Taking a break from the many activities we have been doing, today we began to celebrate Sister Adrianna’s birthday, which is actually tomorrow, on the 25th. We went for a ride to see the beautiful Caribbean Sea and then had delicious chocolate cake with chocolate-pudding icing that we made for her yesterday. Happy Birthday, Sister Adrianna!
Every Friday evening at 5 p.m., our kids know that it is movie night. It is just like being in the theater with popcorn and candy and clean, filtered water for drinking. We thank you for your donations that make it possible for us to have a movie, complete with popcorn and candy.
Sister Nancy has just finished her first week working with the Mother Angela Clinic. She is very impressed with our doctors who are Haitian and do not have access to the modern diagnostic testing we have in the United States. They totally rely on their clinical skills of listening, feeling and intuitive wisdom. She recognized how they really care for the people.
On Friday, April 15, Sister Nancy made home visits to some of our elderly people. The people are always happy to the see us, especially when we have visitors. 😀
Presence is very much a part of our mission here in Jacmel. We all have the gift and the need to share it with one another. Sisters Adrianna and Nancy are doing that in various ways as they share conversation with our teens, treat wounds or babysit while one of our mothers is working in the Mother Angela kitchen to feed our children.
On Monday, April 11, we started to make rosaries that will be distributed at World Youth Day in Kraków, Poland. Our young ladies enjoy making them. They have even discovered their own way of making these rosary bracelets.
On Friday, April 8, Sister Nancy Marie, from Enfield, Connecticut, arrived in Jacmel to join us in the Haiti Mission. She will be assisting in the Mother Angela Clinic since she is a nurse.
Sister Nancy has already embraced the Art of Accompaniment by embracing our people and walking with them as she responds to the needs that come to our door. It didn’t take long for that to happen. The father of one of our teens had a heavy bucket of water fall on his foot and cut his toe very badly. We immediately went to make a house call, which meant we needed to crawl through a hole to get there. Sister Nancy was bit surprised to meet the goats and chickens along the way. Akeyi an Ayiti, Sè Nancy! Welcome to Haiti, Sister Nancy!
The rooster and turkey went to their respective places of rest. The cook decapitated them–the rooster on Wednesday and the turkey on Thursday. The priests who live in our building ate them for their mid-day meal. The had a chicken dinner on Wednesday and a turkey dinner on Thursday. To say the least, we were very grateful. Bon appetite!
On Sunday, April 3, the Universal Church celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday. Here in Jacmel, we, too, wanted to enter into this holy day of grace and mercy to listen to the words of our Holy Father who invites all in the world to make a pilgrimage of mercy to a designated Church in the diocese. After Mass today, we went to the Immaculate Conception Church in Zoranje, which has been designated by our Diocese to be the Holy Door of Mercy.
“The practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of us makes in this life. Life itself is a pilgrimage, and the human being is a pilgrim traveling along the road, making his way to the desired destination. Similarly, to reach the Holy Door in Rome or in any other place in the world, everyone, each according to his or her ability, will have to make a pilgrimage. This will be a sign that mercy is also a goal to reach and requires dedication and sacrifice. May pilgrimage be an impetus to conversion: by crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, we will find the strength to embrace God’s mercy and dedicate ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father has been with us.” No. 14 Misericordiae Vultus, BULL OF INDICTION OF THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY
Be assured that we carried each of you in our hearts and remembered you in our prayers.
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 