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.
Haiti 10-year plan summary released
USAID has produced a strategy document in response to the Global Fragility Act intended to guide the US in reacting to Haiti's government crisis and precarious situation. While there are not a lot of specifics, it does talk about the shoring up of Haitian police and...
Celebrating 20 years in Haiti
Dear Haiti Friends, I was privileged to be along on the first couple of trips St. Stephen's, Austin, TX made to its new partner school, St. Etienne in Salmadere, Haiti. That partnership is now 20 years old, and almost unbelievable change has come to Salmadere...
Article by Alan Yarborough
I want to recommend this article by Alan Yarborough whose perspective on Haiti is always balanced, well-informed, and shaped by his experience living there as a very useful volunteer:...
Jackie Williams, Friend of Haiti, Passes Away
I am sorry to tell you that another of Haiti's greatest and most useful friends, Jackie Williams, has died. She had been in gradually failing health for many months, and died peacefully last night. Her children Marcia Cash and Frank, Clarkson, and Taylor Williams...
Haiti Women’s Soccer Team Going to World Cup
Cheerful news from Haiti: The Haitian women's soccer team is going to the Women's World Cup! And many of the baby girls of soccer fans born this year will no doubt be named "Melchie" in honor of Melchie Dumornay, the player who scored both goals against Chile....
Three Articles of Interest – Follow the Links
Three articles of interest from the most recent Haitian Times e-newspaper -- Backup support from Canada: https://haitiantimes.com/2023/02/17/canada-to-haiti-more-sanctions-incoming-maritime-vessels-and-usd-9-million/?mc_cid=1c55a8a2a3&mc_eid=ee72b3a6ea A large and...
Vassar Haiti Project Art Sale
And finally, or at least, finally for this evening, if you are in the Greenwich, CT area next weekend, do check out the Vassar Haiti Project Art Sale. VHP has made a big difference in a small village with a medical clinic and education. You may also purchase...
Heavy Hearted Valentine from Haiti
Singing Rooster is a non-profit that works with Haitian coffee and chocolate growers to bring their products to the U.S., and now they include some metal art to support the metal artisans as well. I'm not a coffee drinker, so I can't tell you about that, but I...
February Haiti Update
Haiti's been in the news again this week, which is as usual not good. As far as I can tell, Port-au-Prince is in dire straits as the center of a battle between the principal gang supporting acting President and Prime Minister Ariel Henry, G-9, which is also one of...
More news from Haiti
The news has reported the killing of six Haitian policemen by gang members, which has caused an even larger flurry of Haitians trying desperately to get to the U.S. I can't help but think that they have a far too rosy view of their chances in the U.S., in a week which...
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.