Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

Our kids wear their sandals until they are unrecognizable. Flip flops are a welcomed gift to our Haitian brothers and sisters.

We thank Sacred Heart School, Troy, NY, for their generous donation of flip flops!

Sisters Angela and Janet are feeling more and more comfortable as they share daily life here in Jacmel. The ministry of presence is powerful as the sisters accompany our kids in the simplest way. Sr. Angela has been tutoring and having conversations with our students in French. Sr. Janet enjoys helping and watching our kids do puzzles and color.

Our teens gather for some conversation in English before they work on the computers. Thank you all for your prayers and support! All the good you have done is living on in our students who have such a desire to learn!

This morning some of our teens stopped by for an hour of English conversation. They are so eager to learn.

In the afternoon, it was time for some fun. A friend of ours donated a volleyball net and some volleyballs for our kids. Our boys helped us find a good place for the net, and the games began. At first one of the boys hit the ball so hard it landed on our neighbor’s roof, but this did not stop us. We got another ball, and the whole neighborhood was sharing in the fun. Right after we finished our game, the dark clouds rolled in; and we had a bad rain. We were flooded, as was as everyone else.

As night falls, we do not have any electricity. Maybe lightening struck something. Here we are, in the dark again. Christ be our Light!

Today we began our English classes, and the kids were glad to be back! We were happy to see them, too!

They love the Felician sunglasses! It is great to see them around Jacmel!

How true is this saying, especially here in Jacmel. Yesterday, Jeff Fortune came to visit us. He is a dear friend of our valued friend, Dr. Jean Paul Bonet. We met Jeff two years ago when we were in Port au Prince. Jeff also went to a year of high school in the States and spent the year with Dr. Bonet’s family.

Jeff is now living in Jacmel at Isaiah 61, which is the guest house of Community Coalition for Haiti in Jacmel. Teams enjoy respite there while working on CCH projects. Jeff is teaching English and helping as a translator when they have mission volunteers. He is also attending school, studying theology.

How blest are we to have another friend sharing the Good News!

Today we joined Pope Francis and the world in a worldwide day of prayer for peace.

Pope Francis condemned the use of chemical weapons, blamed by Western powers on Syrian government forces, but added: “War, never again.” The United States and France are considering military action against Damascus in response to the chemical attack.

The pope asked the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics around the world to pray for peace in Syria today, and led he a special prayer vigil at the Vatican. He also invited other Christians, members of other religions, and all “people of good will” to join the Catholic initiative in any way they saw fit.

Here in Haiti, all of us joined in prayer and fasting for peace in Syria. We ended our day with a Holy Hour for Peace and Eucharistic adoration.

Ten minutes into our hour of prayer we lost electricity but we continued, sitting in darkness, in solidarity with our Syrian brothers and sisters who are living in the darkness of civil war.

From Pope Francis’ homily this evening at the Prayer Vigil in the Vatican:
“This evening, I ask the Lord that we Christians, and our brothers and sisters of other religions, and every man and woman of good will, cry out forcefully: violence and war are never the way to peace! Let everyone be moved to look into the depths of his or her conscience and listen to that word which says: Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation. Look upon your brother’s sorrow – I think of the children: look upon these… look at the sorrow of your brother, stay your hand and do not add to it, rebuild the harmony that has been shattered; and all this achieved not by conflict but by encounter! May the noise of weapons cease! War always marks the failure of peace, it is always a defeat for humanity.”

We heard that the Law Students of Jacmel gathered today for a manifestation (a demonstration), demanding that the Minister of Education fire the director of the Law School. As we were going to the market, we got in the middle of this manifestation. It was a peaceful demonstration, but there were many people and the roads were blocked. We just waited until everyone passed. Let us pray for justice and for all the schools in Haiti, that they would provide a good education.

Today Sr. Angela answered our door and gave Jesus through her ministry of presence by feeding our hungry kids and sharing her ministry of healing.

Sr. Janet has been helping with some repairs in the house. Daily we have been having some thunderstorms and heavy rains, and we need to change some of our plastic curtains that cover the bars.

Tomorrow we will join Pope Francis and the universal church in prayer and fasting for peace in Syria. All the Churches in Haiti will be joining in prayer!

Today we celebrated a special day with the Missionaries of Charity, a day of remembering the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who died on September 5, 1997. Her legacy continues to move the world even years after her passing.

Here in Jacmel, the Sisters serve the poorest of the poor, God’s first love. They care for small children who are malnourished, children and young adults with special needs, and the aged. All of these who have no place to call home. With the sisters, they have a home. Today’s celebration was for everyone and, after the beautiful Mass, the feast continued with over 300 people being served a delicious meal. We were blessed to be among them.

“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”― Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!