In many regions of Haiti, sacramental life is marked by prolonged waiting. For some of the faithful, several months, or even an entire year, can pass without them being able to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist. It is in this context of spiritual and material precariousness that the vocation of Father Hugues Paul, originally from the Diocese of Jacmel, was born. He now bears witness to an ecclesial reality where a thirst for God coexists with insecurity and the aftermath of natural disasters.
Father Hugues Paul, ordained on June 26, 2021, at the age of 39, grew up within a small rural community, a structure locally called a "chapel." These local churches, dependent on a central parish, constitute the heart of Christian life for Haitians far from urban centers. In the absence of priests, it is the laity, and more specifically the "chapel director," who keep the flame of faith alive by presiding over celebrations of the Word. "It is in this context that I felt God's call to lend a hand in his vineyard," he explains, referring to his desire to help the people place the Eucharist at the center of their lives.
Although he received a solid Catholic education at home, his schooling took place in Christian institutions of various denominations. His adolescence was marked by active involvement in the life of his local community, notably in the choir, before his entry into the seminary.
Today, Father Hugues is continuing his formation in Spain, where he arrived on June 30, 2024. With the support of the CARF Foundation and other Church institutions, he is completing a degree in biblical theology. From there, he observes with deep concern the evolution of his home country. Haiti is indeed going through a profound crisis, characterized by widespread insecurity, particularly suffocating in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Despite this climate of violence, religious fervor remains a vital force for Haitians, who represent between 60% and 66% of the population. In the Diocese of Jacmel, located in the southeast of the country, the situation is relatively more stable than elsewhere, but the scars of the devastating 2010 earthquake remain visible. The reconstruction of the cathedral and several destroyed parishes is still not completed, due to a lack of sufficient resources. In this trial, the aid of the universal Church, notably through the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), has proven crucial in supporting the 80 priests who serve the 36 parishes of the diocese. Nationally, it is estimated that Haiti has between 800 and 900 priests for ten dioceses.
His stay in Europe also allows him to contrast the situation of the Church in Spain with that in Haiti. While he says he is impressed by the architectural splendor of Spanish churches, he does not hide his concern about growing secularization. He notes a low presence of young people and children during celebrations, the community being mostly composed of elderly people. For Father Hugues, European Catholics could draw inspiration from Haitian enthusiasm, particularly through sung liturgy, to make celebrations more lively and participatory.
When asked about the profile of the priest needed in the 21st century, he advocates for a ministry of closeness and empathy, anchored in a solid spiritual life and exemplary doctrinal coherence. According to him, the evangelization of new generations and those who have drifted away from the Church requires respectful listening, the use of digital tools, and a witness of life that responds to the deep questions of the contemporary world.
The journey of this Haitian priest thus reminds us that, in many parts of the world, the presence of a shepherd remains a gift awaited with hope. It is to respond to this expectation that international solidarity continues to mobilize, in order to offer future ministers an integral formation for the service of the People of God.