Haiti Twinning Conference To Be Held Oct. 25

Published: October 16, 2003

CONYERS—A Haiti parish twinning conference will be held Saturday, Oct. 25 from 12:30 to 5 p.m. at St. Pius X Church to share ideas and methods for bringing aid to Third World parishes and people. The conference will be followed by Mass in Creole at 5:30 p.m.

The host parish, located at 2621 Highway 20, SE, Conyers, is one of several in the archdiocese working on an ongoing basis with particular parishes in Haiti to help provide material, spiritual and volunteer help in the face of enormous destitution.

Speakers at the conference will include Theresa Patterson, director of the Haiti Parish Twinning Program based in Nashville, Tenn., which has been successfully matching parishes for decades, and Father Robert Poncet, pastor in Los Palis, Haiti, in the Hinche Diocese. Father Poncet is pastor of the sister parish to St. Pius. Also speaking will be Nina Harrison, director of development of the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia.

Representatives from several parishes who twin with parishes in Haiti will attend. Those interested in the opportunities are also invited and encouraged to attend.

St. Pius entered into an agreement with the Catholic parish of Los Palis in June 1998 and has been developing an ongoing relationship, which includes teams from the parish going to Los Palis bringing supplies and help.

About 75 percent of the population of Haiti lives in abject poverty.

For further information, contact Carlos and Jodi Martinez at (770) 602-0753.