Liancourt itself is a small, remote, rural town, some 125 kilometers from Port au Prince, accessible only by a simple dirt road. Electricity is available, but only sporadically. In fact, during a typical five-day period, power might be on only three hours. And people can never plan when those three hours would be. The unemployment rate is 70% and finding money to feed the family is a daily struggle.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Liancourt became sister parishes in 2002 as part of the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Haiti Project. Fellow parishioners Susan Carpenter and Howard Chatterton visited several Haiti parishes in June 2002 to learn more about life in that country and to explore the possibility of establishing a partnership between the Crofton parish and a parish in Haiti.
Our relationship with Liancourt is long term. We want to help the people of Liancourt with both their physical and spiritual needs -- they, in turn, want to share their faith and hope with us. Haiti is desperately poor, and during a visit here, Father Alexis Robinson shared some of his goals and aspirations with Seton parishioners. They included, but are not limited to, construction of a school, a religious house (for the sisters who will run the school), and food and clothing for students.
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Haiti Outreach E-Newsletter March 2003
Haiti Outreach E-Newsletter June 2003
About
Our Haiti OutreachIt is a French word. If you pronounce it Long-Core, with emphasis on the “core”, you will be close enough.
Yes.
Following the visits by Deacon Mortel in September 2001 and Father Alexis Robinson in February 2002, support for our sister parish has been growing throughout the parish. A group of parishioners meets monthly to discuss ways to make the sister parish relationship stronger and help with the financial needs of Liancourt. Parishioners have contributed more than $54,000 to the needs of Liancourt parish. And contributions continue to arrive at the office on a regular basis, recognizing the ongoing needs of our sister parish.
First, remember to pray for our sister parish in Liancourt.
Second, financial aid is also important. Checks should be made payable to “Seton Parish, Haiti Outreach”. If you would like the money to fund a particular purpose, such as a child’s schooling costs, or food, or training for catechists, please include a note. Undesignated funds will be applied to the need seen as most urgent
Third, get involved with the International Outreach Committee.
The group meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the church. All are
welcome. If you can’t attend meetings but would like to be kept aware of the program’s
progress or needs, contact Howard Chatterton (410)451-1626 or Nancy Gallant (301)261-6864.
We will give you more information and put you on the mailing list.
Every penny donated for Haiti will go directly to Haiti. Our parish writes a check, which is hand carried by Dr. Mortel to Father Alexis with written instructions on how the money is to be spent, whether on tuition costs for a child or food or construction costs.
Father Alexis has already sent us pictures of some of the activities he has been able to complete with our support. Seton parishioners have enabled him to build a toilet facility for the school children, open an elementary school, and build a house for an order of teaching sisters to run the school. Donated funds also support student tuition, food for school children in need, and teacher salaries. Father Alexis provides a report of expenditures, and we will continue to share information about Liancourt’s needs and progress being made.
The primary projects in Liancourt are the continued support of the new school, teacher salaries, and tuition and food for student since education is the only hope for children to make their way out of poverty.
Equally important are the training of catechists and the construction of chapels to serve parishioners in the outlying areas.
At the present time, this is not feasible because of the costs of shipping and the administrative complexity. We are working on finding ways to send goods and will keep the parish updated when we find a good way to send things to Haiti. In the meantime, sending money is the best way to help with Liancourt’s material needs.
Yes. Responding to Father Alexis’s invitation, we expect that, over the years, people from Seton Parish will visit our sister parish, to pray with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, to help with projects in Liancourt, to learn more about life in Liancourt and to share that awareness with those of us who stay in Crofton.
Anyone interested in visiting our sister parish personally should contact the International Outreach Committee.