Haitian priest finds his calling in months without Mass

Catholics in Haiti have often experienced a situation that might surprise people elsewhere in the world. Entire communities of faithful went months without being able to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist. Father Hugues Paul, a priest from the Diocese of Jacmel, has known this reality since childhood. Today, however, Haiti has enough priests that some can even go as missionaries to other countries.

This experience was decisive in his life. “In these ecclesial communities, sometimes almost a year could go by without the celebration of Holy Mass,” he explained.

This very lack awakened Fr. Paul's vocation. Growing up, his family went to church at a small chapel, a satellite church attached to a parish. There, due to a shortage of priests, the faithful kept their faith alive through Liturgies of the Word led by laypeople. 

“Usually there is a pastoral worker, whom we call the chapel director, in charge of presiding over celebrations of the Word in the absence of priests,” he noted. In the midst of this reality, he felt God’s call.

“It was in this context that I felt God's call to lend a hand in his vineyard, to help his people encounter him and live the faith in a deeper way where the Eucharist would be the center,” he pointed out.

He had received a solid Catholic education at home, although his academic formation took place in Christian schools of other denominations. His teenage years were marked by intense participation in the life of the local Church.

That simple community, where faith was sustained with few resources but great conviction, was the place where his vocation matured. “I lived a very joyful and active adolescence, participating in groups and in the chapel choir, until I finally entered the seminary,” he recalled.

Father Hugues Paul, now 39, was ordained a priest on June 26, 2021. Three years later, he went to Spain to continue his priestly formation, thanks to the support of the CARF Foundation and other institutions. He’s currently finishing a degree in biblical theology.

From afar, he watches his country's situation with concern. Haiti is going through a deep crisis marked by violence and insecurity. “Life has become very difficult, mostly because of the insecurity that affects almost the entire territory, especially the capital,” he explained.

The Diocese of Jacmel, located in the southeast of the country, is experiencing a relatively more stable situation than other regions. However, the consequences of the massive 2010 earthquake are still visible. “We are still waiting for the completion of the reconstruction work on the cathedral and many destroyed parishes,” he pointed out.

A lack of resources and sufficient aid has delayed these projects for years, though they remain essential for many communities.

Yet, even in this context, faith remains a living force. “Despite this, the people continue to believe; many people take risks to find a place to live their faith and participate in the celebrations,” he added.

Indeed, Catholics in Haiti make up between 60% and 66% of the population. In the Diocese of Jacmel, there are about 80 priests serving 36 parishes. Across the entire country, including all ten dioceses and religious orders, there are an estimated 800 to 900 priests.

The universal Church has been a fundamental support during these difficult years. “We’ve received great support from the universal Church, especially through Aid to the Church in Need,” he emphasized.

His experience in Spain has also made him reflect on the differences between the two ecclesial realities. What has impressed him most positively is “the beauty of the churches.” However, he worries when he sees churches with few young people. “It strikes me that the Church seems to be made up mainly of older people, with very little presence of young people and children at the celebrations,” he observed.

In his view, Spanish society is undergoing a profound process of secularization. Even so, he believes there are opportunities to revitalize the life of the Church.

In particular, he thinks Spanish Catholics could draw inspiration from how the liturgy is lived in Haiti. “Spanish Catholics could learn from Haitian Catholics the enthusiasm for sung celebrations, which help make them more alive and participatory,” he suggested.

Looking to the future, Father Hugues Paul is clear about the kind of priests the Church needs in the 21st century. They need “to be close, empathetic, and coherent with their faith; good communicators, open to dialogue, sensitive to social problems, with a solid spiritual life, and capable of accompanying without judging,” he said.

He considers this same attitude essential for reaching out to those who currently live far from the faith. “To evangelize young people and those who are far from God, I consider it fundamental to listen to them with respect, to give witness with one's own life, to use current language and digital media; to create welcoming spaces and to show that faith responds to the real questions of today's world,” he explained.

Father Paul's story highlights a reality that often goes unnoticed. In many parts of the world, Christians go months without the Eucharist and eagerly await the arrival of a priest to celebrate Holy Mass.

Out of that very waiting, new vocations willing to serve are born. All the partners, friends, and benefactors of the CARF Foundation take on the task of praying for them. They also work to gather the financial resources so these seminarians can receive a comprehensive formation.