On Saturday, February 7, we welcomed four new members into the Catholic Church. It was a beautiful service. We thank our friends who helped us provide the white garment, candles, and crosses. Our kids sang beautifully. After Mass, we served cupcakes, soda and popcorn! May the Lord be praised and the Holy Spirit continue to call his children.
On Thursday, February 5, Mark and Mike met us at Bishop Saturne’s residence for a meeting with the bishop and the members of PROCHE, an organization that has been helping to rebuild Catholic churches and schools in Haiti. PROCHE has been involved in our plans for building the new convent. It was the day for finalizing the purchase of the land from the Diocese of Jacmel. As you know, we have been living on the second floor of a diocesan-owned building, sharing space with priests from the Order of St. Vincent de Paul, as well as the diocesan radio station and the Catholic Schools Office.
It was a full, intense day of meetings and seeing the land. It was a short visit by Mark and Mike, but much was accomplished.
From January 16-30, we had the opportunity to make two mission appeals. The parish of St. Bartholomew, Scotch Plains, NJ, welcomed us the weekend of January 17-18. God was so good to give us good weather to travel before an ice storm hit New Jersey. The parish community was so welcoming. There were two special moments: when a little girl approached us with a donation in thanksgiving for her pet cat that had been sick and was now better; and two little boys who shared their “Acts of Kindness” box, which consisted of things they had made to give to our little kids and also their mission money. We thank Sisters Janet and Maria for helping us that weekend.
We then went to Coraopolis, PA, for a meeting related to our Haiti Mission.
The weekend of January 24-25, the weather was once again in our favor, with a few travel changes, to make a mission appeal at St. Therese Lisieux Parish, Shelby Township, MI. The faith community welcomed us with open arms and supported the Felician Mission in Haiti. We thank Sister Francis for sharing the weekend mission appeal with us, and Sister Andrew who joined us for the last Mass on Sunday when she came with her family ….and “the Lord gave us sisters.”
After the snow storm in New Jersey, that was not a blizzard which had been predicted, we visited Sr. Esther at St. Gabriel’s Parish in Saddle River, NJ, on January 28. The parish had just sent us three pallets of new shoes. They also offered to sell some of our Felician Haiti art among their faith community.
The last day of our visit we were very happy to share the Haiti mission with the community at Immaculate Conception High School, Lodi, NJ. Our teens had made bracelets to sell to the girls.
We thank all of our friends and new friends who join us in the art of accompaniment here in Haiti to live the Gospel of Joy together.
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 