Haiti Project Coming Together in Compassion, Building Communities, Haitian Coffee

Ethan Casey is the son of the Rev. Dayle Casey, formerly of the Diocese of Milwaukee. Some of you may remember traveling with Ethan to Mirebalais in 1986. He has recently published a book on Haiti, Bearing the Bruise: a Life Graced by Haiti.

Ethan will be speaking at St. Mary's, Dousman, Hwy 67.18, on Wednesday, 4/25, at 7 p.m. Prior to the talk, the Haiti Project is hosting a fundraiser, a Haitian Feast, in the Parish Hall, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Contact me for tickets. (Pre-ordering helps me plan!) This is open to the public. Please come; please invite your friends! Get the word out!

Ethan's book will be available at the event for $20. For more information, see www.ethancasey.com or stmarys-dousman.com

If you would like to help with this event, contact Mary Alice Eschweiler: sheppatch@aol.com or phone: 262-367-6564

From April 18th – 24th, we will be traveling to Haiti to celebrate the Feast of St. Marc with the parish of St. Marc’s in Jeannette. This is an important annual event in the life of this parish, during which people are baptized, confirmed, and married. The Bishop of the Diocese of Haiti, many clergy, friends and family all come to share in this blessed celebration. We are excited and happy to participate in this special event, especially as it marks a first trip to Haiti for three of the six members of the mission group. Read more here.

Are you called to do the same? Are you called to be present, with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, and we grow together in the body of Christ?

If you are, we invite you to prayerfully consider participation in a Haiti Project mission trip. We are currently planning trips in the following time windows:

Early July 2012
Early October 2012
January 2013-Clergy Trip
February 2013-Medical Trip
Late April 2013

On January 29th, we gathered at Our Lady Queen of Peace for an amazing, fun-filled evening. Put on by St. Andrew’s (Madison) Youth Group, we gathered together to share a spaghetti supper, celebrate our talents, and raise funds to support the Haiti Project and our partnership with St. Marc’s in Jeannette. Read the full article here.

Looking for alternative or additional ways to support the Haiti Project and our partnership with St. Marc’s Parish in Jeannette? You might want to check out how the Haiti Project is being supported through iGive and American Airlines Business ExtrAA account.

The Haiti Project partners with the online shopping networks igive. When you buy something online through our partnership, a percentage of your bill is credited to the Haiti Project without affecting the cost of your purchase. It's FREE to register & use -- it's a win/win for us:

Support the Haiti Project whenever you travel on American Airlines! Just enter the Business ExtrAA® number 815806 in your reservation, and the Haiti Project will earn Points toward free flights to Haiti. Read more here.

Monday morning was my happiest moment from July first until today in Jeannette. One thing that I have learned on that day is bringing joy to the heart of others is the most precious gift. On Monday morning Joy and hope shine in the face of all our students and parents in Jeannette. In Haiti, we don’t need to make a great effort to bring joy to the Haitian people. Giving food or eating with someone in Haiti is one of the best ways we can bring joy.

Monday January 23, 2012 became a historical date in my ministry. Standing in the classroom and watching our students eating after living without food and water for three months, was very meaningful for me. Monday morning was a great moment.

Where did this money come from? This is not Father Wisnel’s money. The money that helped me to buy rice and beans for the students in Jeannette from St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin where Father Andy Jones has been Rector for many years.

Two weeks ago I made my first trip to Wisconsin to meet people who have been working with the people in Jeannette. St. Marc’s Episcopal Church Jeannette in Haiti has been living in partnership with the Diocese of Milwaukee since its foundation in 1982. During this trip, Elizabeth van der weide, the coordinator of the Diocese of Milwaukee “Haiti Project”, Father Andy and I had the opportunity to talk about the needs of the people in Jeannette with many groups of people. Food and water was the main topic of our conversation.

First of all, I met on Sunday morning, January 8,, 2012 with the youth group at St Andrew’s and I talked about the lack of food and water in Jeannette. They were touched very deeply and concerned by the need of the people in Jeannette. I answered several questions. After our dialogue hope and Joy shined in my heart. In the afternoon, I met another group of people and the same speech was given and more hopes and joy for the people in Jeannette.

On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I met with people from many parishes. They asked many important questions and were moved and concerned by the food and water needs of Jeannette.

On Thursday I met a group of clergy at Trinity in Milwaukee. I was very happy to hear one of the clergy saying “Father Wisnel I know what you are talking about, because I went to Haiti during the dry season and I went down to the place where people in Jeannette go to get water”. It is very painful for me to watch my students walking 2 and half hours to get water before coming to school. There is no way for them to get to school on time.

I am very grateful to the Right Rev. Steven Miller, Bishop of Milwaukee, The Rev. Andy Jones, (the Rector of St. Andrew’s), Elizabeth van de Weide (the coordinator of Haiti Project) the Rev. Leigh the associate rector of St. Andrew’s), and The Rev. Don Fleischman, the Rector of St. Barnabas.

Jeannette is one the poorest areas in Haiti. This area contains about 6000 people. Each family contains at least 10 persons. This area is very poor in growing food. There is no water in Jeannette. The people in Jeannette have only cisterns to catch water. There are two seasons in Jeannette, raining season and dry season.

Here our students are eating in the classroom because our refectory is not finished. We don’t have chairs and tables to put in it that can allow our students come in and eat.

To conclude, I deeply believe that bringing joy and hope to others is the ministry of all leaders. I renew my determination to work with the Diocese of Milwaukee Haiti Project to improve people’s life in Jeannette. No one can live without food and water. This is the message that I am proclaiming now for the sake of all Haitian people especially for the people in Jeannette. I am working for them with energy and I will talk and fight for them until Bishop Duracin sends me another part of the country.

Rev. Père Wisnel Dejardin