MORE ABOUT HAITI
Massacre Chapel and School
This was the first, major construction project St Mary Cathedral undertook. On our first visit to St. Joseph Church in Pendus, Haiti in March 2000, we took a two-hour hike up the mountain to Massacre. Upon our arrival, we found a 25-foot by 40-foot, dirt-floor building packed with uniformed school children singing a joyful welcoming song. This thatched-sided structure served as both the area’s chapel and school. Some 210 children in five grades attended this school. The classes were all conducted side-by-side under the tin roof – with each grade facing a slightly different direction with a chalkboard in front of them. Needless to say it was very crowded.
One of the teachers greeted us by saying, “Just like Jesus, you were not afraid to climb the mountain to share the good news.”
Upon our return to St. Mary, we collected enough money to send to Father Ronel Chareleus to begin construction of an “L-shaped” building that would house a 75-foot by 35-foot chapel with four attached classrooms. This was our first experience in construction in the mountains of Haiti. Since this area was a two-hour hike beyond the last place a vehicle could drive to, all the materials – bags of concrete, concrete blocks, tin roof etc – had to be hand carried by the locals up that same mountain. The locals also helped to collect rocks, sand and water to help in the construction process.
Our money did not get to Haiti until late fall; however, by our December 2000 visit, we observed the newly laid foundation and on the March 2001 visit, a fully completed chapel and school. In fact, the March group got to help celebrate the first Mass with Father Cha Cha and the people of Massacre.
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