La Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince Photo Gallery by Kesler Pierre at pbase.com

Haitian Vodou Bottles by Kesler Pierre | In Box | Haiian Vodou Vèvès by Kesler Pierre | La Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince | Photography

La Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince

As a professional stained glass conservator, I have spent half my life restoring stained glass windows in the United States.

Because Haiti is my homeland and Port au Prince is my hometown, it had been a dream of mine to preserve and restore the beautiful art glass windows of the Port au Prince Cathedral.

Thirteen years ago, I initiated contact with the Church authorities and the Haitian government in an endeavor to save the windows which were endangered even then, as they were in an advanced state of deterioration. This effort was to no avail.

After the earthquake in January 2010 I volunteered my expertise, and 9 months later, the Smithsonian Institution sent me to do a survey of the windows.

When I went there in October 2010, I found the site invaded by looters, and although the number of surviving panels had been reduced in this nine month interim, there were still eighty or so stained glass windows, in their frames and more or less intact.

I made recommendations and the Church eventually gave permission to post guards in late December 2011 but by then, (on the eve of the quake's anniversary) all but a few of the panels were destroyed by metal scavengers. And when I visited the site again this year at Easter time, I saw that the vandalism was still underway as the last few widows were in the process of being destroyed by people whose open access to the site has remained unchecked.

For the record: The January 12, 2010 earthquake did not destroy all the Cathedral's stained glass windows, a large portion of the art glass survived the quake but was subsequently lost because the Catholic Church and the Haitian government turned their back on The National Cathedral and abandoned it to scavengers, looters and souvenir hunters, both Haitian and foreign.

Related links:

The Spirit of Port-au-Prince, Now Broken
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/the-spirit-of-port-au-prinmce-now-broken/?scp=1&sq=Port-au-Prince%20Cathedral&st=cse

Sacred-Sites International Blog
http://sacred-sites.org/wordpress/2011/03/16/post-earthquake-looting-of-haitis-national-cathedral/

New York Times article/Kesler Pierre/Eldridge St, Synagogue:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/nyregion/13eldridge.html?ex=1347336000&en=fe97de17cb29bd21&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

New York Times article/A Father’s Tribute to Three Dead Daughters Is Restored/Gil Studio.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/nyregion/14chapel.html

Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince	Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince	Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince	Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince
Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince	Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince	Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince	Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince
Cathédrale de Port-au-Prince

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kievit10		14-Mar-2013 14:41
Special effects. Thank you for sharing.

Paul		22-Jan-2010 19:22
WOW What a wonderful site with amazing photographs. THANK YOU so much!! I hope the vitraux are rescued and preserved. Paul

Guest		20-Jan-2010 21:44
Yeah!! How lovely the Cathedral of Port-au-Prince was! I have only good memories of that church. When I attended Jean-Marie Guilloux School during my childhood in Haiti, I used to feel so special in that church, because our class used to seat on the left side of the alter, next to the Priest. It was a special spot reserved only to the students of JMG. Memories live on!!!

richie		20-Jan-2010 19:49
a reporter at the cnn new york city news office took kesler's website information and sent it down to their group in haiti. they should be able to get the plans now if they still need them.

Frank		20-Jan-2010 11:59
ATTENTION I just heard on CNN that Rescue Workers on the site desperately need plans of the Cathederal and its rooms. Suggest you get all pictures and information on the building to Rescue team in Haiti ASAP. Maybe ask CNN for help in transmission... they have a man on the site.

Guest		20-Jan-2010 04:40
I sent the information on where they can find the cathedral plan on your website to the state dept email address, and left messages on the "24 hour news network CNN" and the red cross. everyone seems to be sleeping....................

Frank		20-Jan-2010 02:10
ATTENTION I just heard on CNN that Rescue Workers on the site desperately need plans of the Cathederal and its rooms. Suggest you get all pictures and information on the building to Rescue team in Haiti ASAP. Maybe ask CNN for help in transmission... they have a man on the site.

richie turi		19-Jan-2010 23:54
kesler, one of my congressman's (gary ackerman) staff gave me the state department email address where i can voice whatever thoughts i may have. as you suggetsted it is now here for anyone to use, here is the address: H-Earthquake@state.gov i want to be a part of your cathedral thoughts and also volunteer in my capacity as a builder and architect to not only restore the windows, but now the cathedral itself. your idea to train haitians to restore haitian history is a good one. there is much more to worry about now, but i am behind you. i listened to a video of wyclef jean suggest that the us military should build camps on the outskirts of the city to their specifications to best distribute aid and a new life to the citizens of port au prince. i think this is a great idea and a good way to start fresh for everyone. the city is a disaster and needs to be torn down. the bodies that will never be recovered will become fill and a memorial should be dedicated. other than that, what better way to get the citizens out of the carnage and start fresh. it is inhuman to subject these people to the lawlessness that is now happening. the sooner martial law is put into place and people have a chance at some peace and quite, the better.

