Early in the morning on July 7, the news broke that Haitian President Jovenel Moïse had been assassinated, sending the deeply troubled country into further crisis. We stand in solidarity with Haiti's suffering people and the Maryknoll Lay Missioners serving there in praying for peace and social justice.
Life in Haiti in recent years has been described by some there as “harrowing.” The economy has stalled and almost half of the population faces acute hunger daily. As a result, many Haitians have taken to the streets to demand a new leader while President Moise argued that his term was not finished – sending the country into a constitutional crisis. Thousands of Haitians have been displaced from their homes in the past year because of surging gang violence. On top of that, the country is experiencing another wave of COVID-19 outbreaks as health officials await vaccines and hospitals struggle to deal with the rising number of cases.
Learn more: Watch a panel discussion, July 8, at 12:00 pm ET, for an update on current events and a look at Haiti’s past and present anti-colonial struggle: “Haiti: The Continuing Struggle for Liberation.”
Read this commentary from July 8 on the unfolding crisis in Haiti by Maryknoll lay missioner Abby Belt. Abby is on mission in Gros Morne, Haiti.
Read this reflection on the situation in Haiti by Ted Miles, Executive Director of the Maryknoll Lay Missioners: "The crisis in Haiti...and what Jesus would do."
Learn more about the life-changing work of Maryknoll Lay Missioners in Haiti.
Take action:
Sign this petition to urge President Biden to immediately send doses of the COVID-19 vaccines to Haiti. Addressing the current crisis in Haiti requires stopping the spread of COVID-19.
Pray for Haiti:
God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us.
In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond disaster
to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us.
Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti.
Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice.
With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice.
Amen.
(Prayer by Catholic Relief Services)
Photo: Hundreds of people protested on the streets of Haiti's capital Port au Prince in 2018 and 2019 to demand the resignation of President Jovenel Moise and an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of $3.8 billion in funds from the Petro Caribe Energy Agreement, a Venezuelan oil agreement with Haiti and other Caribbean countries. Photo by Medyalokal, CC BY-SA 4.0.