REGION OF HAITI: HISTORY AND VIATORIAN PRESENCE
A missionary heritage (since 1965)
The Viatorian adventure in Haiti began in the summer of 1965. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits by the government of François Duvalier, the Holy See requested the Clerics of Saint Viator to take over. The first Canadian missionaries then settled in Port-au-Prince to direct the Grand Séminaire Notre-Dame, the crucial center for the training of Haitian clergy.
Community engagement quickly expanded beyond presbyteral training:
1966: Integration of Sainte-Marie Community with Fr. Jacques Beaudry.
1967: Establishment at Villa Manrèse, inherited from the Jesuits. This religious center was at the heart of the Viatorian mission in Haiti until its tragic destruction during the 2010 earthquake.
In 1968, the mission took a decisive turn in the “City of Independence.” Two Viatorians took over the direction of the Collège Immaculée-Conception (CIC), founded two years earlier by Father Louis Cinéus, then pastor of the Cathedral in Gonaïves. Over the decades, this college has become a reference institution and a true educational pillar for the country.
Today, the Viatorians run and manage five outstanding educational institutions, embodying the charism of the Venerable Querbes:
Immaculée-Conception College (CIC): A flagship institution in the region.
École Nationale Congréganiste Cyr-Guillo: Under Viatorian direction since 2001, following the departure of the Brothers of Christian Instruction (FIC)
Institution Mixte Saint-Viateur: Founded in the early 1970s at the initiative of the Clerics of Saint Viator, in close collaboration with the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, this school was initially named ’École Marie-Rose-Durocher«. Its current facilities were made possible thanks to financial support from the SERSO organization of the Province of Spain.
Saint-Viateur Kindergarten: A space dedicated to early childhood, opened in 2011.
5. École James M. Stine: Founded in 2011 by the Rodrigue-Mortel Foundation. In addition to teaching, the school is a community life center that hosts youth camps during the summer.
The Viatorian presence also left its mark on the north of the country, in Dondon, where the community ran the Saint-Charles-Borromée Presbyteral School (now Saint-Viateur School) from 1969 to 1990, before withdrawing due to a lack of religious personnel.
Faithful to their educational and spiritual mission, the Clerics of Saint Viator continue to build Haiti's future through a strong presence in the Artibonite region, combining academic rigor with pastoral support.
Radiation in the Western Department
The congregation maintains a dynamic presence in the West department, structured around three key geographical areas:
The capital constitutes the nerve center for training and administrative activities:
Saint-Viateur Welcome Center: The Saint-Viateur Welcome Center, located in Cazeau (north exit), is dedicated to supporting applicants.
Regional House: Due to growing insecurity that forced the abandonment of the old scholasticate on Impasse Lavaud (near CIFOR), the student community has been settled since November 2025 in the new regional house adjacent to Villa Saint-Viateur.
Villa Saint-Viateur: Completely rebuilt between 2020 and 2023 after being destroyed in the 2010 earthquake, the former Villa Manrèse has become Villa Saint-Viateur. It currently serves as the main house for the entire congregation in Haiti.
About 17 km from the capital, the Viatorians are involved in parish and educational life:
Pastoral Action: The community oversees the animation and management of the Christ the King parish, located in the «Le Meilleur» neighborhood.
Education: The school offering is represented by the Saint-Viateur Mixed Institution of Croix-des-Bouquets, an establishment inaugurated in September 2014.
Present for several decades about 60 km from Port-au-Prince, the Clerics manage pillar works there:
Parish pastoral care: Since December 1986, the Viatorians have been in charge of the Saint-François d’Assise parish, which now serves five chapels. A testament to this pastoral dynamism, a new parish (Saint-Martin de Tours) has just been established on part of its original territory.
Educational Mission: The congregation oversees a vast school network, including the Saint Francis of Assisi Institution downtown, several parish schools, and the Saint Viator Kindergarten, whose construction was funded by the Spanish organization SERSO.
The Viatorian community in Haiti currently consists of 38 religious, including 21 perpetually professed and 17 with temporary vows. The dynamism of succession is ensured by several young men in initial formation. Furthermore, the Viatorian family is expanding to include 6 associate members.
The region's history is marked by the commitment of the first Haitian Viatorians, Father Nestor Fils-Aimé (current Superior General) and Father Kénel Verna (Master of Novices), who joined the community in 1988.
True to the legacy of Father Querbes, the religious and associates embody their mission daily through:
The educational environment: an active presence within schools.
Youth pastoral care: dynamic support through movements such as the Preparation for Life Service (SPV), New Christian Animation (NAC), and the ALEGRIA Choir.
The year 2025 marked a historic milestone: the Viatorians gave thanks for sixty years of faithfulness and mission in Haitian territory. It is with renewed confidence and hope that the community continues its journey today in the service of the Gospel.
