After 35 years, Notre Dame d'Haiti Church holds it's first mass

The new Notre Dame d'Haiti church in Little Haiti opened this past weekend. But fundraising for it began eight years ago.

For the church’s pastor, Father Reginald Jean-Mary, the process has been much longer than that.

"It began 35 years ago when Archbishop [Thomas] Wenski, [back then] Father Wenski, established this mission," Jean-Mary says. "Because at that time what you could say was that this was the 'church of the living stone' because of the people. Who built that church? The people."

The church cost $5 million to build, with $3.2 million donated by Haitian parishioners and community members. The Archdiocese of Miami helped out with a loan of $1.5 million, which will be paid back through donations from parishioners and other donors.