Jillian Foster is originally from Loveland, Ohio, and attended the University of Dayton. She graduated in 2018 with a degree in human rights studies along with three minors: computer science, religious studies and sustainability. It was in college that she started to become more active in social justice, forming a Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Student Ambassadors group to encourage others as well during her final two years. After graduation, Jill served a year with Francis Corps in Syracuse, New York, working as an assistant in a L’Arche community, where she learned much about accompaniment and community. In 2019, Jill applied to Maryknoll Lay Missioners and was placed in Haiti. Jill’s transition to life in Haiti has come at a time when the whole world is transitioning to a different reality. Two weeks out of language school and in her new home in Gros Morne, the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Still working on her Haitian Kreyòl, Jill has been working in a tree nursery of the Jean Marie Vincent Center in Grepen. As one of the most deforested countries in the world and with the reality of climate change, reforestation is a top priority. Since beginning work at the Grepen center in late March of 2020, the agronomists and Jill have raised and sent over 8,000 trees to be planted, with many more on the way. In addition to these ministries, Jill also helps fill the gaps for the agronomy center and for Lekòl Jezi Mari (Jesus and Mary School) with data organization.
Jill will speak at all masses at St. Colette's Parish the weekend of July 23-24, 2022 to share her mission experience as part of the Diocese of Cleveland’s Missionary Cooperation Plan 2022. The second collection will be taken to support Maryknoll Lay Missioners. Your kind welcome and generous support is most appreciated.
Maryknoll Lay Missioners is one of the largest U.S. Catholic organizations sending laypeople into global mission. Over the past four and a half decades, we have prepared and sent more than 700 missioners who have accompanied people experiencing poverty and marginalization around the world. Your donations will allow Maryknoll Lay Missioners to prepare and sustain laypeople in global mission and to help build a more just, compassionate and sustainable world. This once-a-year opportunity is a wonderful way for all of us to participate in the on-going global mission to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth! To learn more please visit www.mklm.org