Haiti Outreach Ministry

As planned, we will be ending our relationship with St. Dominque Church in Marigot, Haiti after six years. We will have many fond memories of the friends we have made at St. Dominque 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, also established by Good Shepherd parishioner generosity, 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.

As for the future, we are in the process of selecting a new church partner. Bud Fennema and Tom Fackender will be traveling to Haiti soon to meet with Fr. Mark Stanley Rosseau and leaders of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Church of Lafond, near Jacmel. It is our expectation that those discussions will lead to a new five year relationship to jointly create sustainable programs to improve the lives of poor Haitian families.

We will provide you with a report upon return and share any plans we may develop to raise funds to support ministry efforts.  Please keep the impoverished people of Haiti in your prayers. If you are interested in becoming involved in the Haiti Ministry, please contact Tom Fackender by email at tom.fackender@gmail.com.

The Mission of the Haiti Outreach Ministry is to help the Catholic families of Haiti become economically self-sufficient.  

• Local people identify the problem and determine the long-term solution.

• We undertake no project, nor fund any service or activity that is not sustainable.

• We require full accountability and stewardship so recipients know their responsibilities and donors know their gifts are being used wisely. 

• Our commitment to any one parish is time-limited.  "if they are still dependent on us in 5 years, we've failed."