Feast and Faith: A Glimpse into St. Marc Parish’s Joyful Resilience
Each year on April 25, the community of Jeannette, Haiti, bursts into celebration for the Feast of St. Marc. In Haiti, a church’s feast day is far more than a liturgical observance—it is one of the grandest events of the year, filled with music, movement, and overflowing spirit. At St. Marc Parish, this day fully expresses faith and resilience. We are happy to finally share this with you via video!
While political instability has made travel to Haiti difficult, we invite you to join the celebration from wherever you are. This year, we’re bringing the Feast Day to you with videos and photos that showcase the power and beauty of this sacred occasion.
🎶 Watch the Choir Lift Every Voice
The St. Marc Choir, a hallmark of the parish, filled the sanctuary with vibrant harmonies and heartfelt praise. Their music isn’t just a performance—it’s a prayer set to rhythm, a reflection of a community that sings its hope even in the most challenging times.
🥁 Experience the Parish Band in Full Procession
In Haiti, parades are not uncommon on feast days, and St. Marc’s band leads with joy and power. The procession starts from the presbytery and leads up to the church, drawing in the village as drums echo and brass shouts in celebration. In this procession, the band and singers wear red and white, the clergy red, and the women are in white.
🕊 See Visiting Episcopal Clergy Join the Procession
In the final seconds of the processional video, you’ll see more than a dozen Episcopal clergy from around Haiti joining in the celebration, vested and smiling as they process into the church. This decisive moment reminds us that although headlines from Haiti often focus on tragedy, life in rural areas like Jeannette continues with joy and sacred rhythm. The presence of clergy from across the region underscores the strength and unity of the Episcopal Church in Haiti and its ongoing role as a beacon of hope.
📸 See Daily Life at St. Marc School
The parish's life stretches beyond feast days. During a recent PE class, students in bright orange uniforms moved across the school grounds—evidence of both structure and freedom, of growing minds and healthy bodies. Their energy is contagious, and their presence is a testament to your support.
Though we can’t walk physically beside them this year in Jeannette, we remain united in mission. Amidst a national crisis—where over 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced by gang violence in the capital—our siblings at St. Marc continue to gather, worship, learn, and serve.
Thanks to your faithful generosity and their faithful witness, we are pleased to report that we will again contribute the same amount as last year toward the 2025–26 St. Marc School and Clinic budgets. We celebrate the sign of self-sufficiency that the village has taken in partial support of the salaries of their staff at the school and clinic. In addition, we continue funding the daily school canteen, the vital pharmacy, and the Cassava Program, which supports food security and local agriculture and will be the driver for the continued sustainability of their local community in the years to come.
As the school year nears its close in June, we’ll share more images and stories from this incredible place. Until then, take a moment to watch, listen, and pray with the people of Jeannette.
Bondye be”ni nou—God bless you.
