Leadership

dirnel2000@yahoo.fr

Appointed Director of St. Vincent's Center by the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Haiti on July 1, 2019, Pere Irnel Duveaux is a native of Cap Haitien. The late Bishop Luc Garnier ordained him to the Diaconate and the Priesthood in 1988. Pere Duveaux is married and the father of one child. He comes to St. Vincent's from service as a parish priest in several churches in the country. Happily, he lives close enough to the School that he can ride his bike to work!

As Director, Pere Duveaux has a complex role. He oversees the daily operation of the Center, develops a strong leadership team, maintains careful fiscal control and accountability, and develops and maintains partnerships for the benefits of SVC, both in Haiti and the United States. Pere Duveaux works closely with the Diocese of Haiti and the St. Vincent's Board, to which he reports. He is in regular contact with the SVC Board Chair, Ken Quigley, and participates in the bi-monthly Board conference calls.

While French and Creole are his native tongues, Pere Duveaux also communicates effectively in English. Upon discovering the critical need for working Braille machine, he acted strategically to garner the information needed to assess the situation and plan for repair. As emails flew back and forth on an almost daily basis, it was his plan of action which successfully resolved the crisis.

With tact becoming a diplomat of the first order, Pere Duveaux has already proven his finesse in bridging the cultural differences among the many St. Vincent's constituencies. He listens first, and because his very nature is to collaborate, he is a reconciler and a problem solver.

Ernso Plantin is a vocational Deacon, who also lives in proximity to the School. He provides religious instruction for our students and holds worship services for children and staff. As needed, he provides counsel and spiritual guidance to staff, students and their families.  Père Plantin is also St. Vincent's liaison with the Diocese of Haiti.

Somewhat further afield from Santo 17,  Père Plantin oversees the operation of our downtown Medical Center and Brace Shop on Rue Paul VI. Known throughout the country as the place for the poor to come with medical issues, our Clinic operates five days a week with pediatricians, orthopedic physicians and optometrists. Soon, the new x-ray machine, gifted by the Japanese Embassy, will become operative. It's being tested right now. On the second floor of the same building as the Clinic is our Brace Shop, where we make - and tailor - the braces and prosthetics needed for mobility. It is  Père Plantin's job to oversee all who work here and the equipment which they use in their healing work.