St. Clare’s has actively participated in the Haiti Outreach Mission (HOM) since 2004, as one of six US Catholic & Episcopal churches supporting the St. Pierre Episcopal and St. Louis Catholic parishes in Mirebalais, Haiti. Founded in 1999, HOM is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) ecumenical organization providing medical and humanitarian aid to the people of Mirebalais. Our donations of medical supplies and infrastructure support, participation in mission trips, and prayers for our friends in Haiti are critical contributions to sustaining this ministry. Successful support projects over the years include:
- The medical/dental St. Pierre Clinic, with full-time physician and full-time dentist, is fully supported by HOM. Service to all children is free. The clinic is HOM’s single most significant ongoing presence in Mirebalais.
- In fall 2024, a 5 KW solar power system was installed at the clinic. It produces enough electricity to so that the clinic no longer relies solely on its generator and an expensive and unreliable supply of diesel fuel.
- In 2020, HOM installed a water treatment plant, Eau St. Louis which provides water for $1 per 5 gallons, less than the commercial water stores in Mirebalais.
- HOM also provides financial and maintenance help 4 schools that total 1,500 students in the Mirebalais area. Support comes in the form of teacher salaries and school supplies, construction projects, fluoride treatments and mobile medical/dental visits.
Until recently Mirebalais has been blessedly free from the gang violence present in Port-au-Prince and other areas of Haiti, primarily because access to the city is limited and local militias have been able to defend the approaches.
Unfortunately, on March 31, the armed gangs stormed the city, freed over 500 inmates from the local prison and murdered city residents. They continue to remain in the city, terrorizing residents. The town was alerted to the gangs’ incursion when the Catholic priest, Fr. Romel, rang the St. Louis church bell allowing thousands to flee to nearby towns. When the gangs invaded the St. Pierre rectory, Fr. Alphonse and his 95-year-old mother escaped with only the clothes on their backs into the nearby mountains where we have heard that they are safe. There has been no word as to the status of the clinic, churches, schools and their staff.
The good news is that Fr. Romel was able to find shelter for many Mirebalais refugees in a nearby town. HOM and other supporters have been able to wire him funds at the bank there, which he has used to buy food, clothing and even mattresses for those in the over 40 shelters for displaced people.
Donations are critically needed to continue this humanitarian support as well as to fund the anticipated costs to repair and rebuild the facilities. They can be made to St. Clare’s via plate offering by check (HOM in memo line) or on the STC website https://saintclareschurch.breezechms.com/give/online using the top pull-down menu to select HAITI OUTREACH MISSION.