St. John’s has partnerships with the parish of St. Philippe/St. Jacques in Gressier, Haiti; a Catholic mission in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala; and the village of Nueva Providencia in Guatemala.

Guatemala Partnership
Since 2009 St. John's has made annual trips to Guatemala to work with the Catholic Mission in San Lucas Toliman on the shore of Lake Atitlan in the western highlands. Recently we have begun to partner with a small village outside of San Lucas Toliman called Nueva Providencia. Nueva Providencia was created after the coffee crash of 2000, when coffee prices dropped precipitously and the coffee plantation, whose land the village now owns, went bankrupt. Then, in 2002, a massive landslide destroyed the village of El Porvenir, leaving those that survived homeless.

The mission at San Lucas bought the land from the finca and relocated former finca workers and the survivors from El Porvenir to the land that has become Nueva Providencia. Consisting of about 45 families, Nueva Providencia now has a school, a water system and the beginnings of a solar-powered electrical system. Currently under construction is a small hydro-electric generating system.

St. John's has worked on the water sytem, the hydro-electric system and helped to raise money for a new footbbridge that was constructed in May 2012.  In August, we installed fuel-effiecient stoves and did more repair work on the water system. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  if interested.

Guatemala 2013– The following two trips have filled.  An additional trip has been added.  See below for more information.

There are 2 opportunities to visit and work in Guatemala this summer. We will work with our friends in the village of Nueva Providencia and then have a few days to immerse ourselves in the beauty of the culture and geography of Guatemala. Dates are July 20-29 or July 29-August 7. Both trips are open to youth and adults ages 14 and up (younger folks are welcome in the company of a responsible adult) and cost $1500 including airfare. Each group is limited to 12 people. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

• We have scheduled a 3rd trip this summer because we have filled the two trips originally scheduled.  The new trip will be July 11-20.  Cost is $1500, inclusive of airfare and is open to anyone ages 14 and up. We work for 5 days in the village of Nueva Providencia and then have a couple days to see the sights.  To sign-up or for info: Bill at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Haiti Partnership
The Haiti Partnership Program is about growing together in Christ through relationship. St Johns has been in partnership with the parish of St Philippe & St Jacques in Gressier, Haiti since June, 2007. St Johns Haiti Partnership Committee meets regularly to coordinate plans for working with St. Philippe & St. Jacques and their rector, Father Kerwin Delicat, and for making visits to Haiti.

The earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010 gave renewed impetus and urgency to our partnership. The residents of Gressier and surrounding areas suffered great losses, and both the church and school of St Philippe & St Jacques were destroyed.

St Johns is committed to a long-term relationship with our Haitian friends and partners as they rebuild their homes, schools, churches and their lives. Each year we raise significant funds to provide support for the school at St. Philippe & St Jacques. We organize two medical missions a year. In 2012, we hope to help rebuild the school.

Haiti 2013

There will be a medical mission trip April 12-20. This is open to anyone, no medical experience is necessary. Cost: approx. $1200. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In May we will be participating in a Bishop’s Trip to Haiti, in the company of Bishop Brian Prior. The purpose of the trip is to visit and learn from all the current partnerships between Episcopal Churches in Minnesota and Episcopal Churches in Haiti.

If you would like to be part of the Haiti Partnership or travel to Haiti, please contact the chair of the Haiti Committee, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .