Rev. Fr. Julien Estiverne
9/20/1960 - 10/22/2021
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"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit" (Mt 12:33). Today is an opportunity for me to talk about Fr. Julien. one of the beautiful trees planted in the Kingdom of God.
Julien Estiverne was born on September 20, 1960, through Mr. and Mrs. Estilien Estiverne in the Bongard Section of Kenscoff. He was the fifth son of eleven. He started his education at the Immaculate Conception School of Chauffard. He attended the Minor Seminary Saint Martial College for high school.
He studied philosophy at the Major Seminary of Our Lady of Cazeau and theology at the Major Seminary of Our Lady of Turgeau. He was ordained Deacon on April 8, 1993, and ordained priest on September 19, 1993.
Our mother was his first evangelizer. Our father was his model of the restless worker, and Paul Royant was his model of a courageous pastor. Father Julien worked in the spiritual, intellectual, and cultural development of God’s people. He understood that Jesus heals the human body and the soul.
Intellectually he loved books. He taught and did research. He has helped several children financially in their education. He encouraged people to value education.
Seminarian - Chauffard's Church
Socially/Culturally: He used to fill potholes on the roads and plant trees. He loved to garden. He worked with the poor to improve their living conditions. He promoted banana culture in Arcahaie. He respected everyone and defended the rights of the poor.
He liked people and entertained them with a joke. Once, I worked about 8 miles from our family home to his parish. I was tired and thirsty. I saw many people sitting in his rectory.
Right after his greeting, he said: Those people are waiting for confession. I am glad you came here. Do you know why the mother donkey has a baby?
I pretended to ignore the answer and said: tell me the response? He replied: To rest her back!
I answered: You are telling me something new. Have you become a donkey? Please, serve me some juice before I help you, Fr. donkey! Everybody laughed at the conversation!
Construction - With the support of his friends and Christian parishes in Syracuse, he built a school at Bonga, a rectory at Chauffard, restored different churches before the 2010 earthquake. After the destructive earthquake, he helped families to bury their dead, obtain tiny homes, and food. He also built tents for schools and churches in the seven communities of the parish. He worked hard to keep the dangerous roads of the parish usable.
Fr. Julien was appointed pastor at St Pierre Parish located in Arcahaie. This parish did not have a rectory. The rectory have been destroyed by the 2010 earthquake. He had the intention to build a new rectory.
He organized a parish fundraising called "festival banana". Through that feast, he encouraged people to show their talents in culinary,
art and crafts. He was transferred to his last parish in Vialet before he started the rectory. He faced another situation, Vialet has a rectory but not a church. I made a joke saying to him: “Probably your bishop will send you in a parish that has a church building and a rectory, or a parish without any building”.
Fr. Julien suffered an accident while he was going to his parish. In spite of the pain in his chest, he celebrated mass for his parishioners. Days later, he went to St Francis Hospital for chest pain. In the hospital, he contracted covid. As he was a diabetic, his situation was complicated. He had difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, the diocese of Port-au-Prince waited nine hours to give authorization allowing his transfer to the Hospital of Mirebalais which is equipped to deal with covid. He arrived at Mirebalais Hospital too late. On the night of Friday, October 22 at 11 p.m. Fr. Julien was called to the City of God, after his fight with the Covid-19 virus and a car accident. We believe that he is shining with Jesus in heaven as the prophet Daniel wrote: “He that is instructed in the way of the righteous will shine forth like the stars forever and ever”, Dan 12:3.
We thank you Lord Jesus for the life of your servant and the life of other workers of your Kingdom. May they take place in the room you prepared for them in your father’s house and rest in peace according to your promise!
Fr. Julien and I had a very good relationship as brothers and priests. I founded the Estiverne Corporation, and this website to request funds from you to continue the work of God that Fr. Julien started. Love helps us understand that everywhere is good, blessed, and beautiful. Countrymen are people too. They need you as you need God. Let us alleviate their suffering by our offering and value them by paying them a visit a day. Thank you for your attention and generosity!
Fr. Saint Martin Estiverne
