Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

On Monday, February 4, once again our Felician friend Yvon, his brother Joseph, and Sanon traveled from Port au Prince to Jacmel early in the morning to help us unload the container. We also asked Lebrun, our caretaker, and Jacque our teacher, and one of his teenage boys to help us. Our container is stored at the Pastoral Center here in Jacmel. A few young men who work at the Center also helped us. We were given the use of another truck which was a gift from God. We began at 8:00 a.m. unloading and transporting the things needed for our new convent. At the house, four young boys appeared and also helped. We never expected that the work would go so fast but, with the hands of many angels, we finished at 1:30 p.m. Now the unpacking begins…

Today in Jacmel visitors from here and elsewhere have gathered for Carnival 2013. This gathering over the years has made the Carnival of this city an unavoidable cultural event. Even the President of Haiti comes to Jacmel on this day.

Preparations for this day begin weeks in advance. We thought they were rebuilding Jacmel so quickly but soon found out it was all for Carnival. Craftsmen, designers of giant masks which describe all the social reality of Haiti and its history, join groups disguised in costumes and perform musically for a spectacular parade. The parade goes through the streets from Barranquilla Avenue, which is right down the street from where we live, and through the historic center of Jacmel, commonly called the bottom of the city.

We couldn’t resist going for a walk to catch a glimpse of this cultural event and to be among the people. Even the elders receive a free t-shirt that says “Carnival 2013.”

Gael is 16 years old and is involved in her school and her Church youth group. She loves to visit religious sisters. Gael has a beautiful singing voice and wants to learn how to play the guitar. We started guitar lessons two days ago, and she really has a gift for music.

On Saturday, February 2, we joined the Universal Church in celebrating Consecrated Life Day. All religious brothers and sisters who serve in the Diocese of Jacmel gathered in the Pastoral Center with Bishop Launay Saturne and many of his priests. The meeting included a conference, sharing with other communities, and dinner. The day concluded with the Celebration of the Eucharist.

Sister Inga met a Sister of St. Vincent de Paul who is from Poland and has been serving in Haiti for 10 years. It is a very small world because Sister Lila’s brother is a priest who has been serving in Sister Inga’s home parish in Sulecin, Poland. When he heard that Sister Inga was missioned in Haiti, the connection began. Sister Lila serves in the same Diocese and works in the mountains about two hours away from Jacmel. She speaks Creole fluently.

Tonight at 6:30 p.m. we received a call that our container arrived in Jacmel. Now we have to wait for an inspector in whose presence the container can be opened. Please pray!

Sisters Dianne, Janet and Elizabeth, two Sisters of Charity and a Maryknoll came to visit us from Duval Roche on Thursday, January 31. It should be a three hour drive, but they got lost and arrived after seven and a half hours. It was a joy to see them and share our stories of mission here in Haiti. We prepared a good dinner with Haitian vegetables and fruits they all enjoyed.

On Monday, January 28, our Felician friend, Yvon Kernizan, picked up Mark Schafale, Chief Administrative Financial Officer of the Felician Sisters of North American, and Mike Edgar, Director of Properties of the Sisters of North America, at the airport in Port au Prince.  He drove them to Jacmel to visit our home. The purpose of the visit was to discuss legal and financial matters of the development the Felician mission here in Jacmel, Haiti.

Mark and Mike were welcomed by Bishop Launay Saturne and other members of the Diocese.  We had prepared a busy schedule for them, but found some time to show them the beauty of the Caribbean Sea. They got a full Haiti experience with a flat tire, an unexpected flood in the kitchen and a day without running water.

We are grateful to Yvon who purchased for us some needed items for our Haitian kitchen. He showed us how to make juice from chadek (grapefruit). Yvon showed us the trees by our house which have the kind of leaves that can be used for a tea that is good to prevent high blood pressure and to alleviate colds. He also prepared a delicious Haitian breakfast for us which we all enjoyed.

On Sunday, January 27, we left our house at 5:30 a.m. to travel with Bishop Launay Saturne to Seguin where he visited the parish community of Our Lady of Grace. Seguin is way up in the mountains. The road is very difficult to travel. You have to hold on to your seat because you bounce all around and, if you are not careful, you can bump your head.

Before we entered the village, about five miles before our arrival, a delegation of men on motorcycles greeted us with simple handmade signs welcoming the Bishop. When we entered the village, all the priests of the parish and the people who had gathered were singing a welcome song as they led us to the rectory. In the rectory we had breakfast with all the priests who had traveled miles to join the celebration. It is so beautiful to see the fraternal love the priests have for their Bishop. This is very common that the priests in the diocese do this for one another.

The Celebration of the Eucharist was at 9:30 a.m. The church was packed, people were hanging through the windows to see their Shepherd. It was like the story in the Gospel where the crowds gathered to see Jesus and blocked the doors and windows. The singing was beautiful as it accompanied the long entrance procession of ministers and priests. During the offertory procession, the people dancfifty up the aisle and presented about fifty baskets full of fruits and vegetables. We, too, received some carrots, potatoes, and grapefruit!

After the celebration, there was a festive meal for everyone! It was a blessed day and real feast in Seguin.

Our new home has three rooms, but now we have made it into four. In the center of our home is the chapel. At this time it has two chairs, and a tiny table with a crucifix, an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and a small statue of Blessed Mary Angela. In another room we have the kitchen and dining room all in one. We have borrowed a table and six chairs from the Diocesan Pastoral Center and a refrigerator and gas stove top that is on loan. The other large room was divided in two that are dormitories, one for Sisters and the other for volunteers. We have a bathroom with a newly built shower. All are welcome!