St. Martial Will Rise Again: Spiritan School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti Damaged by Gang Violence

The Petit Seminaire College St. Martial is the country’s oldest high school started by the Spiritans in 1870 as St. Martial College. Shortly thereafter it was recognized as Haiti’s leading boys’ high school. 

The then French Ambassador was quoted as saying, ”the only hope for the regeneration of Haiti lies in the education provided by the Holy Ghost Fathers”.
Today the school, which has provided quality education to several generations of Haitians, includes both elementary and high school students.  

Fall and Rise

In 2010 the school was destroyed by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake. Five years later a new school arose on the site, opening in October of 2015. 

From 1865 to the present, well over 300 Spiritan missionaries, including brothers and priests, have ministered and worked at the school.

Gangs Ransack St. Martial

On Monday, 1st April 2024, at 5 p.m. local time, the tranquility of the campus was destroyed when armed bandits broke into the Petit Séminaire Collège Saint Martial by climbing over a poorly protected wall in a back street. Read the firsthand account from the Spiritans in Haiti below. 

Haiti: A Story of Spiritan Persistence, Dedication, Resilience, Contributions in a Country Beset by Disasters

In 1779 the first Spiritans arrived in Haiti from France to work among the slaves in the sugar plantations of San Domingo, the original name of the Caribbean Island now divided into two independent countries, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In 1789 the French Revolution brought an abrupt end to this venture. The Spiritans were able to return to Haiti, however, in 1843.

During the Duvalier regime six Spiritans were expelled from the country as their  concept of justice and peace was seen to be too radical. In 1969 the regime expelled all Spiritans from the country.

Undeterred, the Spiritans returned to the country in 1986. The Duvalier regime had fallen and in 1990 new hope was given to the country with the election of John-Bertrand Aristide, a former priest.

Upon their return to Haiti in 1986 the Spiritans demonstrated their unwavering commitment to their mission. They purchased a small house near Mother Teresa’s AIDS Clinic where they could live, foster a community, and engage in theological studies.

In 1995 President Aristide joined ambassadors and other dignitaries as the St. Martial was turned back to the Spiritan District of Haiti. 

Haiti has experienced seven major earthquakes since 1953, the largest of which killed 316,000 in 2010. SOMA provided emergency funding following the earthquakes in 2021 and 2023.

Despite these hardships, the Spiritans remain committed to Haiti. The recent setback serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggles, but their presence for over 150 years speaks volumes about their resilience. 

The Haitian Spiritan Library (Bibliothèque Haitienne Des Spiritains), a national treasure they maintain, stands as a testament to their enduring cultural contributions.

The Spiritans have become closely identified with the illiterate, the oppressed, the urban slum dwellers and those in remote rural areas where they have promoted agricultural projects. 

Their dedication to the Haitian people ensures ongoing efforts to uplift the community through education, faith, and social support.

Presently 12 Spiritans are working in the country and ministering to St. Paul, Sacred Heart, St. Anne / Joachim, Notre Dame Perpetual Sorrows Parishes.

One final note on persistence: In spite of the turmoil surrounding them, the province includes nine men in formation for the priesthood. 

Thanks for Helping Us Reach Our Match Goal!

We have exceeded our Spiritan Day of Giving goal of raising $30,000. We continue processing donations that are still coming in, but so far, we raised $34,588.10 for the Spiritan Day of Giving campaign, which included funds raised at our Spiritans in Mission Dinner.

With our generous matching donor amount of $30,000, our estimated total is $64,588.10. Your support will make a real difference for Spiritan Missionary projects.