Border Dominican Republic and Haiti: The Catholic Church gives relief in the area

The situation of extreme violence in Haiti affects in various ways to its neighboring country, the Dominican Republic, especially in those areas close to the border between the two nations, where the Catholic Church works tirelessly to provide relief and accompaniment to the most vulnerable of society.

Verónica Katz, head of projects of the Pontifical Foundation helps the Church in need (ACN) visited the Dominican side of the border in December 2024 and commented on her impressions about the region “without a doubt beautiful but also very forgotten, with great economic, social and pastoral challenges.”

Katz said that at international level many people believe that the entire Dominican Republic “is like Punta Cana and other more tourist places,” however the border dioceses – Barahona, San Juan de la Maguana and Mao Montecristi – “are the largest in extension of the country and also cover the poorest provinces.”

“It is a somewhat forgotten area by the Government. There, many parishes are not self -sustainable, but the faith and solidarity of the faithful and the local church are inspiring. The distances are huge and in growing urban areas there are not enough chapels. In addition, the west is full of mountainous areas and the lack of adequate transport complicates the pastoral work,” said the head of ACN projects.

The immigration crisis that unleashed violence in Haiti has made these areas, already very vulnerable, have even greater challenges. Military controls abound and, according to Katz, it is not easy to move from one place to another because the alcabalas record many cars in search of Haitian migrants.

The ACN team was able to verify a large mobilization of trucks “in very bad conditions” where undocumented Haitian citizens are deported, usually at night, although occasionally they can also be seen during the day.

The clergy and pastoral agents in border areas

“There are very few priests, and this forces those who are to attend too many parishes and assume multiple diocesan responsibilities, in an extensive territory with precarious roads. This generates great wear and a feeling of not being able to reach everything,” said Katz.

Even several local sources told the ACN team that there are missionaries who do not want to be sent to those areas because of their situation. In addition, the sects are booming and in some cases – by the Haitian influence – voodoo and witchcraft rituals are practiced.

“The lay leaders look very limited, since they many times resources and material. Even so, it impresses to see their solidarity,” Katz remarks.

Despite these specific cases, the person responsible for ACN projects ensures that the Dominican Republic “is a deeply Catholic country, very devout from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” According to his experience, Catholic faith still has a very important presence in everything that concerns Dominican society.