children praying in haiti

Catholic Charity Work in Haiti

On January 30, 2010 Haiti suffered a severe economic setback when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake destroyed much of the capital city and surrounding areas. The earthquake left an already third world country’s capital city in ruin. In response to the earthquake tent cities popped up to serve the homeless, but now six years later those tents are still being used as functional homes in Port au Prince. 150 miles north in Cap-Haïtien families live on less than $3 per day. Unlike the United States people do not hold permanent jobs, the work they do get is infrequent. These circumstances force families to live on what they can in tiny shacks without water, electricity, or sanitation. It is no wonder 80% of the population lives below the poverty line: parents just cannot afford to send their children to school.

Explore the tabs below to learn more about our projects. CLICK the Give Now button to donate to Catholic charity work in Haiti.

The Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor

The Missionary Work of CFSOP

The Compassionate Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, who are inspired by their Patron St. Francis of Assisi, humbly and freely offer all their works of mercy to the brothers and sisters who need it the most – all in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

This religious community of dedicated missionary Sisters have headed up an extensive nutrition feeding program for more than 300 destitute children in the remote Viloux region of Haiti. For most of the boys and girls, it’s their only real meal of the day, along with their only chance at receiving vital healthcare. Viloux, an impoverished farming community, and the remote Maniche mountain areas have been impacted by natural disasters, food scarcity, violence and civil unrest, including the assassination of the president. All this on top of the recent earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic.

Sister Rita Bandola, the Administrative Director of the program, cites Mother Teresa who would often say, “If you cannot feed one hundred children, then feed one.” She adds, “This is the goal of the work that we Sisters try to achieve every day with what we have been given.”

Missionary work of CFSOP
CFSOP humbly and freely offer all their works of mercy to the brothers and sisters who need it the most

Sister Merly in Queen of Mercy Home for the Children in Haiti.

Haiti CFSOP Children 2021 Feeding and Nutrition Outreach Program

Missionaries of the Poor

The Missionaries of the Poor

“The poor possess a joy that is pure and highly contagious, for it doesn’t come from material comfort and prosperity but from the very gift of being alive each day,” – Fr. Richard Ho Lung, MOP.
Catholic missionary helping poor Haitian children

The Missionaries of the Poor were founded by Fr. Richard Ho Lung, MOP in 1981 in effort to build family and community among the poor and disadvantaged. Today the Missionaries of the Poor have over 500 vocations and serve in nine countries.

The mission in Haiti began in 1994 when a plea came from Sister Madeleine, who was the last sister serving at the Asile Communal, a home for the homeless and disabled elderly. Within four years the community transitioned into the hands of the Missionaries of the Poor. The brothers worked diligently to not only meet the needs of the elderly, but saw other needs in the community that needed to be addressed and went into action.

In Cap-Haïtien, the Missionaries of the Poor have 10 brothers, and three pro-novices discerning the vocation to religious life. They have opened three more homes for the community and serve over 200 people among them, many of whom are ill or disabled. Your support of the Missionaries of the Poor in Cap-Haïtien today will allow the brothers to continue serving the poor with dignity.

Catholic missionary helping the elderly in Haiti
Catholic priest baptizing a baby in Haiti
Building homes in Haiti

Earthquake

tent city in Haiti

2010

Haiti is a perfect example of how disaster perpetuates poverty. The devastation resulting from the 2010 earthquake has permanently affected Haiti. Tens of thousands of people displaced from their homes still live in Tent Cities throughout the country. Regnum Christi Missionaries plan to address the plague of perpetual poverty through providing opportunities for education and employment.

Tent Cities in the Port Au Prince area started out as temporary living quarters for victims of disaster, but have become permanent homes. They are homes without an official address and with little or no government support. 25,000 men, women, and children reside in the cramped village of Tent City, Acra, where unemployment is 90% and children have no access to school.

The combination of poverty, lack of employment and education, inadequate living quarters and little access to healthcare is the perfect storm for generational poverty.

Learn More About Haiti Charity Work

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