Joseph Serge Miot

The Most Reverend

Joseph Serge Miot
Archbishop of Port-au-Prince
ProvincePort-au-Prince
DiocesePort-au-Prince
Installed1 March 2008
Term ended12 January 2010
PredecessorFrançois-Wolff Ligondé
SuccessorGuire Poulard
Orders
Ordination4 July 1975
ConsecrationOctober 12, 1997
by Christophe Pierre, François Gayot, and François-Wolff Ligondé
Personal details
Born(1946-11-23)23 November 1946
Jérémie, Haiti
Died12 January 2010(2010-01-12) (aged 63)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
BuriedLilavois Cemetery
NationalityHaitian
DenominationCatholic Church
Styles of
Joseph Miot
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleMonsignor
Ordination history of
Joseph Serge Miot
History
Episcopal consecration
Consecrated byChristophe Pierre
Date12 October 1997
Episcopal succession
Bishops consecrated by Joseph Serge Miot as principal consecrator
Joseph Gontrand Décoste18 October 2009

Joseph Serge Miot (23 November 1946 – 12 January 2010[1]) was a Haitian Catholic prelate who served as the ninth Archbishop of Port-au-Prince from 2008 until his death in the 2010 Haiti earthquake.

Biography

Miot was born in Jérémie, Grand'Anse on 23 November 1946. He was ordained to the priesthood on 4 July 1975 in the Diocese of Jérémie.[2]

On 29 July 1997, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Port-au-Prince by Pope John Paul II,[2] because the people had been displeased with Archbishop François-Wolff Ligondé's supposed encouragement of the coup movement — the archdiocesan offices were burned in retribution.[clarification needed][citation needed] Archbishop Miot received his episcopal consecration on the following 12 October from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, with Archbishops François Gayot, SMM, and Ligondé serving as co-consecrators.[2]

During his tenure, he denounced the incarceration of Fr. Gérard Jean-Juste by the government of Prime Minister Gérard Latortue;[3] Miot later suspended Father Jean-Juste after the priest disobeyed orders to not present himself as a political candidate.[citation needed]

Miot succeeded Ligondé, becoming the ninth Archbishop of Port-au-Prince[2] upon the latter's resignation[citation needed] on 1 March 2008.

The Port-au-Prince Cathedral, archdiocese offices, and many other churches were destroyed by the earthquake on 12 January 2010. Miot was killed instantly when the force of the quake threw him head-first off his balcony at the papal nunciature.[4] Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese, said that he originally sought an immediate burial for Miot, but that it would have conflicted with local tradition.[5] Miot was buried at Lilavois Cemetery on 23 January 2010 immediately after his funeral Mass.[6] Celebrants presiding at the funeral Mass included Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and chairman of the board of Catholic Relief Services; Thomas Wenski, Bishop of Orlando; and Archbishop Bernardito Auza.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Haiti earthquake: devastation emerges". BBC News. 13 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Joseph Serge Miot". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  3. ^ Concannon Jr., Brian (December 2004). "One Down, 700 To Go". Institute For Justice & Democracy in Haiti. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Exclusive: Papal nuncio gives dramatic report on Church in Haiti".
  5. ^ "Exclusive: Papal nuncio gives dramatic report on Church in Haiti". Denver, Colorado: Catholic News Agency. 14 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  6. ^ "Funeral held for Haitian archbishop". CNN. 24 January 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  7. ^ "Haitian Clergy Mourned at Funeral Mass". Catholic Relief Services. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Port-au-Prince
2008–2010 		Succeeded by