Christ the King Parish welcomed Haitian refugees for an evening of prayer, fellowship, and a meal.

On March 25, the Hope for Haiti Committee at Christ the King Parish warmly welcomed Haitian refugees and Fr. Pierre Marie France, parochial vicar at Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, for an evening of prayer, fellowship, and a meal. 

During the gathering, Fr. Pierre, Haitian community members Carmel Marie Nordeus Dorcely and Gregory Cherisme, as well as attendees of the Creole Mass, shared their experiences of faith and resilience.

Nancy Cole, a lay minister from Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish, recounted a story of welcome and belonging. She spoke of Marie, a Haitian refugee who attended a women’s book study for the first time and was warmly embraced by the group. Through this act of inclusion, Marie found a sense of community. When she later had to mourn the loss of her mother from afar—attending the funeral via Zoom— she was not alone. Her newfound community stood by her.

Pope Francis reminds us “to overcome indifference and to counter fears with a generous approach of welcoming those who knock at our doors” (Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to Participants in the International Forum on “Migration and Peace” 2017).

A heartfelt thank you to Christ the King Parish and Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish for embodying this spirit of hospitality, opening their doors to strangers, and inspiring us all to do the same.