Celebrating Progress and Faith at St. Jean-Baptiste

We have some wonderful updates and reasons to celebrate with our sister church, St. Jean-Baptiste (St. John the Baptist), on the island of La Gonâve, Haiti!

Celebrating the Feast Day

On June 24, our brothers and sisters at St. Jean-Baptiste gathered to celebrate their patronal feast day. It was a joyful day of faith, fellowship, and worship. Visiting church choirs and lay pastors and special decorations multiplied the festivities. Feast Days are similar to when the Bishop visits St. Philip’s with confirmations and special music enjoyed by all. 

Big News: The Wall and Gates Are Complete!

Thanks to your generosity during our March “BBQ and Bluegrass” fundraiser on Daniel Island, we have major progress to report on the safety and security of the church grounds:

The Security Wall is Finished: The full perimeter wall around St. Jean-Baptiste is now complete. Already the grass is beginning to grow and the children now have an enclosed and safe place to play.  

Gates Installed: The final essential feature, the security gates, have been officially installed and hung. 

The smaller pedestrian gate and the larger gate for trucks to enter.

This project was a vital step in securing the property, and seeing it come to completion is a testament to what we can accomplish together through faith and partnership. Once again, special thanks to all our church staff and parishioners whose attendance at our March fundraiser helped to achieve the funding needed to complete the project. 

Looking Ahead: Foundation Is Laid for the Guard House

The momentum isn’t stopping there. The foundation has officially been laid for a new guard house on the church grounds. Once completed, this structure will provide dedicated security and peace of mind for both the church and the school community.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, gave, and supported these efforts. Please continue to keep the clergy, students, and parishioners of St. Jean-Baptiste in your prayers as work continues!

Context and Prayer Requests: The Broader Situation in Haiti

As we celebrate these developments, we also want to keep our church family updated on the broader context in Haiti:

Security and Gang Dynamics: Armed gang coalitions continue to control a vast majority (roughly 85–90%) of Port-au-Prince and major transport routes. While an international Gang Suppression Force working with local police has recently begun pushing back in select strategic areas, daily life for many remains severely impacted by instability and displacement.

Electoral Roadmap: Transition leaders and the Provisional Electoral Council have set an official timeline aiming for general elections in late August 2026, with a second round in December 2026. Securing transit points and polling places remains a significant challenge ahead of these plans.

Impact on La Gonâve: Island communities like La Gonâve are largely shielded from the daily gang clashes seen in the capital, but they face high inflation and severe supply shortages from mainland disruptions.

Projects like the perimeter wall, secure gates, and guard house at St. Jean-Baptiste are crucial in ensuring that our sister parish and its school remain safe, peaceful sanctuaries. Please continue to hold the parish, its leaders, and all the people of Haiti in your prayers.