'Empower Our Fellow Brothers And Sisters'
Sacred Heart Church, St. Boniface, Evansville has been twinned with Notre Dame de Lourdes in Carrefour-des-Péres, Haiti since the early 1980’s under the leadership of Father Eugene Dewig. For years, financial support was sent to the parish of 2,000 people. In 2006, parishioners from diocesan parishes visited the remote Haiti parish coordinated through the leadership of St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County outreach ministry.
In 2010, St. Boniface parishioner, Jeff Happe, during a mission trip with St. Joseph mission team, was the first St. Boniface parishioner to visit the twinned parish, while accompanied by parishioners from Holy Redeemer, Evansville and St. Joseph, Vanderburgh County. Since then he has visited the sister parish three more times, most recently in March 2015 with his two high school aged daughters.
After Jeff returned from his first mission trip, he presented stories and photos about his trip to classes at Westside Catholic St. Boniface Campus, where his daughters attended school. Jeff and Leanne Happe’s oldest daughter, Madelyn, now a junior at Matre Dei High School, became interested in helping the poor in Haiti when she was 13 years old. Jeff took Madelyn to Haiti, and she enjoyed spending time with children after school; playing games, jumping rope, coloring, and working puzzles. “Even though Madelyn wasn’t able to speak to them in their language,” Jeff said, “she was able to hold their hands and smile.” Jeff, being in the construction business, worked on several repairs and building projects at the sister parish, and Madelyn helped right alongside him.
Following in her big sister’s footsteps, Jeff and Leanne’s youngest daughter, Betsy, now a sophomore at Matre Dei High School, decided that she also wanted to take a trip to Haiti. Before either asked about taking a trip, they were aware of the poverty, living conditions and remoteness of the village. In March, 2015, Jeff took both of his daughters to Haiti. Both enjoyed going so much that they are planning to return with a mission team in 2016.
Jeff described Haitian people as being happy people. “Being there made me realize that we have too many distractions in the United States. The Haitian people don’t have anything. Many live in primitive homes made from sticks and mud. They can’t keep up with the ‘Jonses’ because they must live a simple lifestyle. They are very giving and very sharing with the little they do have.”
“Children are happy-go-lucky, and the women always smile. If you could ever detect looks of hopelessness, it was on the faces of the men in Haiti from the age of 18 and older. Men want more for their families. They want to work, and it shows because they are around to help with whatever anyone is doing, with hopes that they will be given something; anything.”
Supporters of St. Boniface outreach ministry, which includes parishioners from other diocesan parishes, have been generous in providing continued funds for Haiti projects that include: school sponsorship program, construction of a new rectory, assistance for refugees and families in need, staff pay, start-up and development of three cottage industries, building of swing-sets, painting classrooms and building a latrine with surrounding sidewalk.
