As Christians from different cultures throughout the world come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is our opportunity to step off the treadmill of our daily lives and appreciate the true gifts of Christmas. Through our gift of faith, we know Jesus Christ is the Son of God. God’s gift to us on that first Christmas Eve was His love as His only Begotten Son was born. Jesus is our gift of hope for eternal life.
The Diocese of Norwich Outreach to Haiti has been blessed to witness these precious gifts of faith, hope, and love through its ministry. With your help, we have walked with our brothers and sisters in Haiti for more than thirty-five years. We work in Christ Roi (Christ the King) a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince (Haiti’s capital city) and with parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince. Our Diocese is twinned with the Archdiocese.
The neighborhood of Christ the King is home to 60,000 men, women, and children. Most Haitians live on $2.50 or less per day. Unlike our country, there are few, if any, safety nets for Haitians when the inevitable problems of life prevail. We offer medical assistance, healthcare services, food and nutritional support, access to education, to name a few. Our clinic employs an all-Haitian staff of 21 who,because of their compassion and helpfulness, also attract residents of other neighborhoods.
Our Parish Twinning Program has approximately 14 parishes in the United States, many of them from our Diocese, who twin with parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince. The foundation of this program is built on relationships; establishing connections between parishes in Haiti with parishes in the United States. These twins have forged friendships that are invaluable.
In September, some of our U.S. parishes held their annual “Christmas in September.” Twelve barrels of gifts - seven with toys and five with essentials including supplies and new clothing - are being shipped to our Haitian Twins.
Despite all of the problems Haitians face, both natural and man-made, they have an inner joy. Their hope that tomorrow will be better than today is drawn from their faith in and love for God. This Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Christ with our loved ones, I hope we will all remember our Haitian neighbors in our prayers. 
Remember to make time to connect with God’s love and receive His gift of joy. Pope Francis said, “Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and peace.” Nowhere is this more evident than with our Haitian brothers and sisters. While they may be economically very poor, they, like all of us, receive the true gifts of Christmas: faith, hope and love. May it bring all of us peace, especially in Haiti.
If you would like to learn more about our ministry or support our work, please visit us at.OutreachToHaiti.org or call our office 860.800.3603.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Jwaye Nwèl ak Bon Ane 2022
By Susan Wallace