Feast Day Mass at St. Maria Goretti Oct. 4

The St. Maria Goretti Church Haiti Partnership will celebrate its 2014 Feast Day Mass in solidarity with its partner church, Sainte Therese de L’Enfant Jesus, Darbonne, Haiti on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at 4:00 p.m. at the church site located 7300 Crowder Blvd., New Orleans, La.

The mission of the St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church Haiti Partnership is to positively impact the quality of life of the parishioners of the Sainte Therese de L’ Enfant Jesus through mutual prayer, spiritual growth, solidarity, education/advocacy and ongoing support of projects in Haiti.

The Mass celebration is a continuation of the St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church commitment to its sister church in Darbonne, Haiti, which was one of the most devastated Catholic parishes impacted by the “earthquake.” This community was left without a church to celebrate Mass, a school building unsafe for the children and staff and no teaching materials for the educating of the children.

The St. Maria Goretti Church Partners here in New Orleans have attempted and met many of the immediate needs identified by the parish authorities.

To date through the fundraising efforts of the St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church Partnership, the Haiti delegation has delivered priestly vestment, church crucifix, laptop computers, and more than $25,000.00 in funds have been shared, which recently allowed for the payment of teacher salaries. The St. Maria Goretti Church Partnership is presently exploring the possibilities of an economic development project, which will allow for start-up businesses and afford many creative persons in Haiti to become self-sufficient within this community.

The St. Maria Goretti Haiti Partnership accepted this “CHALLENGE” upon the recommendation of its pastor, Monsignor Earl Gauthreaux.

This article originally published in the September 29, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.