What's Happening

February 19, 2025, Winter Park, Florida – A recent article in The National Catholic Reporter recounted the focus on Haiti by the worldwide Dominican family in its annual Month for Peace observance in December as well as the long-time presence and partnership of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park, Florida, with parishes in Haiti.

The article cites a letter to the Dominican family by Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, Master of the Order, calling on Dominicans for greater reflection and solidarity with the people of Haiti suffering from “violent atrocities and human rights violations, incessant killings, kidnappings, sexual assaults, human trafficking, and forced labor.” Adrian Dominican Sister Durstyne Farnan, OP, Dominican Representative to the United Nations, speaks of the “moral obligation” to advocate for the people of Haiti.

Much of the article focuses on the long-running efforts of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Winter Park, Florida. Since 2006, the parish has partnered for five years with one Haitian parish at a time, listening to their needs and working with the parishioners to address those needs. The focus is on the self-determination of the Haitians and the sustainability of their projects.

Read the entire article by Chris Herlinger and watch a video in which Sister Rosemary and other involved parishioners describe their ministry with Haitian parishes.  
 

Caption for above feature photo: A slide during a recent presentation on the Haiti Mission of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park, Florida, depicts Haitians working in micro-enterprises to help them remain self-sufficient.

Courtesy of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park, Florida

January 6, 2025, Winter Park, Florida – Sister Rosemary Finnegan, OP, and members of the Haiti Committee of St. Margaret Mary Parish, Winter Park, Florida, spoke on the parish’s 20-year ministry with parishes in Haiti. The December 17, 2024, livestreamed presentation was offered during the worldwide Dominican family’s 2024 Month of Peace, focusing on the people of Haiti.

In a letter to the Dominican family, Father Gerard Francisco Timoner III, OP, Master of the Order, described the reasons for focusing on Haiti in 2024. “For many years, the people in Haiti have been subjected to violent atrocities and human rights violations, incessant killings, kidnappings, sexual assaults, human trafficking, and forced labour,” he wrote. “These have greatly impacted members of the Dominican Family, including their ability to meet physically, while others have had to leave the country for safety reasons.”

In their ministry, the people of St. Margaret Mary Parish partner with a parish in Haiti for five years, partnering with them to establish programs aimed to meet the needs identified by the community. Some developments have included medical clinics, schools, chapels, agriculture programs, peace programs, community building, and a women’s banking program. 

“We attribute our success to a strong mission relationship” said Ken Firling, a committee member. “We depend on the Haitians to identify the needs that are most important to them. Never have they come up with one thing that’s not very valuable or useful.”

Sister Rosemary said the Haitian parishioners “work hard to get things going I’ve seen a lot happening because of the urgency of five years.”

Toward the end of the presentation, Sister Rosemary expressed her gratitude for the “people of Haiti, who have shared their joys and struggles with us. We love to be with them and share their love and joy and faith.”

The presentation was offered through the efforts of Sister Kathleen Nolan, OP, Director of the Adrian Dominican Sisters Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, as well as the Justice Promoters who work with her. Watch the entire presentation.