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First Haitian Ordained Priest Lives up to His Mantra at Fort Pierce Catholic Mission
Behind the Rev. Yves Geffrard’s desk at Notre Dame Catholic Mission, a plaque’s big letters read “Don’t Quit.”
For Geffrard, who administers the Fort Pierce church, that mantra led him to become the first black and first Haitian ordained by the Diocese of Palm Beach County in 2001.

Father-yves
Photo by Hobie Hiler, Hobie Hiler HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Bishop Launay Saturne from the Diocese of Jacmel in Haiti prepares the incense with Notre Dame Catholic Mission’s Father Yves Geffrard at the altar during a Creole Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Mission in Fort Pierce on a recent Sunday. Father Geffrard is the first Haitian ordained priest under the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Photo by Hobie Hiler HOBIE HILER/SPECIAL TO TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS Notre Dame Catholic Mission’s Father Yves Geffrard talks with Malory Biton, of Palm Bay after a Creole Mass at Notre Dame Catholic Mission in Fort Pierce on Oct. 16. Father Geffrard is the first Haitian ordained priest under the Diocese of Palm Beach. “I am so happy to be united with my Haitian brothers and sisters,” said Biton.