On Monday, February 2 we gathered with the many different religious communities of the Diocese of Jacmel. The day began with Morning Prayer, a conference, followed by small group sharing, and then Mass with Bishop Errick Glandas. A CLUNY Sister celebrated her 50th anniversary of religious life and renewed her vows. It was a grace to be together and a great sign of hope for the mission of being a prophetic presence where we are. All the communities introduced themselves, Sister Inga spoke for the Felician Sisters and Sister Marilyn led one of the intercessions during the Mass.
On Sunday, February 1 we celebrated two birthday Sister (February 2) and Dala (February 4) with a special family dinner of their favorite foods and of course a birthday cake of their choice.
This program created by the Felician Sisters years ago in response to the need for clean water in the Jacmel area. It is intended for women, those who serve life in so many ways.
We witnessed people drinking water from the river or other places where there was no clean water source. The Mother Angela Clinic has had many illnesses brought by unclean water. We ourselves have experienced serious illness after buying juice prepared with unclean water. We started to look for ways to help people to get access to clean water. We researched some programs already existing and after we created our own: “Servants of the Living Water.”
In the beginning we were the trainers but soon after we created a small group of women who would go with us or without us to different parts of the Jacmel area to train people and to entrust them the mission of providing clean water to their families and to help others, especially families with children to have access to clean water.
The program has 3 parts.
Spiritual: where we pray with people and read the Scriptures to help them to see water as God’s gift for everybody. We also show them how other people in the world care for them by giving them the gift of a filter and a bucket.
Educate: how unclean water affects our health and the importance of using clean water especially for children.
Teach: how to filter water and how to clean filters to be able to use them for a long time.
The pictures are from the last program that took place in Marigot, a town 1h away from Jacmel. Women came for from a place even farther and had to walk a few hours to get to Marigot.
Pictures taken at our Mission are from the preparation and training of 2 young women, Melinda and Rosemarie, who lead the program in Marigot. They also assemble the buckets and filters. we thank al those who crochet filter covers in so many beautiful colors and designs.
Thank you to all who help give clean water toour Haitin sisters and brothers.
Sister Julitta and her assistant Junior continue to extend the “sewing circle “ in the mission. A new class of 12 students began in December and has concluded with them making the traditional apron. It continues to us amaze how our young people discover hidden talent in sewing.
As many of you know we are back in Jacmel, Haiti serving where needed in the Felician Mission. We have been communicating with our sisters, associates and lay partners since August of all that has been happening and now we thought it was time to start the blog again with photos and all that has been happening with us.
Where there is hope there is life. And for sure there is life happening in the Felician Mission. We had a beautiful Christmas celebration with the story of the first Christmas with the birth Jesus.
After the children received gifts and a hot meal. We are grateful to many of you who assisted with from your generosity.
We began our Faith Formation program in January with children and teens in need of the Sacraments. we have bout 60 participants this year.
Stay tuned for some more updates for we have been busy about the Father’s business with activities. There is much hope here!
The force, which is backed by the United Nations and financed by the United States, had been stalled since October, when Kenyan opponents of the mission challenged it in court, calling it unconstitutional. The High Court upheld some of those arguments on Friday, throwing into doubt the latest international effort to rescue an impoverished country that is spiraling ever deeper into violence and instability. “An order is issued prohibiting the deployment of Kenyan police officers to Haiti or any other country,” Justice Chacha Mwita said at the conclusion of a judgment that took 40 minutes to read.
The international force was meant to help break the grip of the armed gangs that control most of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, and have turned Haiti into one of the world’s most dangerous nations. Haiti’s government has pleaded for foreign military forces to be sent in to restore order, but the United States and Canada have been unwilling to commit their own troops.”
Thanks be to God the 6 nuns who were kidnapped last week have been freed.
As some of you know, the border from Haiti to the Dominican Republic was closed for 2 months which meant the Mother Angela Clinic could not purchase needed medications. Every week we would check with our contact in Santo Domingo whether it was opened. Finally a week before Christmas, the possibility became a reality. Our Christmas prayer was answered. For the past 2 months we have been seeking ways to purchase medications in small pharmacies to keep meeting the needs of our patients. We experienced our Christmas miracle l
begin the new year serving our people the best we can. We thank all our benefactors who keep believing in the Felician Haiti mission.
Rosemani, our pharmacist, placing the medications on the shelves.
As you all know we continue the Felician Mission in Haiti virtually working with team daily to continue our programs. We wanted our Christmas tradition of celebrating Christmas with our Haiti sisters and brothers to continue also. So decorating needed to be done…
Our first celebrations took place on Friday, December 15 for the Mother Angela Mobil Clinic Team and all those who participated in the St. Clare Sewing School this past year. A delicious meal was prepared, a prayer service and of course a gift that was to help each of their families.
Mother Angela Clinic TeamSt. Clare Sewing School and Computer Class
The young adults and all those who keep our mission ministering to the people of God in Jacmel had their celebration on Friday, December 22.
Every celebration began with a prayer service, sharing peace, food and music. All received a bag of needed items for them and their families. Because of your faithful support and accompaniment we can continue to give hope where it is unexpected and make a difference.
It is with deep sadness that we share this news with you about the situation in Haiti. We know that throughout the world this day so many are suffering. Let us continue to place our HOPE in the newborn King of Peace.
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 