Post January 12 earthquake

Everything changed in Haiti on January 12, 2010.  Fortunately, there was little damage at Bondeau.  Neither the school building nor the new Friendship House were affected.  The SFHP has collected over $90,000 for earthquake relief.  This money has allowed the project to greatly expand the services in the Bondeau community.  Post earthquake, the population in Bondeau has increased with the migration from Port au Prince.  School enrollment has increased sixty percent.  The daily feeding program that previously fed students and staff has been expanded to feed all in the community due to the large increase of people.  New latrines have been dug, satellite communication has been installed, a goat farm started, a much need vehicle is being purchased to provide transportation for people and supplies currently provided for on foot, donkey or motor cycle taxi.  A small housing project has started (see New Housing for Bondeau section).  A trade school is being started, as soon as funding is in place, to train people in Bondeau in basic construction trades.  Interest in the project is huge with over 100 expressing interest in only one day of suggesting the project.  Initially the trade school will share teaching space with the pre and elementary school, with storage provided by one room in the Friendship House.

Ste. Marie Madeleine has benefited greatly from a seven week stay by Deacon Anita Thorstad from St. Gregory’s in Boca Raton.  This has allowed a full program of traditional services to be observed in the community through Easter of 2010.  Deacon Anita has also provided ministry through out the community.Please see section “News from Visitors” to read Deacon Anita’s daily writings from Friendship House at Bondeau.

A Haitian seminarian, Wildaine, has been assigned full time to Ste. Marie Madeleine, while the Seminary for the Diocese of Haiti seeks to recover from the total destruction of it’s facilities.  This seminarian has been able to start a Episcopal Church Women’s association and a Youth Association as well as work closely with Deacon Anita in the worship activities and parish ministry.

Pere Kesner Gracia, priest in charge and also a Arch Deacon, has been extremely busy with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti in dealing with the recovery and the reconstruction of the church in Haiti.  Having both Deacon Anita and Seminarian Wildaine at Bondeau has allowed Pere Kesner to have the time available for work in the Diocese of Haiti.

Please continue to pray for for the people of Haiti as they begin to rebuild the country.  In particular pray for the many Episcopal churches, schools and hospitals that have been destroyed by the earthquake.

Pre January 12 earthquake

Haiti became an outreach project for St. Gregory’s Episcopal church Boca Raton FL,in 2003 with the support of teachers’ salaries for the School.  The school was supported also by St. Andrew’s Chapel.  St. Gregory’s funded the purchase of a truck to provide much needed transportation in 2004.

In 2006 a new school was built to provide space for students. It was dedicated April 22, 2007 by Bishop Jean Zache Duracin of Haiti with Fr. Andrew Sherman and Deacon Anita Thorstad from St. Gregory’s present.

A cooked daily meal was added in 2008 for students and staff.  St. Paul’s Delray beach became a partner for this program.

In 2009, Bishop Duracin made Ste. Marie Madeleine a parish.

In 2009, Pere Kesner Gracia was made Priest in Charge of Ste. Marie Madeleine at Bondeau.  Pere Kesner’s home parish is St. Paul’s, Petit Trou de Nippes.

In 2009, extensive additions were made to infrastructure with electric power generator, wells drilled, school yard lighting, and a guest house, Maison d’Amitie built.  (see Maison d’Amitie page)

In 2010 the project name was established as the South Florida Haiti Project to provide the basis for reaching out to parishes throughout South Florida to participate.