Monthly Archives: May 2018

As the week begins, our volunteers from Madonna University School of Nursing are learning what it means to leave behind their selves and the many conveniences that they have back home, as they walk in relationship with their brothers and sisters here in Haiti. Whether it is working with the Mother Angela Clinic, visiting our neighbors in their homes, or having activities with the kids, it is all about giving themselves for others.

Dear God,

I let go of my need to be perfect, and I let You fill me with Your perfect love.

I let go of my ideas of fulfillment, and I let You fill me with what I truly desire.

I let go of what I think of myself, and I let You define my worth.

I let go of what others think of me, and I let You tell me who I am to You.

I let go of my appearance, and I let You shine through me.

I let go of my unreasonable standards, and I let You work through me.

I let go of my will for my life, and I let You reveal Your plan for me.

I let go of all of my past sins, and I let You forgive me.

I let go of my reliance on myself, and I let You be my Redeemer.

I let go of how I view others, and I let You love them through me.

—Kate Prain

On Friday, May 25, 11 Madonna University Nursing students arrived at the Felician Haiti Mission. All are excited to participate in their learning experience of sharing their nursing skills here with us. As always, through the leadership of Sr. Victoria, they came with bags of medications that are not easy to find here–infant clothes, toys and formula, as well as sweets and toys for the kids. We are indeed blessed with their presence among us. Everyone is adjusting to conserving water and electricity!

We are God’s distributed bodies today. Our belief of the Trinity teaches that God wants to share His nature with us. When we live and love as the Gospel teaches, we reveal ourselves to be points of overlap between the heavenly and earthly realms. Staying close to the Gospel is no easy task; it will take most of us a lifetime of conversion and hope. The result, however, is that through us, others may hear God’s invitation to share the divine nature. Like the great saints, we will become bearers of the glory of God. May the blessing of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you always.

The ministry of presence here in Haiti comes in many ways as we share our gifts and talents with one another. Sisters Nancy and Desirè spent the week sharing themselves, using their giftedness in various ways. 😃😃

Angelica came to us a week ago. She is over a month old, and she is feeling more and more at home with us.

We welcome Sisters Nancy and Desirè to our community here in Jacmel. They will be sharing their ministry of presence with our people while Sister Inga is in Rome, Italy, for the Felician Sisters’ General Chapter. 🙏🏾🕊😀

A blessed and holy Pentecost.

The Spirit that Christians receive is not a one-time inspiration, but a permanent indwelling of the Father’s presence. The divine intimacy that Jesus shared was now open to every Christian. “Everything the Father has is mine,” Jesus tells His disciples, and they will know how to continue the Son’s mission because the Spirit “will take from what is mine and declare it to you” (Jn 16:15).

This guidance continues today. God’s Spirit flows through every heart; and, at times, God stirs the Spirit in each person to advance the mission of the Son. These moments are exhilarating and disorienting; in them many feel a desire to live differently and finally discover themselves.

We see it alive here everyday!

Jesus is sending you, too, just as the Father sent Him. He is breathing His Spirit into you, just as He did for His disciples. Embrace your mission today on this great feast of Pentecost. Embrace the Holy Spirit.

May the Lord be praised…the Word is being fulfilled here…

Our first passion fruit…

Our first beans…

On Friday, May 4, at the Felician Sisters Provincial House in Beaver Falls, Sr. Marilyn shared the new Felician Haiti Mission complex with the sisters and staff.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6, Sr. Marilyn did a mission appeal at St. Cecilia’s Parish in nearby Rochester. We are so grateful to Sisters Jessica and Alicia who accompanied Sr. Marilyn and helped with the collection.

In the afternoon of May 6, Sr. Marilyn was at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Central Convent, where she shared the story of growth and blessings of the Felician Haiti Mission and gave an update on the new mission complex for the sisters and associates who had gathered in Founders Hall.

On Monday, May 7, Sr. Marilyn shared the Ministry of Presence at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis, speaking to the Freshmen and Sophomore religion classes.

It has been a blessed journey, sharing the mission. But now it is time to go home to Jacmel, Haiti.