St. Montfort, Haiti
Introducing Fr. Benedick Lazar
Pastor of St. Montfort Parish, Port de Paix, Haiti
Fr. Lazar became the pastor in September, 2022, when Fr. Rebert Beldorin left for University study in Montreal, Canada. The Haiti Committee asked Father to share some of his life story with us.
Here is a summary:
Born: July 27, 1974
Educated in Gonaives and Port au Prince (Philosophy)
Ordained: Jan. 13, 2008 Montfort Order
Spare time favorites: Watching soccer - listening to music
Favorite prayer: Finds comfort in Adoration of the Holy Sacrament
Parish Life: Father says he has a functioning Parish Committee. He meets with them on a regular basis to share the life of the parish. They make decisions together. Fr. Lazar says he likes to work in a team.
Check out this featured article in the April 28, 2019 issue of The Witness
Haitian parish restoring church after 2018 quake
Good morning, my name is Mel Harvey and I am a member of the Haiti Committee.
Why do we go to Haiti? ……. Quite simply, “the People” The people at St. Montfort are spiritual, faithful and hopeful. When you have worshipped and prayed together, held their babies, held malnourished 2 year olds on your lap then, with proper nutritional programs, watched them grow into strong 18 or 20 year olds. Having shared their joys and sorrow, you cannot just walk away! Can’t Walk Away!
I must say that you at St. Anthony have been steadfast in your support of St. Montfort. Nineteen years ago, we began taking goodwill donations every month. Not once in those nineteen years has St. Anthony failed to provide the support needed to carry on the mission. The people of St. Montfort know who you are! Through earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, droughts political and social unrest, God and the St Anthony partnership have been the constants that have sustained the hope of the people.
Following the blessings you gave me in February, I traveled to Haiti with several parishioners from St. Paul the Apostle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That parish has been providing some support to St. Montfort for several years and has even made visits to the parish. We were aware of their efforts and they were aware of ours. It was time to work together to provide for the needs of the people at St. Montfort.
We met the new pastor, Fr. Rebert Belderin who is 35 years old and 6 years a priest. Fr. Rebert is full of energy and ideas. He has gained the respect and love of the people. He also speaks fairly good English. He plans to visit St. Anthony Parish in September.
We met with Fr. Rebert and the St. Montfort Parish committee for two nights and agreed on three priorities.
St. Anthony’s will focus on renovation, equipping and supplying of the existing medical clinic. We will work to provide opportunities to enhance the education and skills of the nurses already working at the clinic. With the parish, we will recruit a doctor to work in the clinic 1 or 2 times a week. We need to help support and sustain the clinic in the months and years to come. Our medical team can work with and mentor the nurses and doctors.
St. Paul the Apostle will focus on making much needed repairs to the school, upgrading the teacher’s education and assisting the parish in meeting a government mandate to provide 3 levels of kindergarten thru 9 th grade. They also will begin a nutrition program and continue providing tuition assistance.
Fr. Rebert wants to start educating the people at St. Montfort…both young and older parishioners through classes offered by the Dioceses. He wants them to learn life skills…how to live and work together, how to be church and how to integrate small groups into the larger body of church. He will emphasize tithing and the importance of paying tuition for their children.
We are often asked: “Why do you go to Haiti” or “What do you do when you are there?” Well I can tell you what has been done.
-The roof at the church has been replaced, all the windows replaced, the ceiling has been replaced, new lighting has been installed and the church painted inside and out.
-A bell tower has been built. The parish now has a new crucifix in the church that they never had before.
-Our medical team has made numerous visits to provide medical care to those unable to afford it.
-Nearly 200,000 Kids Against Hunger meals have been sent and distributed.
-Assistance has been provided to help pay the meager salaries of teachers and nurses.
-Funds were provided to complete a new school at Passe Catabois in the countryside.
-A new generator and equipment enough to rewire the church and campus was sent last August. .
On behalf of the Haiti Committee and the people of Haiti, I want to thank you for continuing the walk together !
