A Brief History of the

Haitian Church of the Good Samaritan

On January 31, 1972 the Rev. Louis Dickens Celestin met with Bishop Paul Moore to discuss the plight of Haitian immigrants in New York. Later that same day Fr. Celestin met with Fr. Eric Whiting, the rector at All Angels' church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. As a result of those meetings, the Haitian Congregation began worshipping at All Angels on February 9, 1972, and the diocese pledged financial support to the congregation. Several living members of our congregation were present at that first service.

Fr. Celestin wanted to help the thousands Haitian immigrants who had come to New York, fleeing the oppressive regime of François "Papa Doc" Duvalier in search of a better life. With the support of Bishop Moore he founded the Haitian Church Community Development Project, a 501c3 nonprofit whose mission was to provide English language classes, job skills training, daycare and after school help.

Over the next 49 years the church moved nine times. From All Angels' we moved to St. Ignatius of Antioch. From there we moved to St. Edward the Martyr, then back to All Angels', then to St. Mary's. In 2002 the congregation began worshipping in the Bronx in the sanctuary that was formerly the home of St. George's Episcopal Church. St. Luke’s in The Bronx decided to close St. George’s and invited us to share space with them. The Haitian church walked in procession under the #2 train on White Plains Ave on Palm Sunday 2014 to their next home at St. Luke’s

On Pentecost 2021 the Haitian Church moved to its permanent home. When St. Martha’s in The Bronx closed at the end of 2021, The Diocese of New York gave the building to the Haitian Church.

In 2022 the Haitian Church had an average Sunday attendance of 67, which includes online attendance. Members drive from all over the area, including Mount Vernon, Long Island, Queens and Brooklyn. We are a destination church for Haitian Episcopalians.

Many priests and bishops have contributed to the ministry of the congregation including Fr. Celestin, Auguste Pluviose, Pierre André Duvert, Bishop Rigal Elysée, Felix Sanon and Nathanael St. Pierre. Since 2012 Bon Samaritan has been under the leadership of Sam Owen. Pere Sam is the 7th Priest in Charge of the Haitian Church and the only non-Haitian to serve the parish.