Policy & Advocacy
2015 Haiti Update
2015 Haiti Update
Church Reconstruction in Haiti: 2010-2015, A Journey of Solidarity
Overview of Impact
The January 12, 2010 Haiti earthquake caused widespread death, injury, and destruction that deeply affected the Catholic Church: hundreds of clergy, religious, and lay leaders were killed or injured, and roughly 250 church-related buildings (churches, rectories, schools, houses of formation) across about 70 sites were severely damaged or destroyed. The estimated cost to church infrastructure is nearly $200 million. The Church’s loss was especially consequential because it serves as a central social and historical institution in Haitian community life.
USCCB response and funding
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) prioritized rebuilding the Church in Haiti, drawing on longstanding partnerships and humanitarian work (including Catholic Relief Services). A special USCCB collection raised nearly $100 million: 60% went to CRS for emergency relief and 40% was reserved for Church reconstruction under the USCCB Subcommittee on the Church in Latin America. To date, the USCCB has granted about $22 million of its reconstruction share and has roughly $11 million remaining to allocate, with plans to commit those funds by June 2016 and have them spent by the end of 2018.
PROCHE and reconstruction management
In September 2010 the Partnership for the Reconstruction of the Catholic Church in Haiti (PROCHE) was created to coordinate donors and the Haitian Church. PROCHE established an Operational Construction Unit within the Episcopal Conference of Haiti and is governed by a Joint Steering Committee with a staff-level Executive Committee for daily governance. PROCHE’s mandate is to ensure quality, quake- and hurricane-resistant construction and transparent accounting.
Project progress and examples
PROCHE began operations in November 2011 with about 30 projects; nearly 50 have since advanced and eight are complete. Of active projects, 21% are in planning, 47% in design, and 32% in construction or finished. Examples:
- St. Francis of Assisi Church, Grand Goave: rebuilt to be earthquake- and hurricane-resistant, now restoring worship and community life.
- Jacmel: a new multi-use hall nearing completion to replace lost community space while the Cathedral of St-Philippe and St-Jacques undergoes a longer restoration and seismic-strengthening process.
Current status and outlook
Reconstruction has made measurable progress, focusing on durable, safe structures and careful stewardship of donor funds. Continued work remains; a fuller project list is available on request. For more details, visit the USCCB website and search “Church in Haiti.”