PTPA's Resources & Newest Program to Support Parish Twinning

PTPA is committed to strengthening twinning relationships and supporting member engagement through the following activities:

• Parish Engagement in the U.S.:
Visiting U.S. parishes to offer presentations and deepen understanding of Haiti ministries and present on potential twinning opportunities in Haiti and Latin America.

• Facilitating Connection with Twin Parishes in Haiti:
Supporting communication and relationship-building, especially where travel is limited due to socio-political and security challenges.

• Creole Translation Support:
Assisting members with translation needs to improve clarity and cultural connection.

• Training and Webinars:
Hosting virtual gatherings (e.g., Zoom sessions) on topics of interest to members, including best practices, updates from Haiti, and ministry development.

• In-Person Haiti Visits on Behalf of Members:
Coordinating safe, meaningful visits to twin parishes in Haiti through our Haiti-based team when direct travel is not feasible. View the Haiti Parish Pilot Visit Program description below.

• Connecting Members with Like-Minded Organizations:
When appropriate and aligned with the partner organization’s mission and framework, PTPA may help connect members with other organizations that can support their requests or initiatives.

To learn more about PTPA services, click above on the heading, "How We Support Twin Parishes"

About PTPA’s Haiti Parish Visit Pilot Program:

To help sustain strong twin parish relationships during a time when U.S. parishes are often unable to travel to Haiti, PTPA launched the Haiti Parish Visit Pilot Program. This initiative ensures that connection, accompaniment, and mutual understanding continue, even across distance.

Through the pilot, PTPA’s Haiti-based team, led by in‑country representative Domond, conducts onsite visits to Haitian twin parishes on behalf of their U.S. partners. These visits help maintain personal connection, gather updates, and listen closely to parish realities so that U.S. parishes remain meaningfully engaged.

Phase 1 of the pilot, which focused on Haiti’s North Department, has been successfully completed. Thanks to the support of PTPA members, many parishes received their first in‑person visit in years. These encounters were not simply informational; they were opportunities for parish leaders to celebrate progress made through their twinning relationships, share ongoing priority needs, and express heartfelt gratitude for the steadfast support of their U.S. partners.

Phase 2 is now underway, expanding visits to the South and Southeast Departments of Haiti.

After each visit, U.S. parishes receive a detailed report with photos, key observations, and priority needs, along with the opportunity for a follow‑up conversation with Domond to deepen understanding and reflection.

As the pilot continues, PTPA hopes to expand to additional departments where the security situation allows. Lessons learned from each phase are being carefully documented and applied, ensuring that the program continues to evolve, and that PTPA’s accompaniment remains responsive, effective, and rooted in partnership.

The Haiti Parish Visit Pilot Program is a powerful reminder that when travel isn’t possible, relationship still is and that solidarity can continue to be lived, shared, and strengthened across borders.

For Key Highlights About the Parish Visit Program to Date, and Next Steps, Click Above on the Heading, "Carrying the Fan of Passion Forward."

Provide a Legacy of Faith for those you love most. Pass on the heritage of faith and positively impact future generations of Catholics across the country.

PTPA has partnered with My Catholic Will, whose vision is “To secure Catholic legacies for future generations and support great Catholic non-profits in the process.” With My Catholic Will, you now have a simple, easy and FREE way to complete your will and ensure that the most sacred part of your life is protected. We are deeply grateful to you for prayerfully considering a legacy gift to the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas in your will and supporting our mission.

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The BENEFITS OF TWINNING and GETTING INVOLVED

In Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis encourages us to live the Gospel more fully and deeply by reaching out to the poor and broken, building justice and peace in the world and finding joy in all of it.

Live the Gospel by taking the leap of faith to begin this marvelous spiritual journey of solidarity we call “Parish Twinning”. As your parish chooses to twin with a parish in a poverty-stricken community in Haiti and/or Latin America, imagine the impact you will have on the lives of the poorest of the poor! These relationships are spiritually enriching for both twins and financially vital for parishes in Haiti and Latin America. You will not only transform the lives of those living in poverty; the spiritual enrichment and joy of the Gospel experienced by missioners engaged in twinning relationships is profound.

Building a relationship and partnering with a parish in a foreign country can be complicated and fraught with challenges. To help you on your journey, the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas and its over 200 U.S. Catholic Church members stand ready to assist you along the way to ensure that your relationship is as rich and rewarding as possible. We are confident that you will benefit greatly from our many collective years of experience.

Click this link to learn How to Twin.

While each parish twinning relationship is unique, there are many principles, values and practices that we hold in common, and we would like to share some of the basics as your parish begins this journey. There is a plethora of additional resources and advice available to you through our PTPA Member Portal.

Click this link to learn about the Benefits of PTPA Members Portal Access.