Dr. Sue Carlson - St. Joseph Parish - Medor, Haiti

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Learn About Parish Twinning

Dr. Sue Carlson and the people of Our Lady of Queen of Peace in Arlington, Virginia have been twinned with St. Joseph Parish in Medor, Haiti for over twenty years. She herself has visited over 34 times, but visits are not currently possible due the assassination of the president of Haiti has led to dangerous gang activity and kidnappings. Fortunately, the pastor has acquired a satellite internet link and now joins meetings in Virginia via Zoom. 

One bright light is that the rural schools in Medor have been able to stay open due in part to financial support from people in at the parish in Arlington, who also pray daily and as a community every week during Mass. One of the first needs identified by the people of Medor was education. They had only one elementary school attended by 250 students and no secondary school. There are now 3,200 children attending five elementary schools and a secondary school. This has led many to attend Haitian universities, and six have returned the community to provide their expertise as the people continue to farm. 

The twinning program focuses on supporting the needs identified by community leaders in Haiti and partnering to address challenges with local sustainable development. Since 2010, over 1 million trees have been planted to address the deforestation issue. "They share their reality... their joys and their challenges..."

Dr. Sue reminds us that the readings "prepare the way of the Lord" calls us to serve our neediest brothers and sisters as the hands, eyes, and feet of Christ.