Who We Are
The Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East (HSNNE ) has its roots in Father Jack Martin's return from a Pax Christi delegation to Haiti. Father Jack wanted to remain involved in the struggle of the poor people of Haiti,and in 1994, he was joined by Fathers Bill Crum and Eugene Squeo. Their purpose was to gather others interested in being “in solidarity” with Haiti.
They met monthly at St. Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ, focusing on education by obtaining speakers, attending meetings and joining in actions centered on Haiti and its return to democracy. Equally important was direct presence through delegations which gave rise to commitments to parishes and projects.What We Do
Today, HSNNE is an organization based in New Jersey, whose goals are to:
- show solidarity with our Haitian brothers and sisters through prayer and meetings
- inform ourselves and others regarding Haiti
- visit our brothers and sisters in various parts of Haiti through personal delegations
- provide financial support and manually self-help projects in Haiti
- publicize true information about Haiti
- strengthen Haiti's independence through whatever non-violent means possible
The map below indicates those communities in Haiti where HSNNE is providing active project support.
JÉRÉMIE
HSNNE formed a liaison with L’Ecole Superieure Catholique de Droit de Jérémie,(ESCDROJ), a law school founded by Bishop Willy Romelus in 1999. Father Squeo of our executive board laid the groundwork for a continuing relationship between the Seton Hall Law School here in Newark and ESCDROJ.
VALLIERES
Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Park Ridge, has a twinning relationship with the community in Vallieres.
DAME MARIE
St. Catherine of Sienna Parish, Mountain Lakes, twins with Our Lady of Nativity in Dame Marie.CAVAILLON
Presentation Parish, Upper Saddle River, has formed a twinning relationship with Cavaillon after conducting a one week medical mission there seeing over 1,000 people.PIGNON
Tonie Malone heads the twinning program between St. Joseph Parish, Keyport, and Pignon.GROS MORNE
HSNNE provides support for Sister Pat Dillon's mission and for reforestration projects.PORT-au-PRINCE
HSNNE President Georgette Delinois spearheads fund-raising for books and tuition at Pere Bazile Moreau's school. For a more detailed description of the projects HSNNE supports in each community, see our Current Activities page.A Brief History
The following time line highlights the growth of HSNNE, identifying significant events and milestones in our development as well as the personal contributions and commitments of our members.
1993: Father Jack Martin returns from a Pax Christi delegation to Haiti and searches for a means to remain involved in the struggle of aiti's poor, oppressed by the coup.
1994: Fathers Bill Crum and Eugene Squeo join Father Jack to gather others interested in being “in solidarity” with Haiti. They met monthly at St. Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth, NJ. They focus on education by obtaining speakers, attending meetings and joining in actions centered on Haiti and its return to democracy. They also begin working through delegations to get commitments to parishes and projects.
1995-1997: Now known as Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East, the organization grows in membership and becomes incorporated as a non-profit (501c3). HSNNE creates a newsletter Kenbe Fèm, (Creole for "Hold Fast"), edited by Normand Varieur. The first Dinner Dance fund-raiser for projects and programs in Haiti is held.
1998: HSNNE is recognized as a responsible Haiti contact. Jack Martin (president) and Normand Varieur (secretary) help Maryknoll Father Joe Towle video tape the Haiti portion of the Maryknoll Series on Children of the World in Marigot, Jacmel Diocese.
1999: Pax Christi awards Jack Martin and HSNNE the Dorothy Day Peace Award.
HSNNE links with the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas (PTPA) and strong bonds are established: Pignon with St. Joseph’s, Keyport (Tonie Malone - micro credit programs); Dame Marie with St. Catherine’s, Mountain Lakes (Dr. Sue Morrison, Normand Varieur medical missions); and Vallieres with Our Lady of Mercy, Park Ridge (Judy Reilly - micro-credit and scholarship program). A relationship is also established with Gros Morne through Sister Pat Dillon, RJM, whose congregation has a mission there. (HSNNE contributes to the reforestation project.)
Normand Varieur starts a September Sea Container project which continues annually with the help of HSNNE.
Volunteers loading sea container.
2000: Georgette Delinois becomes president and Judy Reilly becomes treasurer. Through efforts of Tonie Malone and Normand, additional parishes join the PTPA. HSNNE collaborates with Fordham University and Seton Hall Law School, laying the groundwork for a continuing relationship between Seton Hall Law School and ESCDROJ. HSNNE expands its relationship with Father Piquion, Holy Cross superior at College Notre Dame, increasing its dedication to education beyond the scholarship programs, believing.. "Education -- not money -- is power. Education will yield independence.”
2003: HSNNE mourns the passing of its outstanding and dedicated member, Normand Varieur. Sister Kay Coll, SSJ, returns from her almost three year ministry in Hospice St. Joseph, Port-au-Prince and becomes HSNNE’S first employee, working part time.
2004: HSNNE sponsors a second week long program in alternate dispute resolution for law school students in Jeremie. Through medical missions, economic development projects and tuition assistance, HSNNE members continue to work in Gros Morne, Pignon, Port-au-Prince and Dame Marie. In Vallieres, in conjunction with Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Park Ridge, HSNNE has provided technical support for small peasant group initiatives in fish farming and raising goats. President Georgette Delinois fund raises for books and tuition for Pere Bazile Moreau’s school in Port-au-Prince.
The 2004 retreat at Stony Point Center, NY with facilitator Robyn Brown Manning of Kriya Associates helps surface priorities, one of which was advocacy. HSNNE is assisted in this through its relationship with others. Father Squeo is instrumental in obtaining the release of a detainee in the Elizabeth Detention Center.
2005: Following the coup in 2004, HSNNE members increase their advocacy against the human rights abuses that continue. A new relationship is established with AUMOHD, a human rights advocacy group through Evel Fanfan and Tom Luce of April 6 VT Citizens’ Lobby.
Gene Squeo, Jack Martin and Judy Reilly meet with Congressman Chris Smith of the Foreign Relations Committee and human rights sub-committee, asking him to call for a Congressional Hearing on the human rights’ abuses. HSNNE continues its relationship with the people of Haiti, working with them for justice, an end to oppression and occupation, and a return to self-determination.
Our Lady of Mercy, Park Ridge initiates a literacy program in Vallieres. Dame Marie adds to its clinic feeding program. Catherine‘s Boutique, a sewing program, continues. Through this program, fifty per cent of what the women sew goes to the poor for food and tuition.
A team of twelve parishioners from the Church of the Presentation, Upper Saddle River, go on a medical mission to Cavaillon. In seven clinic days, over a thousand people are treated at the clinic.
Executive Board
| Georgette Delinois, President |
Rev. Jack Martin, Founder and Past President |
| Rev. Gene Squeo, Director |
Judy Reilly, Treasurer |
| Pierre Moreau, Director |
Kay Coll, SSJ, Network Coordinator |
| Clauvice St. Hillaire, Director |
Dieudonne Basile, Secretary |
| Sister Carol Ann Lockwood, S.C. Director |
|
Contact Us
You can reach us at:HSNNE
39 Bleeker Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
(201) 437-0020
Information for the website may be sent to the webmaster.