The history of our global outreach
Cuba
The Santa Cruz del Norte companion parish partnership began in 2002. The story of how this partnership came about starts with the politics of Cuba. With the exodus of the Soviets from Cuba, the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba had begun to experience fewer governmental restrictions. Communist Party membership was no longer a requisite for church membership. The Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut wanted to promote the return of the Episcopal Diocese of Cuba to the greater Anglican community after many years of isolation.
Haiti
In April of 2003, Dr. Patti Lynn O'Brien, an active Global Missions committee member, attended the Haiti Connection program in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At that event she met Fr. Kenol Rock who expressed a need for a 6 grade school in his Parish of Les Cayes. She visited Les Cayes, a town about 120 miles from Port-au-Prince, and as a result proceeded to liquidate her assets to fund construction of the school. Earlier that year, she had learned that inoperable cancer would take her life within eight months. Patti Lynn died on November 5, 2003.
Currently Saint Sauveur School is a pre-K through grade 6 school and enrollment is in excess of 300 students with an annual budget of approximately $50,000 USD. The school is very proud that 10 sixth grade students have passed the national exams and can proceed in their education. While the school benefits from outside contributions, it believes that parents of attending students must appreciate its added value to the family. Therefore, they are expected to provide a small portion of the tuition.
Saint Sauveur School is an exciting project that survives despite a language barrier, its remote location, and uncertain funding. Global Missions is constantly encouraged that from a nation of severe poverty there is a belief that education provides a path to a better future. We hope to participate in providing that path with the support and blessing from St. John's.
Honduras
The first program that drew the committee together was a building work-project in Honduras. Eleven parishioners went to rebuild two houses and a church which were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch. This proved an arduous job which was completed without any indication of follow-on activity, thus ending the committee's focus on Honduras.
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