When Fr. Benedick Lazar was asked what his priority is this is his response:
Mobile Clinic at the dispensary and at the prison
We have a mission to work with poor people. Montfort’s Parish is very important in the community. Our Sister Parish St Anthony helps us very much. We must think with the pioneers who realized this relationship. I remember the committee asked me a question about my priority. I did not hesitate to answer a mobile clinic. And the committee agreed with me.
With the medical staff, we organized the mobile clinic at the dispensary. Some pupils at the school came to take part. The staff worked with their heart. When I looked at people who came, I realized that this decision was good because we touched people who are in need.
With the medical staff, we went to the prison. This experience was extraordinary. It makes me understand this pericope of Gospel when Jesus said : “For, I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you game me something to drink, I was stranger and you invited me in, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Mt 25, 35-36).
Indeed, when we arrived at the prison, I really understood this pericope of gospel. I usually go to the prison, but not to the mobile clinic. I really feel touched by the situation of the detained at the civil prison in Port-de-Paix. Their situation is inhuman. I thought a lot. Hmmmm! They are sons and daughters of God. So, this mobile clinic allows me to understand my mission as a missionary. The detained are really in a bad situation. As Christians, it’s in the practice and in the reality that we can live the gospel. Mr Mel and Theresa, all the members of the Committee, all the faithful of the St Anthony’s Parish, your artworks are very great in God's eyes. I thank you very much for the mobile clinic. We touched sick people. Being healthy is golden. Thank you for your help!
May God bless you all!
I appreciate you!
Fr. Bénédick Lazar, smm!
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I thank you for the malnourished children and I share with you some pictures of them. (in the image slider below)
May God bless you!
Fr. Bénédick Lazar, smm!
Haiti Committee
Since 1988, St. Anthony has nurtured a Twin Parish relationship with St. Monfort Parish in Port-de-Paix, Haiti. Financial assistance (donated by St. Anthony parishioners) is given to help St. Monfort provide food and medicine to those in need as well as the needs of the parish.
In 1996, to deepen our relationship with the people of St. Monfort, a team of 4 parishioners traveled to Port-de-Paix to learn more about the parish. They were met with a welcoming, faith-filled people joyfully celebrating their trust in God. Since then, over 90 people from St. Anthony and the Dubuque area have traveled to Haiti. Many have traveled as a part of a medical team while others helped repair the church roof and making improvements to the school. A parish in Grand Rapids, Michigan took on the responsibility for assisting the parish school. On April 28, the Feast of St. Montfort, another group attended the celebration of “The Fet.” This included a 3 hour liturgy and a procession through the streets of Port-de-Paix. They heard and saw the many needs of the parish community. The relationship began to grow as visitors reported back to our parish. Due to gang violence, travel to Haiti is now restricted.
On the first Sunday of each month, St. Anthony celebrates “Haiti Sunday” by lighting a candle and praying for our parish relationship. After mass a free-will offering is collected for St. Monfort. Besides monthly donations, St. Anthony began sending medicines, seeds, clothing, books, construction materials and food. The primary need was clearly stated. “One of our greatest needs is food for the severely malnourished children.” The Haiti Committee began facilitating the packaging of meals which is held annually. Since food (and many other items) can no longer be sent to Haiti due to high shipping costs, the packaged food is distributed in the Dubuque area.
Another great need is medicine. Fr. Benedick Lazar, pastor of St. Monfort, also wants to focus on the mobile and prison clinics where he makes much needed medicines available to the Haitian people.
Please pray for the health and safety of St. Monfort Parish and the Haitian people.
Members: Fr. Steven Rosonke (Pastor), Chuck Kutsch (Chairperson), Mel Harvey (Coordinator), Brian Unsen (Treasurer), Dee Maahs (Secretary), Ronnie Larkin (Publicity), Theresa Harvey, Terri Buss, Mike Larkin, John Mauss, Becca Brosius
Meetings: The Haiti Committee meets every 2 nd Thursday of the month (except in July and December) at 7pm in the Knepper Conference Room.
If interested in joining, please contact Chuck Kutsch
