On September 3rd, 1989, 257 young people got together from diverse parishes and named youth leaders from their communities. From this meeting Ms. Maud Percy facilitated another gathering for the youth leaders in Sacred Heart, Cambria Heights on November 12, 1989.

A new committee was formed, which is now AJHC, for the distinct purpose of working toward a new generation of young Haitians Catholic.

AJHC was given the task to contact youth groups in Brooklyn (Holy Cross, St. Francis, Our Lady of Refuge, St. Matthew, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila, Holy Innocents, St. Jerome), St Joachim & Ann (Queens), Holy Name in Manhattan, St Leo and St. Matthew in Massachusetts, St Patrick and St. John in New Jersey.

Following these contacts another meeting of youth leaders was held in Queens in April 1990 when a decision was made to plan a weekend retreat as a first experience to build upon. The first youth Congress was held the weekend of June 29, 1990 at Pawling, NY (upstate NY). Sixty-seven people representing the following faith communities Massachusetts, New Jersey, St. Francis, Our Lady of Refuge, St. Ignatius, Sacred Heart (Cambria Heights, and St Mary Star of the Sea (Far Rockaway) attended. Thus started the call to gather Haitian youths from across the nation annually for a Congress.

The second Congress took place in June 1991 at the Inn of the Spirit with 60 young people. The theme was; "Who is Jesus in your life?" Subsequent themes have included: "Live like Jesus lived in today's world", "Give God a chance."

As Bishop Guy Sansaricq, the Director of the National Center of the Haitian Apostolate,  eloquently put it the purpose of the Association des Jeunes Haitiens Catholiques (AJHC) summer congresses is to bring young people to the great outdoors and open their minds and hearts to new experiences.  A new environment is provided where young people meet their peers under supervised circumstances.  Exciting topics and activities are offered and the focus is on the Lord.  Yes, Jesus can excite a young mind and attract a young heart.   He motivates and inspires.  The great discovery is that true excitement is rooted inside.  The mind and the heart are the bedrock of a successful life.  At the weekend congresses, group leaders try to reinforce the power for love and success Jesus gives to those who believe and know that He lives within them. 

For example, keeping in line with Pope John Paul II’s mandate, AJHC dedicated the 1997, 1998, and 1999 youth congresses each to a person of the Holy Trinity.

In 1997 AJHC asked the youth to reflect more deeply on the mystery of Christ.  That year over two hundred young people from the metropolitan area spent the weekend together to “Rediscover Jesus".   During this congress young people were encouraged to focus on the sacrament of penance.   Over the weekend many received the “sacrament of reconciliation”. 

In 1998 the AJHC congress was entitled “Fire in the Spirit”, and the young people were introduced to the “first Pentecost”.  They were reminded through talks, workshops, prayer, and praise experiences that each of them had the opportunity to open their hearts more fully to the Holy Spirit’s transforming power.  Time was spent encouraging the youth to examine their thoughts and behaviors and for them to ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen them so they can live their “Life in the Spirit.” We felt that by the end of this congress the young people had a better understanding of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The primary theme adopted by the young people was “to allow the Spirit to renew them in all the events of their daily lives so that they can all participate in the building of the Kingdom of God.”  The young people were asked to truly live the motto of the Haitian Apostolate: “To equip the Holy Ones of God for the Building of the Body of Christ”, Eph 4:12.  They acknowledged that God’s presence and power can be experienced.   

The 1999 AJHC congress focused on God the Father and a wonderful poem by Nancye Sims entitled “God Is Never Far Away” to help convey the message.

In 2000 young people gave “Glory to the Blessed Trinity”.  Every mass begins with a passage taken from 2 Corinthians 13:13; namely “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”  The doctrine of the Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and teaches us how to relate to God as father, Son and Holy Spirit.  As Catholics we proclaim there is one God, three persons in one God.  The Father who created everything; The Son who came to redeem; The Spirit who is the gift of the Father and the Son to the Church.

AJHC has been around for over 20 years and its leadership has aged. Recently AJHC has embarked on a new mission of helping in leadership formation of young people who minister to youth of Haitian descent. Through this series of encounters AJHC maintains contact with old and new Youth ministry programs and offers technical assistance and support to the leadership. In that vein on January 23-24, 2010 AJHC hosted a formation weekend entitled “Empowered to Lead”. Attendees were exposed to: (1). ELEMENTS OF LEADERSHIP (2). LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE CHURCH (3). CHALLENGES IN YOUTH MINISTRY (4). VOCATION: ONE’S ANSWER TO GOD’S CALL (5). MINISTRY AND SPIRITUALITY (6). LEADING BY EXAMPLE. Presenters included Carmelle Durand, Carl Durand, Berthe Leveille Tulce, Darling Previl, Nicole Rosefort, Micheline Cadet, and Sister Marilyn Minster (our guitar playing nun).

Future leadership formation events are forthcoming.

Our vision is to develop new faith grounded leadership out of the young people who have been engaged in youth ministry.