History of Haitian Ministries
'Partners for Haiti' In Its 25th Year
Mission House in Port-au-Prince Operating Since 1987
In 1981, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, then bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, was invited to join a delegation from Boston for a visit to Haiti. This trip made a profound impression on him. In the following two years, Bishop Reilly invited small groups of people from the diocese to join him on pilgrimages to the small island nation. Like Bishop Reilly, all were impressed by what they experienced.
In the winter of 1984, a delegation of 33 people, under the leadership of Fr. James Carini and including sisters, priests and diocesan ministry personnel, traveled to Haiti for an immersion retreat. This trip eventually led to the establishment of Haitian Ministries for the Diocese of Norwich.
After their return to Connecticut, this same group of travelers continued to meet and to discuss their experiences in Haiti. They became ever more aware of the impact the trip had on their lives, as well as the impact their stories of Haiti had on others. They eventually met with Bishop Reilly to discuss future visits to Haiti. If the Diocese of Norwich continued to send delegations there, they thought steps should be taken to insure that travelers would be well prepared, that follow-up sessions would become part of the experience, and, most importantly, that a commitment would be made to the people of Haiti.
As a result of this meeting, Bishop Reilly established a task force to further study the possibilities for a connection with Haiti. This group met several times during the year and traveled several time to Port-au-Prince to visit programs and projects there. They learned more about the Haitian people, their faith and culture.
The task force eventually recommended to Bishop Reilly that an Office of Haitian Ministries be established to educate Americans about Haiti. The sharing of information would touch on: the country of Haiti; the great needs among the people there; the diocesan involvement in the life of Haitian people; and the church’s missionary commitment to people throughout the world. As a second step the task force recommended that, within two years, the Diocese of Norwich establish a permanent presence in Haiti, both as a sign of solidarity with Haitians and as a way to develop a long-term, faith-based relationship with them.
The Office of Haitian Ministries was inaugurated in 1985 and immediately began laying the groundwork to open Norwich Mission House in Port-au-Prince in the summer of 1987. The mission stated:
"We of the Haitian Ministries Office of the Diocese of Norwich join with other members of the body of Christ in joyful response to the Lord’s words: “Love one another as I have loved you.” In responding to this Gospel mandate, we choose to walk in solidarity with the Haitian people, recognizing them as family, promoting their dignity and encouraging their self-determination.
Therefore, through our presence, collaboration, education for justice in Haiti and the United States, and channeling of resources and talents, we commit ourselves to enable the Haitian people to realize their full human potential.
Joining hands and hearts with the original diocesan groups who journeyed to Haiti and whose dream was to work with the Haitian people, we continue to collaborate in building a new Haiti, born of suffering, courage, hope, love, compassion and justice - a new Haiti standing as a dignified member of the global community."
The mission was further strengthened in 1995, when Bishop Reilly appointed Fr. Gerry Kirby as the personal representative of the Bishop of Norwich to the diocesan mission in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. He served a dozen years there. The Diocese of Norwich and the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince entered into a Twinning Covenant on December 17, 2000, a union that grows stronger.
Today, Norwich Mission House operates with a director and an assistant director and a Haitian staff of more than six. Along with hosting travelers on immersion trips, the house serves as a center for various events and fellowship gatherings and as a temporary lodging for others doing humanitarian work in Haiti.
Over the years, much has happened in the lives of people both in Haiti and throughout the Diocese of Norwich and beyond. The programs that we fund, the orphanages we support, the parishes with which we are twinned, the schools and clinics that we aid – all are significant. They are not, however, the reason why we are in Haiti. We are there because we are people of faith and our diocese is committed to deepening the relationship we began with the Haitian people many years ago.
