Mountain Lakes parish helps build school in Haiti

Mountain Lakes parish’s generous support helps
build school at sister parish in Haiti

MOUNTAIN LAKES  Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, the country’s future was shaken to the core. Its Presidential Palace and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the mother church of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince, were completely destroyed. More than 150,000 residents were estimated to have lost their lives and about 3 million people were affected by the quake. The earthquake was a devastating blow to the Caribbean country already considered the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Through all that destruction, there are glimmers of hope in Haiti. In recent years, when Dr. Sue Morrison, an allergy and infectious diseases specialist at Clara Maas Hospital, Belleville, and parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Parish here, would visit the country, she saw that hope reflected through Haiti’s people and its landscape. In her most recent visit to Haiti last month with members of her parish, she witnessed positive changes happening in the country.

“People want to move on with their lives and that gives you hope,” said Dr. Morrison, who has made several medical missions to the country for the past two decades. “I’ve seen an improvement every time. Port-au-Prince is slowly become vibrant, the country looks cleaner and there are new roads and street lights where there weren’t any before.”

Also gone are the blue tents where many refugees lived, a common sight immediately following the earthquake. The outbreaks of cholera are also gone. Now, focusing on the future of the Haitian people is a mission of St. Catherine Parish here, which has supported the people there for more than 20 years. The Mountain Lakes parish supports its “sister parish,” Our Lady of the Nativity in Dame Marie, Haiti, a small seaside village on the western tip of the country, more than 200 miles from Port-au-Prince.

Throughout the year, fundraisers are held at St. Catherine’s with all proceeds going directly to the people of Dame Marie for books, classroom supplies, medicines, food and funding for an early education school. The pastor of the Dame Marie church, Father Jean Antoine, has also made visits to St. Catherine’s and will visit again this June.

The school project began two-years ago when St. Catherine wanted to expand its assistance to Dame Marie as its medical mission program slowed down.

Dr. Morrison said, “Because of the earthquake, the government got more involved and stepped up with many of its health programs providing vaccines for children and doctors from around the world came to the country to help, which educated the people about basic hygiene preventing many diseases.”

The need for fewer medical missions with the Haitian Visitation Clinic, founded in 1999, proves that missions made to developing nations are working allowing St. Catherine’s to focus on the new school which began with grades 1 & 2.

Belle Norris, a coordinator of the Haiti mission and a retired educator, who also traveled to Haiti last month with Dr. Morrison, said, “The building of the school is becoming another success story. Creating the opportunity for education to these 38 children allows them to have a brighter future and gives the country hope.”

When the school project began two years ago, the children at first didn’t seem enthusiastic about learning and their parents didn’t seem to understand its importance. “These were children who never went to school and their parents were accustomed to school not being a main priority,” said Norris. “When we visited this year, there was a huge change. The parents were so proud of their children and the children were disciplined and eager to learn. It was beautiful.”

In the school, the children learn French, Creole, math and religion. Because of the growth, the school will add grades kindergarten and 3 in September. Dr. Morrison believes when you have education, you have a future. “It’s exciting to see this school grow each year. Education is important and especially for the girls in the village. It gives them a chance and inspires them to continue to attend schools in the larger towns,” she said.

She added that a whole generation of Haitians perished in the earthquake, who were attending universities in Port-au-Prince and there’s a gap that needs to be filled by the young to keep the community alive.

To support the Dame Marie school, St. Catherine’s is inviting the faithful to donate or even make a mission trip with them in September. For $300 a year, a child receives a daily meal, school uniform, shoes, socks, underwear and school supplies.

Norris, who is 89, said, “I will keep going to Haiti as long as my health allows me. Thankfully I’m in good health and I can continue to make this trip. It’s not a vacation or relaxation but we are doing something so important. It’s a wonderful mission and I won’t give this up.”

Father Peter Filipkowski, pastor of St. Catherine’s, said, “The mission to Haiti continues because of the generous people of the parish supporting its sister parish. Each time we have Father Jean Antoine visit, he is very appreciative about what we can do. He loves his people and he treats the school like a family. We are grateful to continue that family connection.”

To help St. Catherine’s Haiti mission, contact Belle Norris at (973) 627-6310.