Fr. Tom Hagan, OSFS, saying Mass at our Chapel in Port-au-Prince

The following traditions represent the spiritual principals that are the foundation for Hands Together's structure and guidelines for all our efforts. These traditions draw upon our Catholic-Christian teachings and we realize that the beliefs expressed here are shared across cultural and religious boundaries and are common among people who wish to build a better world. Our spirituality recognizes a loving God and the intrinsic worth of every human person. These traditions guide our decisions relating to organizational structure, management, programs, and projects as we strive to respond to the needs of the poor in Haiti, regardless of race or creed.

I. We believe in a loving God and dedicate ourselves and our work to God's greater glory.
At the heart of all that Hands Together does is an unshakable belief in a loving God. A God who took care of us in our yesterdays, cares for us today, and will take care of us in our tomorrows. We believe that true human worth comes from God who loves us infinitely and unconditionally. We seek to know God better through prayer, reflection and sharing with one another. In our service to the poor of Haiti, we turn to God in prayer for direction and ask for the strength to do our best to help others. After that, we place the outcome of our work and service into the hands of God and ultimately trust in that God who is our loving Creator.

Although we have a strong Catholic-Christian foundation, we are open to and we welcome all people who know our God by a different name and who express their faith differently than we do.

II. In our response to the needs of the poor, we recognize and strive to affirm the fundamental worth of every human being.
In our efforts to meet the needs of the poorest of the poor, we look for ways to empower people and contribute to their self-sufficiency. Our efforts spring from a genuine compassion for the poor and the understanding that we share this life with others are called to respond to the needs of those around us. Many of our projects are community-based and we endeavor to recognize and affirm leadership within the community. We consciously try to affirm the dignity of the women of Haiti and we support projects that contribute to the betterment of women. We believe that true human development ultimately leaves a person freer, more joyous, and better able to use one's God given talents for the good of others. We place a great emphasis on devoping the person: through education, spiritual formation and shared service. In our view, development is not simply meeting basic survival needs. Therefore, we strive to provide comprehensive development through a blend of projects and programs in the following areas: EDUCATION, SELF-HELP/SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, MEDICAL,and NUTRITION.

III. We are committed to providing experiences where people establish relationships and discover commonalties among themselves. We feel this is crucial in our efforts to build a more compassionate and human world.
We believe that all of us are connected by the bond of Love, and that God has created each of us to be of unique service to one another. By providing experiences whereby people can share in the work and life of the poor of Haiti, we believe that people will recognize that human beings are basically the same - loved equally in the eyes of God.

IV. We embrace a spirit of simplicity in our life-style and in our work.
Our conduct in Haiti should reflect moderation and simplicity. We minimize extravagance and luxury. In the words of St. Francis DeSales "Desire nothing, refuse nothing, in that lies all perfection." Our expectations, our needs, our appetites, and our tastes should be truly moderate and modest. With its implied emphasis on true humility, this tradition asks us to look beyond our own needs and posses a genuine concerned for the needs of other people, particularly those who are suffering.

V. Hands Together believes that serving the poor is a privilege and an obligation.
In the spirit of justice, we believe that Americans have an obligation to work for justice for the poorest of the poor. We acknowledge our abundant blessings and we generously wish to share our resources and talents with those less fortunate. We recognize that the opportunity to serve others is its own gift. We expect no reward! Indeed, it is our belief that we are not doing the people of Haiti any great favor by offering our services, but that we are gaining far more than we are giving.

VI. While in Haiti, under the authority of Hands Together, volunteers and visitors willingly accept the direction, interpretation of traditions, policies, rules, and regulations of Hands Together.

VII. Hands Together is not allied with any sect, denomination or politics. We neither endorse nor oppose any causes. We do not engage in public controversy or debate.
We stick to our mission: responding to the needs of the poor and striving to build a better world. We do not become embroiled in outside political and public issues.

"All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence."
Dr. Martin Luther King