News From Father Bruno

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus,

I hope you are all well, rejoicing in the Holy Trinity. After a joyful celebration of my 50th anniversary of being ordained as a priest on June 11 and having recently celebrated my 77th birthday, I have reflected, meditated, prayed, and mesmerized about my hard work and labor with developing schools, ministering to the people at church and most importantly my ministry as a priest. It is why after all this time, and due to recent events regarding my health, I have concluded that I am ready to pass on the torch to another group.

This next trio of well-trained experienced professionals and I have been working closely these past few months, and it is with great pride, joy, confidence that they are carrying on the torch. They will bring a fresher taste, new ideas to the board, and they have presented new projects that not only was approved by Esperance et Vie's members but will also continue to lead it to prosperity and growth in a more modern way.

Although I will no longer be active director in the organization, I will be available to provide my guidance and expertise. I will also be available at your disposal to visit the different churches and work with different groups.

I believe the time has come for me to formally retire as active Director of Espérance et Vie.

However, I am happy to know that it is in very good hands. I want you to know that I remain available in case you ever need anything, and I will continue to pray for you and the new team as they start this new journey.

May God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit keep you now and forever.

In His Name,

Jean Monique Bruno

A Time of Change & Celebration

If you’ve ever walked or ridden down the streets of Terrier Rouge with Father Bruno, then you have witnessed the direct impact he has made on those around him. As he slowly makes his way down the dirt roads of his beloved community, people wave excitedly and run out of their houses to hug him, talk to him, and offer him gifts. Children hold his hand or onto his pants and run beside him. They want to be in his calming, loving presence and thank him for all the work he has done to make life easier for them in a poverty-stricken nation.

This year he celebrated 50 years in the ministry, and throughout that time, Father Bruno has been a vessel of goodwill and selfless service called by God and empowered by you. Bethlehem Ministry has been blessed to partner with Espérance et Vie for more than 30 years with many of you right by our side. You’ve watched the school grow from one preschool class to a student body of over 1,000! You celebrated with us when the first baby was born at the clinic, and you continue to help us stock the shelves of the pharmacy year after year. We have lifted up prayers together asking for the protection of our Haitian brothers and sisters from civil unrest, COVID, and a collapsing economy. Father Bruno and I are forever grateful to you for the ways in which you supported his vision, and we’re excited to share his plan for the new leadership of Espérance et Vie.

Father Bruno is moving into an emeritus position in which he will continue ministering to those in Terrier Rouge. He also hopes to continue engaging with you all on behalf of Espérance et Vie through travel, presentations, and personal conversations. Sarah Bruno, Jean Robert Bouloute, and Rachel Bruno will fill three new roles to collectively perform the duties Father Bruno has in the past and also perform additional tasks that will expand the capacity of both Espérance et Vie and Bethlehem Ministry.

This is a bittersweet moment for Bethlehem Ministry as we move into a new era. On behalf of our Board of Directors, I want to offer our sincerest thanks to Father Bruno for his years of selfless and inspirational leadership which have forever changed the lives of countless individuals. He leaves an incredible, Christ-inspired legacy of helping others. We also want to show our unanimous support to the new leadership team– Rachel Bruno, Sarah Bruno, and Jean Robert Bouloute. We believe each of them has a unique capacity to perform these roles because of their historical service with the organization and their dedication to the continued success of Espérance et Vie.

Please join us in this new leg of our journey together. Show your support of Father Bruno’s legacy by giving an unrestricted gift today which will allow us to put the money where it’s needed most.

All the best,

Kristen Pace

Executive Director

Bethlehem Ministry

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Kids for Change

Women are integral to all aspects of Haitian society, and according to USAID, nearly half of Haitian households are women-led. Women in rural Haiti are mothers raising children, they are daughters caring for elderly parents, they are street vendors and farmers, and their work touches all of daily life in Haiti. When we invest in Haitian women, we invest in the entire community.

Kids for Change is a campaign to empower women in Haiti. By donating to this cause, your money will support the initiative to give them young goats that will essentially be a savings account for the family, gaining interest as it grows. Women in the community can breed their goats to multiply their earning potential as well as provide milk and meat for their families. An adult goat can be sold for $30-$50, basically one month’s wages in Haiti!

Last year, Kids for Change raised over $3,000! As the goats sponsored by our friends grew up and multiplied, they nourished families and provided economic opportunity for women living in poverty. You can imagine what a difference this made as the price of rice, a food staple in the homes of Haitians, was inflated up to 45% in 2021. Together, we can make an even bigger impact this year!

Kids for Change will run throughout the month of May in celebration of Mother’s Day and especially mothers in Haiti who give tirelessly for their families. For just $25, you can honor a woman in your life by giving a woman in Haiti a chance at economic independence.

Click Here to Give a Goat Today!