Rebuilding of Sacre-Coeur de Meyer in Haiti began in early August with dismantling the rear structure which functioned as a sacristy. Workmen have been excavating coral rock to create a basement level which will eventually have meeting/classroom space and storage. An upper level will house an office, sacristy and meeting space. Later, the old church will be demolished and a new structure will emerge. This first building phase, now in August, is fairly modest since Sacre-Coeur has started with a limited fund of $30,000. Half of that amount was provided by our parish. The Diocese of Jacmel provided additional funds. The whole project will cost approximately $140,000. For the time being, Sacre-Coeur can continue to use the main church for services because construction is taking place at the rear.

Parishioners here at Sacred Heart and St. Jude Churches have asked about our plans to make a special appeal for rebuilding Sacre-Coeur. We have not taken this initiative because the Portland Diocese is conducting a capital campaign -- “strengthening the heartbeat of the Church.” It did not seem advisable to have two appeals taking place at the same time. However, Sacre-Coeur in Haiti exists as the “third” church of our parish and any contributions for that building project will be deposited in a savings account. Parishioners can choose at any time to make donations to Meyer. There is also the possibility that a portion of the Diocesan campaign -- a part of what this parish pledges -- will be designated for Haiti.

It is our hope that we will be able to find a way to help Sacre-Coeur and Father Francois to rebuild the Meyer church. Our faith counsels us to trust in God’s design and that is what we will do.

Our door collection at Masses provide an opportunity to support our sister parish in Haiti. We do a door collection once a month in order to provide financial support to Sacre-Coeur de Meyer and its cleric, Pastor Simon Francois.

For over ten years, our parish has maintained an association with communities on the Caribbean island -- first with a parish in Jeremie and now with Sacre-Coeur de Meyer. We are one of 353 Catholic churches in the US and Canada who offer support under the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas. The Nashville-based Program has now been in operation for 28 years. It has expanded in health assistance, arranging for 100 children and adults to receive surgery in the US and for some 65 medical teams to undertake 300 medical mission trips to treat some 400,000 Haitians. In the capital of Port-au-Prince, the Program will now be directed by Sister Mary Finnick, a member of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart who will oversee a guest house, facilitate the arrival of American groups and help with in-country travel. Between 600 and 700 persons associated with the Program travel to Haiti each year.

To learn more about the Parish Twinning Program, visit:  www.parishprogram.org

More information on the hospital initiative of the Visitation Hospital Foundation, which was founded by Theresa Patterson of the Parish Twinning Program, is available at www.visitationhospital.org.  The Foundation is developing a clinic and hospital in southwest Haiti in the city of Petite Riviere de Nippes.