Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

Our ESL (English as a Second Language) School has started up again. We have one group in the morning and one group in the afternoon. We meet twice a week for classes. Since we know a little bit more Creole, we were able to speak with each individual child. We learned that out of 26 kids only two of them have both parents. Many of them live with a relative or a family friend. In one case, three siblings are living together on their own since their parents were killed in the earthquake.

A few months ago, we received t-shirts from JDM Associates, Inc. We distributed them among our kids and used them as our “uniform.” In Haiti, it is a custom to have a uniform or t-shirt that identifies you belonging to a school and/or organization. This was a very big deal for our kids. Right now our t-shirts have a baseball logo on them, but we hope that one day we will have our own logo for our kids.

Today our door bell was ringing all day as our kids were happy to see that we were back. They joined us for our evening prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The prayer time became an hour of praise and worship before the Blessed Sacrament. After tonight’s prayer experience, we have invited them to come every Sunday.

Felician College is preparing to send three students, with our Sister Mary Honorata, during Christmas week to teach English as a second language. It will be an intensive course given to our students here in Jacmel. We look forward to sharing the mission with them.

The night before we returned to Jacmel, we met with Father Gene Squeo, Pastor of St. Patrick’s Parish, Jersey City, NJ, and some of his medical team members, who conduct a medical mission every year near us in Jacmel. They are interested in collaborating with us when we begin our mobile clinic. Plans are being made for the team to come to Jacmel in March, 2014.

God is continuing to “widen our tents” as our relationships grow and we are called to work together for the Kingdom of God here in Haiti.

On Saturday, November 9, before returning to Jacmel, Yvon wanted to show us his new mission–CAD = Welcoming Center in Delmas, a place for young boys and teens who live on the streets. Many are orphans or do not know the whereabouts of their parents. This program is being sponsored by the government. We are so happy that the government is reaching out to young people and doing something for the most neglected. Yvon is a consultant for the program; and our good friend, Joseph, is the new director of the program. This will be a place for living, learning and recreating. We pray that the Good News of Jesus Christ will be proclaimed, and that God will be known, loved, and glorified in this place. This was the first time we saw anything like this in Haiti. Up to this time, we only saw efforts taken by the Church and NGO’s.

On our way to Beaver Falls, PA, for a gathering on the New Evangelization…

November 1 and 2, all Saints Day and All Souls Day, remind us to remember those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Throughout the day, in our thoughts and prayers, we remembered our loved ones.

We are truly blest that every year as a Felician Sister we are given the opportunity to make a one-week annual retreat. This year we had the special grace, while being in the States, to go on retreat at St. Lawrence Retreat House in Beacon, NY, with our dear Capuchin Friars. The following pictures try to capture where we were invited to listen to the Lord and to stand in his light.

As you all know, the little family that has lived below us is moving. This is a difficult goodbye, especially for Cassandra. She has gotten to know and meet so many Felician Sisters these past months. She still misses her French classes with Sister Angela. Cassandra has quickly learned how to say “Sister Giovanni” very well.

Last night, when we were preparing to leave for these two weeks, Cassandra was with us, helping to clean out the refrigerator. You can imagine how many goodies she was receiving, so she began to sing “Ap di bon fet pou ou.” That is “happy birthday to you.” However, most of the time we see sadness in her face as we get ready to say goodbye, and she moves to her new home.

Outside our home, we started to build a new Haitian kitchen. Lelun, who used to cook for our children, is unable to do so any longer since she is moving to her new home. One of the mothers of our kids has agreed to cook for our food program. Lately, we feel as though all we are doing is purchasing materials for building and preparing spaces, such as Lebrun’s and Lelun’s new home, the mobile clinic rooms, and now our Haitian kitchen. We know that this type of work is not all we are called to do; we know that it is to bring people together in relationship and to build community so the love of Jesus can touch many more lives as we walk in the footprints of Jesus.

We can’t wait until the day when our chapel will be a place for faith formation and catechesis for the people of Jacmel.