Dear PTPA Members: 

As we enter the season of Lent, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued engagement, collaboration, and support. Your dedication strengthens our mission and uplifts the parishes we accompany in Haiti and Latin America.

This month's newsletter features several important updates:

May this Lenten journey be a meaningful and blessed time of renewal, reflection, and grace for you and your families.

Warmly,
The PTPA Team

We are humbled and honored to share a meaningful milestone for our PTPA community. Earlier this year, a letter sent by one of our Board Members to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received an official response from the Vatican Secretariat. In this message, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for the work of the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas, affirmed the importance of twinning relationships, and assured our members of a place in his prayers.

This acknowledgement from the Holy Father is a profound blessing for our mission. It serves as a reminder that our collective efforts; strengthening relationships between parishes in the U.S., Haiti, and Latin America are not only acts of service, but expressions of the Gospel deeply aligned with the heart of the Church.

As we continue our work together, may this message from Pope Leo encourage us, inspire us, and renew our commitment to walking in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Haiti and Latin America.

We extend heartfelt thanks to all PTPA members who supported the first phase of the Haiti Parish Visit Pilot Program. Your engagement allowed us to reconnect in person with parishes on behalf of their U.S. twin communities; many of which had not been visited in years. Your commitment continues to strengthen these vital relationships.

This pilot was not only about gathering information; it was about listening, learning, and deepening mutual understanding. Parishes welcomed the chance to share their realities and expressed sincere gratitude for the unwavering support of their U.S. partners. Domond took pictures of all of the parishes that he visited. Here are two:

A key insight from Phase 1 is that Haiti parishes view these visits as opportunities to:
     • Celebrate progress made possible through their U.S. twin parish
     • Communicate ongoing priority needs essential to sustaining their ministries

These needs should be understood as part of healthy, transparent dialogue not as new requests.

The findings below reflect data from the 10 participating parishes. As the pilot expands to other regions, we will continue to consolidate and share broader insights.

Key Findings:

Teacher Salaries (per month | in Gourdes)   
     • Average: 13,475 Gdes
     • Median: 15,000 Gdes
     • Range: 6,250 → 19,000 Gdes

 Most Common Priority Needs:  
     • Infrastructure Repairs: Church and school maintenance
     • Transportation: Reliable mobility for parish activities
     • Energy Solutions: Solar, generators, and improved electricity access
     • Water & Sanitation: Clean water systems and hygiene facilities
     • Education Resources: Books, materials, teacher training & support

 Teacher Training:
Across all visits, 80% of parishes reported that their teachers received training from the Bureau of Diocesan Education (BDE), the Catholic education structure present in all 10 departments and overseen nationally by the CEEC in Port-au-Prince. Training frequency remains a major challenge as the diocesan structure do not have adequate resources to provide ongoing support and accompaniment.

 ------------------------------------

Logistical Highlights & Lessons Learned:

Transportation & Safety:     
     • Travel between departments, especially involving Port-au-Prince—remains difficult and relatively unsafe, contributing to high transportation costs.
     • Average airfare: ~$495 roundtrip
     • Vehicle rental: ~$289 per day (excluding fuel/insurance)
     • Roads to parish sites are often unpaved and challenging, lengthening travel days.
     • For Phase 2, spending more time onsite would strengthen engagement but may increase lodging needs, as night travel is not recommended.
     • Additional incidental funds will be necessary for unexpected road issues (e.g., flat tires, delays, minor road incidents etc..).

Data Collection & Parish Engagement:     
     • With only one PTPA field representative on the ground, capturing detailed written notes while managing on‑site interactions proved challenging.
     • Photos and videos were especially appreciated by members, offering a vivid picture of parish life.
     • For Phase 2, PTPA plans to add support personnel to assist with note‑taking, feedback transcription, and reporting for stronger, more detailed insights.

The application process for U.S. parishes twinned with a parish in the South Department is now open. If your twin parish is located in this region, please submit your interest using this link below: Haiti Parish Visit Pilot - Interest Form

The Haiti Parish Visit Pilot Program supports U.S. parishes that are currently unable to travel to Haiti. Through this initiative, our Haiti‑based team led by our in‑country Representative, Domond conducts onsite parish visits to help maintain connection and gather updates on your behalf.

After each visit, a detailed report is shared featuring photos, key observations, and priority needs. Follow‑up calls with Domond  are scheduled to discuss findings and gain deeper insight if needed.

Please note:
     • Both the U.S. and Haitian parishes must approve participation before an in‑person visit can be scheduled.
     • If your parish supports multiple twin parishes, a separate application form should be completed for each relationship.

CLICK HERE to view a downloadable version of the Findings Report.

Click here to view the PTPA February Zoom Gathering, "Lessons Learned from the Haiti Parish Visit Program, and Next Steps" on the PTPA YouTube Channel.

Click here to view a summary of

PTPA member Grace Fisher is a parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, Virginia, and is currently pursuing her master's in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies at the London School of Economics.

This spring and summer, she is composing her dissertation on the evolution of localization in parish twinning relationships. Her research question is:

How do parish twinning relationships between the U.S. and Haiti embody localization practices within the humanitarian-development nexus, and what mechanisms have affected power dynamics, decision-making authority, and resources within these faith-based partnerships before and after the 2010 Haitian earthquake?

If you would like to support her work and participate in her research,
please click here to fill out her interest form.

You can also view more information from Grace in the second half of the February Zoom recording.

Shared with you by a PTPA member!

Here is some information about the Haitian Creole and Culture Course:

As we are within a new year, and a new holiday season, we resolve to take care of the things that we have been putting off – in some cases for years. For many of us, that includes getting started with or updating our estate plans.

To make that easier, PTPA has partnered with My Catholic Will (MCW) to offer you the opportunity to create your legal will completely free of charge through MCW. The process is simple, guided, and designed to meet the needs of most individuals and families.

As we near the Solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19, we honor the quiet guardian who spent his life protecting Mary and Jesus, always preparing so his family would be safe and cared for. St. Joseph teaches us that true love looks ahead. He made sure everything was in order before he was called home, leaving those he loved with peace instead of worry.

This year, follow his gentle example. Take a few quiet minutes to put your own house in order with a simple, free Last Will and Testament. To make that easier, PTPA  has partnered with My Catholic Will to offer you the opportunity to create your legal will completely free of charge through My Catholic Will. The process is simple, guided, and designed to meet the needs of most individuals and families. You can create your will from home—no cost, no stress, guided every step of the way with Catholic values in mind.

Visit MyCatholicWill.com/ptpa and give your family the same gift St. Joseph gave his: the calm assurance that your wishes will be honored, your children protected, and your Catholic funeral and burial arranged just as you desire.

Because the greatest way to protect the ones you love is to plan like St. Joseph did—lovingly, faithfully, and ahead of time.

Start today at  MyCatholicWill.com/ptpa, and use referral code: ptpa

St. Joseph, guardian of families, pray for us.

PTPA is a Catholic, non-profit organization. Our mission is to live the Gospel by seeking, promoting, and supporting the formation, growth and development of twinning relationships between Catholic parishes in the U.S. and Catholic parishes in Haiti and Latin America.

“I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40

Parish Twinning Program of the Americas
407 W. Smith Valley Road #1222
Greenwood, IN 46142
www.ptpausa.org
contact us: info@ptpausa.org