Haiti Solidarity Network of the North East, known affectionately as HSNNE, came to be in 1993, after a Pax Christi delegation traveled to Haiti in support of an infant democracy and democratically elected president. Father Jack Martin was one of the travelers and returned home recognizing the need of the Haitian people for support and solidarity in their struggle for human rights and freedom. With the help of Father Gene Squeo, Bill Crum and others, they began to meet on a regular basis to keep the commitment to Haiti alive. Over the next few years, HSNNE became a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, initiated a newsletter called “Kenbe Fèm” and held regular meetings
attended by a growing membership. We focused on current issues affecting Haiti and visits to Haiti by members and others to learn about needs and provide help when possible.

In 1998, Father Joe Towle, MM, asked Father Jack and HSNNE member, Normand Varieur, to help produce a video documentary in the Maryknoll Series on Children of the World, featuring a child growing up in Marigot, Haiti.

In 1999, Father Jack and HSNNE were awarded the Dorothy Day Peace Award by Pax Christi.

In 2000, Georgette Delinois became president, succeeding Fr. Jack. Normand initiated a liaison with a Catholic Law School in Jeremie called Ecole Superieure Catholique de Droit de Jeremie, ESCDROJ, which was founded by Bishop Willy Romelus to prepare lawyers able to build and function in a government under the rule of law. Fr. Gene and HSNNE member, Judy Reilly, worked to establish a relationship between ESCDROJ and Seton Hall Law School, which has grown into a collaboration between the schools and the development of the Haiti Rule of Law Project at Seton Hall. At the tenth anniversary graduation of ESCDROJ
in 2006, Fr. Gene and Judy were honored as Godparents of the graduating class.

We studied and chose as one focus of our attention, deforestation in Haiti and benefited from the ground breaking and diligent work of HSNNE member, Gene Herrington. Gene’s work formed a basis for our early support of reforestation efforts by the Religious of Jesus and Mary in Gros Morne, and our current support of an agronomy project in Vallieres.

HSNNE supports and collaborates with the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas (PTPA), formerly known as the Haiti Parish Twinning Program, founded by Theresa Patterson and Harry Hosey. Through the efforts of members, Toni Malone, Father Jack and Normand, twinning relationships were established between several New Jersey Catholic parishes and parishes in Haiti. Among them are St. Joseph’s, Keyport, twinned with a parish in Pignon; St. Catherine’s, Mountain Lakes, twinned with a parish in Dame Marie; Our Lady of Mercy, Park Ridge, twinned with a parish in Vallieres; Our Lady of the Lakes, Sparta, twinned with a parish in Acul du Nord; Presentation Church, Upper Saddle River, twinned with a parish in Cavaillon; Most Blessed Sacrament, Franklin Lakes, twinned with a parish in Bodmè de Limonade; St. Joseph’s, Lincoln Park, twinned with a parish in Grand Vincent and St. Patrick’s/Assumption
All Saints, Jersey City, twinned with a parish in Jacmel. Medical missions, scholarship programs, micro-credit programs and the organization of community peasant groups have flourished in these parish twinning relationships. Members, Dr. Sue Morrison (medical missions), Toni Malone (micro-credit and scholarships), Clauvice St. Hilaire (peasant group organization), Judy Reilly (micro-credit and scholarships) and Joe Parlapiano (scholarships and education) have worked long and hard in their Haitian twin communities.

Members, Georgette Delinois, Dieudonne Bazile and Clauvice St. Hilaire, have acted as translators and facilitators on many parish twinning and HSNNE missions. Member, Sister Kay Coll, served as a staff member of Hospice St. Joseph’s in Port-au-Prince. Member, Sister Carol Ann Lockwood, ministered in Gros Morne with the Monfortan Fathers and the Religious of Jesus and Mary. Member, Pierre Moreau, is a Bureau of Immigration Affairs Accredited Representative, working for Catholic Charities in Newark, representing many immigrants in court proceedings.

Following the coup d’etat in Haiti in 2004, HSNNE members undertook an effort to advocate for democracy and justice in Haiti, contacting and visiting our elected government representatives and speaking to members of the public
concerning the continuing human rights abuses and other abusive practices of the forces occupying Haiti.

On April 19, 2008, Fr. Gene received the Pax Christi NJ Dorothy Day Peacemaker of the Year Award for 2007.

HSNNE has supported and worked with other groups and people in solidarity with the Haitian people, such as Guy Antoine, Windows on Haiti.com, Brian Concannon, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti, Mario Joseph, Bureau des Avocats Internationaux, Paul Farmer, Partners In Health, Sisters Patricia Dillon, Jackie Picard and Vivian Patenaud, Religious of Jesus and Mary, Evel Fanfan, AUMOHD, Ninaj Raoul, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Movimiento De Mujeres Dominico-Haitiana, NYU School of Law Center for Human Rights and Global Justice...