Barahona

Rector:  The Rev. Smith Milien

The Mission Church & Children's Shelter Jesus Peregrino is located in Batey Central on the outskirts of Barahona.  Barahona is three hours west and south of Santo Domingo.

The word Peregrino in English means Pilgrim which describes the transit population of this sugar cane "mill town."  The Church first held services in Barahona on December 11, 1994.  Since then the church has grown and become an active community partner in this poor barrio where many Dominicans and Haitians live. 

Fr. Smith Milien, his wife Mirivel, and their three children are all committed to ministering to the poor in this area.  Their ministry has grown from 7 at their first service to over 100 on most Sundays.

Batey Central

Fr. Milien describes Batey Central as an area devastated by misery, hunger, water shortages, notorious bad health and hygienic condition.  People live in row houses and shacks.  The streets are unpaved and dusty.  Small nude children play in the streets which are littered with trash.  Pigs and chicken wander through the barrio and wallow in muddy potholes.

In 1998, Bishop Holguin and Fr. Smith decided that the Diocese needed to open its second Children's Shelter in the barrio.  Some of the children wandering in this barrio were being taken care of by relatives or concerned neighbors.  Others live with parents who are without work and cannot adequately provide for their family. 

Once again, St. Paul's Akron, Ohio made a commitment to provide nearly half of the needed funding to build the shelter next to the church.  The remaining portion came from individuals, dioceses, and churches.

The Bishop and Fr. Smith decided that they would design the facility so that in the future the Shelter could provide housing to orphans or children whose parents could not adequately care for them.  This facility will eventually house 10 boys and 10 girls.

FEEDING THE NEEDY

The Jesus Peregrino Children's Shelter and Nutrition Center opened in June of 2003.  Fr. Smith decided that initially the Shelter should provide proper nutrition to needy children between the ages of 3 to 8 years old.   There are currently 60 children who are fed breakfast, lunch and a snack five days a week.  Like the Shelter in San Francisco, education is another component of the program. 

An interdenominational Board made up of people from Barahona provide support to the program. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Clearwater Deanery of Southwest Florida has made a commitment to help finish a second floor above the church.  When completed this floor will be used for church and community activities. 

There are many ways churches and individuals can become partners in this project.  For just $25 a month you can provide food and an education to one of these children. For more information contact the Diocesan Office.