November 11, 2011
Haiti: Parish Life in Haiti

The parish of St. Irenaeus of Lyons, situated in Hinche, Haiti, celebrated its patronal feast day on August 23, 2011. After the Liturgy, 120 people were baptized and received into the Orthodox faith. Thanks to the help of the Fund for Assistance to ROCOR, the parish of St Irenaeus of Lyons was able to pay rent for two pieces of land. The parish was able to construct a hangar for the church, where services can be held and the parish school, where 130 students hold classes, operated. The Fund for Assistance made it possible to pay the parish school teachers’ salaries.

After the reunification of the Russian Church in 2007, the Orthodox Mission in Haiti suffered the loss of its largest parish church, dedicated to Blessed Augustine, in Jacmel. Since then, the parish has endured great difficulties, but under the leadership of Priest Jean-Chenier Dumais and Priest Gregoire Legouté, the parish was able to survive. For three years, the parish held services in a small rented one-room house with most of the parish standing outside under a tarp. Through the support of the Fund for Assistance, the parish was able to purchase a piece of land and build a temporary hangar, where services are now being conducted. The parish school is temporarily located in the hangar until such time as a permanent church can be built.

On October 8-9, 2011, Fr. Gregoire baptized 26 parishioners. Ten young people were baptized in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday the 8th and 16 children were baptized before Liturgy on Sunday the 9th.

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