For almost 25 years, Immaculate Conception Church has been paired with St. Francis Xavier Parish in Fond des Blancs, Haiti, in a relationship that offers both parishes a chance to enrich our understanding through intercultural exchange and to allow us to offer financial assistance as we are able.  In at least seven different mission trips, our parishioners have come to experience Christ by sharing in the life of our brothers and sisters there.
 
In August we were able to sponsor Fr. Pierre Belizaire, the current pastor, to attend the national convention of the Parish Twinning Conference in Nashville along with our parishioner, Viviane Manigat-Jackson. Together with representatives from across this country and Haiti, they learned how to strengthen our relationship and improve our opportunities for kinship and solidarity.
 
On Mon., Aug. 29, we had a reception for Fr. Belizaire in the Parish Hall, featuring a brief prayer service, a slide show of our mission trips over the years, authentic Haitian music, and tropical refreshments provided by the Haiti Committee. 

The Haiti Committee of Immaculate Conception Parish facilitates our relationship with our twin parish, St. Francis Xavier, in Fond des Blancs, Haiti. Fond des Blancs is a rural, farming community located in the southern part of Haiti, about a five-hour drive from Port-au-Prince.

Our twin parish has asked us for financial help to support their school. Our contributions help to pay teacher salaries and educational expenses. Our funds support the main school in Fond des Blancs and 18 chapel schools in the 25 square-mile mountainous areas surrounding Fond des Blancs.

The school in Fond des Blancs has kindergarten through 10th grades. The smaller chapel schools are primary schools only. If students continue their education they attend the high school portion of St. Francis Xavier in Fond des Blancs. Only a small percentage of primary school students go on to high school.

Their school in Fond des Blancs started out with three grades and now has 12 grades. This allows students to stay home while they complete high school. Before this students went to and lived in Port-au-Prince to finish high school.

The Haiti Committee meetings are announced in the bulletin and everyone is welcome. For more information, contact the parish office at (865) 522-1508 x1000.