When Dr. Rudolph Moise immigrated to Miami, the Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church became his community anchor.

For the past 28 years, the church's worship center has been an old school cafeteria.

But as the Haitian community has grown, so has the church's congregation, which now numbers 4,000. The cafeteria can only accommodate 900 people, but at any given Mass, 1,200 people attend. Some are forced to stand outside.

That's why Moise donated $25,000 to build a new Haitian church three years ago. It is one of the single largest personal donations toward the new church.

Sunday night, Moise and thousands of other Haitians celebrated as their three-year fundraising efforts came to fruition at the groundbreaking ceremony of their new church, the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 110 NE 62nd St. in Miami.

''After all these years and church members working so hard, I'm happy to see us making history,'' Moise said.

The ceremony and blessing of the site coincided with the final day of the church's seventh annual celebration of Jericho, a seven-day spiritual revival. The Rev. Reginald Jean-Mary likened the Haitian religious community's spiritual journey of fundraising to the Old Testament story of Jericho, where the Israelites waited for the walls of the city to fall.

''This is an event that touches the hearts of people, something they have been waiting for for so long,'' Jean-Mary said. ``The groundbreaking represents a sign of hope that a new church is coming.''

Parishioners have raised nearly $1.7 million for the new church. Once they collect another $300,000, construction can begin. The Archdiocese of Miami will provide a loan for the remaining cost of $2 million. Jean-Mary hopes for building to begin in June 2009, with construction lasting about two years.

Archbishop John Favalora of the Archdiocese of Miami blessed holy water from the 10 regions of Haiti before sprinkling it on the site. He said he recognized that many South Florida Haitians are supporting family members in their native land and had to give up many things to make donations.

`SYMBOL OF FAITH'

''Everyone who passes by this community will be able to see what you people have sacrificed and done,'' he said. ``When this shrine is completed, it will be a symbol of your faith and the people of Haiti.''

Notre-Dame D'Haiti Catholic Church began as a small mission at St. Mary's Cathedral, where Haitians celebrated Mass. But during the 1980s' influx of Haitian refugees into the United States -- and particularly South Florida -- religious leaders decided they needed a new church to administer to the social and religious needs of the Haitian community.

In 1980, the mission moved to Notre Dame Academy for Girls, and they have celebrated Mass in the old cafeteria ever since. The new church will be built on the same site.

''This is not just a church,'' Jean-Mary said. ``This is basically the living home of the Haitian community.''

Gepsie Metellus, executive director of the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center and who has been a member of the church for 24 years, has moved away from Little Haiti. But she still returns for Mass at the church, which she sees as a rallying point for the Haitian community.

''The church is a testament to what we can accomplish when we all come together,'' Metellus said.

The new church will bring Haitians home, said Jan Mapou, who organized donations from his bookstore.

BIG SUPPORTER

''The church is the cultural center,'' Mapou said. ``The church is a way to keep people here so we can save Little Haiti.''

Even though Marleine Bastien isn't a church member or even a Catholic, she donated to the church building fund. Bastien, who practices the universal Baha'i faith, organized donations because for many Haitians, the church is a place they can call their own.

''This is a historical church for us,'' said Bastien, who hopes the church will become an international peace center.

``When Haitians came as refugees, they didn't have a place of worship. We believe that by building a church, we are keeping our history, dignity, respect and also our pride.''

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