min., is US Coordinator for Haiti Episcopal School Partnerships. Over the past 20 years, whenever political conditions allowed, she has traveled to Haiti, sometimes several times a year. Read her latest posting below about the country, the people, and our paternership with St. Andre in Trinon.
Thanks and Easter wishes
Dear Haiti Friends, It is a pleasure to forward a letter (attached) of thanks and Easter greetings from the Rev. Kesner Gracia, Coordinator of the Partnership Program for the Diocese of Haiti. Those of you on the mailing list who are not directly involved in school...
Speak Out to Support Haitians
Dear Haiti Friends, I'm sorry to be a few days behind with information -- I plead the excuse of cataract surgery, second eye completed Wednesday and now in the eyedrops and sunglasses phase. All successful so far, and I recommend it! Below my signature please...
Resignation of Ariel Henry; background on gangs
Dear Haiti Friends, Ariel Henry's anticipated resignation as President of Haiti has been announced:...
Haiti-Leadership Threats
Dear Haiti Friends, Haitian acting president Ariel Henry has relatively few supporters on the grounds of his having been appointed (but never ratified) and not elected to office; been suspected of complicity in the assassination of the former president, Jovenal...
Recent Haiti News: it’s not good
Dear Haiti Friends, Conditions continue to deteriorate in Haiti as the gangs move closer to taking over the government. An attack on the National Prison in Port-au-Prince released 4000 prisoners including notorious gang leaders. The UN forces are not yet...
Electrical Class at St. Marc Trouin
Dear Haiti Friends, I want to pass along a report on a successful effort from St. Marc, Trouin, courtesy of Russell Collins. Trouin is not particularly near trade schools or a university, so years ago the partnership at St. Marc's decided to use the school classrooms...
Deployment of Police Support to Haiti
Dear Haiti Friends, The U.N. special mission to support the Haitian police force, to be led by Kenya, continues to evolve. After the Kenyan government agreed to take the lead, a Kenyan court blocked the action, saying that Kenyan police were in short supply and...
Dine In, Help Out
Dear Haiti Friends, If you are in the following zip codes: 01002, 01003, 01007, 01035, 01038, 01039, 01053, 01054, 01060, 01062, 01063, 01072, 01075, 01096, 01375, you can have a soup supper to benefit a Haiti partnership delivered to your home February 10th! If...
Haiti Funds Transfer Update, Episcopal Church/School Partnerships
A message for those in the Haiti Church/School Partnership Program: I have been notified that the Haiti Partnership account is once again available for our deposits. You may revert to the original protocols for the transfer of funds by check or wire. These protocols...
Interesting Job for Kreyol Speaker
Dear Haiti Friends, I send this job announcement which came to me courtesy of Cindy Corell in case you know Haitian-Americans in your community who might have the right skills. It looks as though they must be US Citizens or permanent residents, so TPS residents...
The partnership of St. Mark’s with St. Andre’s Episcopal Church and School in Trianon, Haiti began in 2001. That year, one and then two parishioners began making regular visits, taking with them the offering from the St. Mark’s School’s Christmas Eucharist.
The relationship grew until 2007, when St. Mark’s members were able to make our first group visit. Since then, groups from the church and school have visited annually when conditions in Haiti have permitted.
Students at St. Mark’s School took the lead on such projects as a new four-room classroom building, a water project, and new school uniforms. Support from St. Mark’s pays teachers’ salaries, covers the occasional hot meal, and provides for repairs on the water system—which was damaged in the hurricanes of 2008—and the replacement of the old classroom building, which was damaged in the earthquake of 2010.
St. Andre’s was the first church and school on Haiti’s central plateau established by Bishop James Theodore Holly when he founded the Episcopal Church in Haiti in the early 1860s. Since its founding, St. Andre’s has offered a primary school for the children of local subsistence farmers. In Haiti, only 50% of the children have access to any education at all.
Please pray for the people of St. Andre’s, especially the children. If you can, give your financial support.
