Ministry Fair: Learn more about our Bi-Parish Haiti Ministry next weekend, May 6-7.  There will be a raffle and information to share.  Please join us and the other ministries after all the Masses,  in St. Thomas Hall.  Please keep our ministry’s efforts for St. Michel Parish in your prayers.  Thank you.

Contact with Student Sponsors: New pictures coming soon.  Please be sure we have your correct e-mail (Contact sponsorshipprogram@gmail.com )

Sketches of Saltadere Note Cards:  These cards, for Mothers’ Day, birthdays, graduations and all occasions, are for sale at the Haiti table (lower level of the church).  Watch for new designs coming soon. Singing Rooster Coffee:  Fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. 
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Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  Next Meeting will be May 7 at 1 PM in the Community Room at St. Thomas Aquinas..  All are welcome.  Contact: e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Website: www.saltadere.org. 

Improving Health Care Access in Saltadere:  The committee continues to work with our partners in the dioceses of Hinche and Richmond to design the renovation of the old dispensary.  As well we are examining ways to bring health care and people together by mobile clinic and by reliable transport to a nearby health facility.  Support for this effort has been generous but we are still in need of prayers and funds.  Father Ilric’s recent illness exemplifies the need and we continue to pray for his full recovery.

Sketches of Saltadere Note Cards:  These cards created from designs drawn by students of St. Michel School are available for sale at the Haiti Table, lower level of the church.  Some will be captioned for the upcoming special days, graduation, Mother’s Day, etc.  Cards are $2.50 each or five for ten dollars.  These funds support St. Michel School.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on the second and fourth Sundays of the month during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is today, June 14, 2015 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 1 PM. All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church. 

Thank you who all who worked to get our boxes loaded for the sea container: Thank you to Kathy Smith and all her helpers, Bob and Anne, Joan, Sarah and Matt, Dennis, George, Chris, Joe and Michelle, who packed, labeled and loaded boxes of donated shoes, clothing, medicine, and computers to ship to our brothers and sisters in Saltadere. Other helpers: Marcia, Maria and Megan.  This was a wonderful example of a corporal work of mercy.  Now we must pray for a safe journey and safe arrival for the sea container and its contents.

Diocesan Parish Social Ministry Regional gathering: Six members of our Haiti Ministry attended this conference at Church of the Incarnation April 18.  The latest diocesan information was shared with an emphasis on reflection of how our work reflects Catholic Social Teaching.                                                         

Pray for healing for Father Ilric!  Father writes that he is now recovering from an illness which began two weeks ago.  He reports that the parish celebrated a joyful Easter.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on select Sundays during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is today, April 26, 2015 at Holy Comforter at 1 PM. All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church. 

Where is St. Michel, Saltadere?  Our twin parish is in a village of about 4000 people which is about 4 miles from the border with the Dominican Republic.  It is in the east of the country and the border crossing there is where our Haiti travelers enter when they arrive through the Dominican Republic The greater rural area around Saltadere has about 40-45000 people.  Their main governmental resource location is in the town of Cerca la Source and the largest city in the area is Thomassique.  Because Saltadere is the furthest east of the villages before the border, it has been last in participating in any government improvements such as improved roads or electricity.  Each time we travelers visit we see some small improvements as those services we take for granted are improved in the village.  May God bless our brothers and sisters in Saltadere in this Easter Season and throughout the year.

Late Breaking News:. Thanks to a great effort, boxes for our twin parish are on the way to Tennessee to join a sea container shipment.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on select Sundays during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is April 26, 2015 at Holy Comforter at 1 PM. All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church. 

St. Michel School:--Student Sponsorships:  This fundraising effort is the chief source of our funds to support the operations of the school.  Contributions as tuition from local families cover a small proportion of the costs (less than 25%).  If  you are not yet a sponsor (at $150 per year), stop by the Haiti table and check the notebook there. Thank you.

 St. Michel Needs Update: We have received requests from Father Ilric for needed repairs and a printer.  Other needs identified to our travelers will be considered at upcoming Haiti Ministry meetings.  The committee continues to work on planned renovation of the dispensary building. The committee welcomes new members.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on select Sundays during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is April 26, 2015 at Holy Comforter at 1 PM. All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church.

St. Michel School:  The students of St. Michel School will have a short Easter holiday this week.  Let us keep our twin parish in our prayers at this very holy time in the church year.

St. Michel Needs Update: We have received requests from Father Ilric for needed repairs and a printer.  Other needs identified to our travelers will be considered at upcoming Haiti Ministry meetings.  The committee continues to work on planned renovation of the dispensary building. The committee welcomes new members.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on select Sundays during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is April 19 or 26, 2015 at Holy Comforter at 1 PM. All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church. 

Travelers to Haiti—additional report:  The group enjoyed a welcome celebration mass upon their arrival in Saltadere.  They saw much of the countryside around the village in hikes to examine water supply issues.  They visited two of Father Ilric’s chapel churches.  And they spent much time at St. Michel School with the students.  They cheered on St. Michel’s soccer team as they played to a 1-1 tie with neighboring Cerca la Source.

St. Michel Needs Update: We have received requests from Father Ilric for needed repairs and a printer.  Other needs identified to our travelers will be considered at upcoming Haiti Ministry meetings.  The committee continues to work on planned renovation of the dispensary building.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on select Sundays during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is April 19, 2015 at Holy Comforter at 1 PM. All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church. 

Travelers to Haiti:  Our travelers report that their trip was remarkable and productive.  They enjoyed working on the art and computer projects at the school and seeing the craft work of the ladies of Saltadere and the area. 

St. Michel Needs Update: We have received requests from Father Ilric for a printer for use at the school—cost $400 and for repairs to the rectory generator—cost $1000.  If you can help with these extra expenses, use the green envelope in the packet and mark for Haiti or visit the Haiti table.

Singing Rooster Coffee:  This fair trade coffee from Haiti is for sale on select Sundays during coffee and donuts in St. Thomas Hall. The coffee, in 12 ounce bags, comes in a variety of flavors including decaf.  Stop by, purchase coffee and visit with committee members.   Coffee sales support continuing teacher education for St. Michel School. Note: Easter baskets will be for sale today (baskets made by women of Saltadere.) These decorative items make great gifts/favors and are unique.

Bi-Parish Haiti Committee:  The committee’s next meeting is today, March 22, 2015 at St. Thomas Aquinas at 1 PM in the Library room.  All are welcome.  Contact: To learn about the Bi-parish committee, you can e-mail Anne Knasel at anne@stagebridge.net or Ginny Zeller at ginnyannzeller@gmail.com.  Contact us to join our email update list.  Also visit www.saltadere.org and see reports on past trips and current projects. There is also a link to the sponsorship program.  See display at Haiti table, lower level of church.