Haiti Twinning
St. Thomas the Apostle Haiti Twinning is a partnership between two communities — St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Naperville, Illinois, and Ste. Marie-Madeleine in Duchity, Haiti.
Our partnership is united in purpose, compassion and shared growth.
Through this connection, parishioners from both parishes exchange resources, talents and prayers in ways that help build safety, health, dignity and opportunity for Haitian families, while inviting St. Thomas parishioners to live out their faith through action.
Our first mission team visited Duchity in 1999, greeted with flowers and a sign that read, “Welcome to Duchity. Thank you for coming. Here you are home.” Since then, over 80 mission teams have visited, building a friendship rooted in faith, hope and love.
Haiti continues to face deep challenges — political unrest, inflation and shortages of food and fuel. While Duchity has remained relatively peaceful, daily life is still marked by scarcity and uncertainty. Yet, in the midst of hardship, there is also hope and progress.
The people of Duchity recently shared joyful news: their parish church is now being used for worship! While the building still needs exterior plaster and tile flooring, the community gathers there with gratitude and pride.
Over the years, our twinning relationship has transformed both our communities. We have shared in their struggles and triumphs, learning from their resilience and deep faith. As one community, we continue to grow in compassion and solidarity.
Education: Investing in the Future
Feeding the Children
Healthcare and Hope
A Relationship That Transforms Lives
Our Haiti Twinning program helps make the Haiti community safer and healthier, while inviting everyone in St. Thomas to put love into action, fostering growth — not only in infrastructure and services — but in hearts, character and community.
