History

  • St Francis Xavier and Ravine Trompette – St Francis Xavier began a parish twinning relationship with St Albert the Great Parish in 1984.  The approach of St Francis Xavier for the first 25 plus years was to take up an extra collection once per year at Masses and send the money to Haiti for their needs.  This relationship has changed dramatically in the past five years.  A massive earthquake occurred in the southern portion of Haiti in 2010.  This drew attention to Haiti, highlighted the severe poverty of the country, and invigorated parishioners of St Francis Xavier.  After visiting St Albert the Great in 2012, parishioners of St Francis Xavier recognized many opportunities to serve this community.  Funds were solicited and aid was sent to help develop a medical dispensary, construct a water filtration system, and find reliable transportation for the pastor.  In 2013, the government would no longer fund the daily school food program in the Catholic schools and St Francis Xavier stepped in to help.  Many other projects have been completed and are under way to improve the quality of life in Ravine Trompette. 
  • St Francis has had support from St Wendel Catholic Parish and St Paul’s United Church of Christ over the past few years. 
  • St Francis Xavier and Sts Peter and Paul – The first collaboration was with the 2014 Sts Peter and Paul Die Kirche Church Auction.  Over $11,000 was raised at the end of the auction to support the financial need for the school food program that St Francis Xavier was not able to completely cover.  The 2015 Auction raised over $22,000 to start a program called, Helping Haiti Help Themselves.  Some of the funds from this program have provided yam plants to 25 families from St Albert the Great Parish to start yam food plots that can be used for family food or to sell for income.  This is a pay-it-forward program that requires the original farmers to provide yam plans for 25 additional worthy families to start their food plot.  The goal is to have this program self-sustaining after a couple of years.  St Francis and Sts Peter and Paul have begun other initiatives to improve the situation in Haiti.  

Successes

  • St Francis Xavier accomplishments in 2011-2015
    • New water purification system providing the only clean water that is available in the community
    • Daily school food program supporting 925 students
    • Medical dispensary with a doctor, nurse, and pharmacist
    • New Toyota SUV for the parish, which is the only transportation available
    • New roof for the St Albert the Great Church
    • New chairs and supplies for the schools
    • New computers and monitors for St. Albert the Great
  • St Francis Xavier and Sts Peter and Paul accomplishments in 2014-current
    • Daily school food program supporting 925 students
    • Medical supplies for the Medical Dispensary
    • Helping Haiti Help Themselves programs like the yam co-operative and live stock pay-it-forward program
    • Room and board financial assistance for middle school students at St Cyprien (in the mountains) to attend St Albert the Great
  • Financial audits – Many impoverished nations, especially Haiti, are plagued with corruption and theft.  St Francis Xavier and Sts Peter and Paul have established a financial audit system with Father Marcel in Haiti to record and verify all financial resources are used for the intended purposes.  Only known and guaranteed shipping methods are used.  

Mission Trips

There will be two mission trips per year.