By Mary Grieco
Catholic Herald correspondent

Haitian priest visits sister parish

PHELPS -- Fond Jean-Noel, Haiti, may be thousands of miles from Phelps, Wis., but that distance seems to be shrinking as members of Saint-Michel and St. Mary parishes learn about each other. That bond became even stronger this month when Fr. Pere Laguerre, pastor of Saint-Michel, visited northern Wisconsin.

The two churches were matched in February 2000 through the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas. St. Mary parishioner Mary Martin initiated the outreach, inspired by a school project that her granddaughter had done about Haiti and having sister parishes.

Laguerre was welcomed at a potluck and program, and was hosted by parishioners during his week-long stay. During that time, he spoke to school children in the area and took time out to enjoy some Northwoods activities, including fishing and horseback riding.

Speaking to the congregation at the Sunday Mass before he left, Laguerre gave thanks for the hospitality and explained the needs of his growing parish in Fond Jean-Noel, a rural community with few financial resources. Of the 9,000 residents, 5,000 are Catholic.

"We are very simple, but there are people with real good faith and a good presence of God," he explained. "It is a really poor area, and I have a lot to do there." Challenges include no electrical system, leaky roofs, no facilities for a school, lack of medical supplies and the need for a rectory.

Laguerre is fortunate to have a car, but with that comes added responsibilities. As the only person in the area with a private vehicle, he is frequently called upon to transport the sick and injured to an out-of-town hospital.

His people also often come to him for food and money. Times are particularly difficult during drought years since there is no irrigation system. Perhaps his biggest challenge will be building a school. For now, classes meet in the church, which cannot adequately accommodate all the students. He explained that education is very expensive, and only a small percentage of children have the opportunity to attend school.

Among the ways that St. Mary parishioners have already helped is by sending school and medical supplies to Saint-Michel. For several months they have also been involved in a major fund-raising effort, the focus of which was a raffle for a quilt made by women of the parish.

Before Laguerre left, he was presented with a check for $3,500 to purchase a generator, plus other money to use as he sees appropriate. In all, the parish raised $5,200, with $2,869 coming from the main raffle, which also included wildlife prints donated by Jim Schofield. A considerable amount came from special collections, and some funds were raised during a Haiti weekend held last summer at the church. In addition, $150 is sent to Saint-Michel each month from parish funds. St. Mary has just over 100 households.

"This community has been so energized since Father has been here," said Martin. There has been much positive response to the outreach experience, and there are tentative plans for a group to visit Haiti, perhaps next year. "They are such faithful people," Laguerre said of St. Mary parishioners. "They do not know Haiti, but we are in their heart."

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2001