On May 29, the new Yvon Joseph Community Residence in Tabarre, Haiti, was blessed and dedicated by Fr. Éric Jasmin, C.S.C., Superior of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Province. The new building has nine bedrooms, two of which are for visitors, a chapel, refectory, dining room, and kitchen. It will house confreres who minister at College Notre-Dame du Perpétuel Secours annex. In addition, it is intended to be a rest home and to accommodate confreres passing through the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

In his comments at the ceremony, Fr. Jasmin gave thanks to God and the Solidarity Fund for bringing this building project to completion. Fr. Jasmin, also spoke about the man to whom the building is dedicated, Fr. Yvon Joseph, C.S.C., former Dean of the Province who died in 2014.

“He was a simple man, who was loyal, jovial, who loved life but above all, who loved his land of Haiti. He was a man of God who worked hard to improve the quality of life for his brothers and sisters and to respect their rights and their dignity. This brand new building will always remind us of his time in Haiti and what he achieved in this Church through Holy Cross," said Fr. Jasmin. 

Read about the ministry of Holy Cross in Haiti

Fr. Jasmin concluded his comments with his hope for the building’s future. “May prayer constitute the soul of this Bethel, inhabited by men of God, and may the Eucharist allow them to be anchored and to remain in peace in the joy of Christ.”

After Mass, several confreres, friends of Fr. Yvon, and other religious working in the Port-au-Prince area gathered to share a festive meal. Finally, the Superior of the residence, Fr. Baudelaire Martial, C.S.C., current Administrator of CIFOR, a center where our Holy Cross seminarians study philosophy and theology, thanked each participant, especially, Fr. Bellange Gabriel, C.S.C., Steward and Procurator of the Province, who served as engineer during the construction.