Guest		18-Jan-2010 04:16
the building may be destroyed but hopefully the faith that built it endures

Steve		18-Jan-2010 02:42
May God bless the people of Haiti, and may the earthquake victims rest in peace.

pat hurtuk		17-Jan-2010 18:53
The day of this earthquake was the anniversary of the death of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys , known as Mother of The Colony of Quebec, Canada Also let us not forget to ask now the intercession of Haitian St. Pierre Toussaint.....

romel mirville		17-Jan-2010 16:49
Whatever happenned to L'Amicale des Anciens Eleves de Jean Marie Guilloux.?

romel mirville		17-Jan-2010 16:46
Whatever happenned to L'Amicale des Anciens Eleves de Jean Marie Guilloux.?

Hugues Charles		16-Jan-2010 19:00
It's a national monument, a sad thing to see what have become the good old "Cathedrale de Port-au-Prince" a view that I always cherished everytime I visit home. I grew up minutes away from this place, remembering the bells ring for mornings and Sunday's masses which my mother attended religiously. The place where I received my first communion and lastly I learned how to pedaled my first bike in front of that church, as my friends nicknamed it "La place Cathedrale"

Robert D. McAlpine		15-Jan-2010 22:33
Our profound hopes that Haiti can recover from these terrible days. Your galleries are a beautiful tribute to Haiti as it was before the terrible times of the last few days.

Ken Neill		15-Jan-2010 02:27
What a Grand Lady.....I visited this church during Easter of 1975 while I was still in college. I thought the rose window was particularly beautiful.....so sad that she has been destroyed.....yet even sadder for the families of those who lost loved ones or were injured because of the earthquake....

Jeff Dickey		14-Jan-2010 16:10
Guest on 13 Jan - A bit premature; what I'm given to understand is that the roof caved in, but the walls are (largely) still standing. A massive reconstruction project awaits, but this Cathedral has seen miracles before...

Matthew		14-Jan-2010 07:04
I don't know how to read French (maybe I should learn it). I wanted to know when was the cathedral finished and how long did it take to build?

Carlos Aneiro		13-Jan-2010 23:52
How sad...I always liked this Church's whimsical architecture, reminiscent of Sacre Coeur in a Naif kind of way, it was always a favourite subject for Primitive & Naif paintings; I remember with great sadness when the old Cathedral, an irreplaceable historical treasure, burnt down...now the new Cathedral, is sadly, gone as well, along with her Archbishop, & countless others who flew to Eternity...god be with all of them...with God's help, & like Phoenix reborn, a new Cathedral shall rise from the ashes & rubble of the old...God bless you all! Carlos Aneiro, Ponce Puerto Rico

Guest		13-Jan-2010 22:16
Nothing to worry about now, alas. It's completely destroyed in the earthquake, January 12, 2010.

Ramón		13-Jan-2010 13:57
Descansen en paz las viejas piedras de la Catedral. Quedarán en la memoria y en la retina. Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine Et lux perpetua luceat ei Requiescat in pace. Amen

eman		13-Jan-2010 04:55
RIP

Dr. Lois		27-May-2006 17:05
Kesler, I have to commend you on your idea to juxtapose the Corvington book and your series of letters. It really drives the point home. I recently had occasion to tour the Eldridge Street Synagogue on Eldridge Street in Chinatown. They have undertaken a massive project to restore the main part of the temple, which had been sealed for about 50 years. Much deterioration took place, including deterioration of the stained glass windows. You might call them to arrange a tour yourself, and find out about their fundraising project. Google Eldridge Street Project for their website and contact info.

Guest		26-May-2006 15:46
Le temps viendra ou il faudra la reconstruire.

mactof		24-May-2006 02:54
How can we help in this "projet de memoire"? mactof@erols.com

Guest		17-May-2006 23:49
Tibaslakwa: Kesler, perhaps if you were to send your project of restauration to the Vatican City, Attn:Pope Benedict... that would tickle his CATHOLIC Funny Bone, and therefore funds would be allocated to restore Vatican Property in order to carry out the Vatican Evangelisation Program of young Haitians. Otherwise the US backed Protestant/Mormon/Baptist/Adventist/ Rosae Cruxian will continue to gain more ground. Peace! Benediklawa

Max vaval		17-May-2006 14:28
Memories, good memories. I am proud to say the Cathedrale was my church for a long perios of time while I was " un eleve at l'ecole Jean-Marie Guilloux" "Que sont devenues les fleurs du temps passe............".

David Fraser		17-May-2006 14:26
Awesome site, we may get to do something with this kind of publicity. I would email Bonnie Burnham with a link to your site. You never know! David

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