On behalf of Fr. Marc Rousseau, the parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church of Lafond and the Good Shepherd Haiti Outreach Ministry team, we would like to express our gratitude for the many generous donations that were received during our fundraising efforts in November. Because of the support provided by Good Shepherd parishioners, we were able to meet our fundraising goals for both the Sacrament of Marriage and Livestock programs.
Eighteen couples were married on Dec 30, and an additional eight couples will be married in June during the OLPH feast day observances. Fr. Rousseau has sent us a video message expressing his warm thanks for the joy that was experienced by the couples and their families. We have posted his message and a video of the recent marriage ceremony and reception below...we pray you will enjoy viewing!
We are also happy to report that the livestock program continues to grow. With the recent birth of seven females and 4 males, the program now supports 45 goats at the main church and two chapels. Funds have already been provided to purchase an additional 50 goats. Jean Bony and the OLPH Livestock Committee are making preparations to train parishioners at two additional chapels.
It is our hope that members of the Good Shepherd team will be able to visit our friends in Jacmel this spring to deepen our personal relationships and to begin discussions on how we may further work together to improve the lives of our brothers and sisters at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Again, thank you so much for your generosity!
Tom Fackender
Email: [email protected]
Betty Serow
Email: [email protected]
Art Wright
Email: [email protected]
Almost all of the work is done here at home. Very few of us go to Haiti!
Please consider doing one or more of the following:
The Mission of the Haiti Outreach Ministry is to help the Catholic families of Haiti become economically self-sufficient.
As planned, we have concluded our relationship with St. Dominque Church in Marigot, Haiti after six years. We have many fond memories of the friends we made there and leave behind a legacy of both livestock and village bank programs that continue to grow and prosper.
The livestock program, to which Good Shepherd contributed 120 goats has grown to serve 185 families with a total of 272 goats in inventory.
The village bank program is now making a second round of small business loans and currently has 31 members. Both programs will continue to be managed by Fr. Levielle and parish leadership as we depart. During our time with St. Dominque, Good Shepherd also provided funding for pews at St. Matthew Chapel and a new roof at St. Andrew Chapel. We believe we can confidently say that our partnership with St. Dominque improved the lives of many of its families.