Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.” Luke 16:19-21

This is the reality we see here in Haiti. There are the rich and the poor, and no in between. On the hills above the city are beautiful huge mansions that overlook the poor slums and tent cities below. Big thick walls surround these mansions that protect them from outsiders. It seems as though there is no bridge that connects these two different worlds that are so close yet so far away from each other.

This is a very sad reality, but there is hope in Jesus Christ. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” Ephesians 2:14-16

Dayenu (Hebrew:דַּיֵּנוּ) is a song that is part of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The word “Dayenu” means approximately, “it would have been enough for us”, “it would have been sufficient”, or “it would have sufficed” (day in Hebrew is “enough”, and -enu the first person plural suffix, “to us”). This traditional up-beat Passover song is over one thousand years old. The song is about being grateful to God for all of the gifts he gave the Jewish people, such as taking them out of slavery, giving them the Torah and Shabbat, and had God only given one of the gifts, it would have still been enough. This is to show much greater appreciation for all of them as a whole. The song appears in the haggadah after the telling of the story of the exodus and just before the explanation of Passover, matzah and the maror. This song is sung by those who are in the Neocatechumenal Way.

“Dayenu, dayenu…it would be enough, it would be enough.” As we walk on our way in Haiti we are meeting many people who are walking the Neocatechumenal Way. It is a joy for us to meet them and to share with them. What we are hearing from the Synod the “Essentiality of the Kerygma in Preaching the Gospel” must be a clear sign of confirmation from the Church for the neocatechumenal communities that the Lord is leading us in the right direction. At our last meeting at the Papal Nuncio we met Sister Julissa from the Dominican Republic who is on the Way. We hope to share with Neocatechumenal communities in the future here in Haiti our enthusiasm and experiences of proclaiming the Gospel.

On Monday we tried to make an appointment with the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Bernardito Cleopas Auza. We learned that the only way to do this is to go to his residence in Petion-ville. We were advised by Bishop Launay Saturne, the Bishop of Jacmel to present ourselves to the Nuncio.

When we arrived at the Nuncio’s residence we met a few Sisters from the Dominican Republic who work there and his secretary who will make an appointment for us next week. We had an opportunity to see the house, pray in the chapel, and walk the beautiful grounds that overlook the city of Port-au-Prince.

🎸 Moise Clermont received a guitar from us to use in school where he is the principal. This school is one of those founded by Yvon. Yvon runs three schools that are located in the mountains that are for poor children who cannot afford to go to school. This year all the schools opened in October, one month later due to lack of funds. We had a chance to visit two of these schools. They are up high and steep mountains. It is a challenge to get there. Yvon depends on financial and material donations from the generosity of people.🎼🎶✂✏📌📎📐📕📓📚🔭🎨⚽

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In Celebrating the Year of Faith we are walking in the footprints of Jesus Christ in Haiti being in relationship with our brothers and sisters.
We know we need humility to recognize the gifts of our brothers and sisters to live in solidarity with them. We are aware that we all have different gifts that we can share with one another. We are discovering more and more what a gift it is to live in simplicity. We learn anew to appreciate the gifts of water, electricity, safe shelter, and the natural fruits of the earth.

We have learned that we cannot take for granted the gift of the Holy Eucharist. In our present situation we cannot receive this gift everyday. God in His mercy is giving us food and strength in the Word of God. Our daily personal reflection and sharing on His Word calls us to conversion in many aspects of our lives. This is an on-going invitation to conversion. We experience how the Word is made flesh and alive in our midst.

Let us pray, live by faith, and allow ourselves to be led by the Word and the Holy Spirit during this Year of Faith.

Yesterday, on the feast of Blessed Mary Angela, God prepared for us a beautiful surprise. Joseph, Yvon’s brother took us to Casale, a small village in Haiti . It is located in the Department of Grande Anse and not too far from the Haitian Capital, Port-au-Prince. Casale is mainly agricultural. The road to get there is very challenging but the nature is beautiful. One thing distinctly unique about Casale is its large Polish influence. When I heard about Poles in Haiti at first it puzzled me. How did Haiti end up with some of its population with a Polish background? Do you know how far Poland is from Haiti? Also, why Casale? Why not Port au-Prince or someplace else in the country?

The history of the town of Casale with its Polish influence dates back to the time of the Haitian revolution. In 1802, the Napoleon army came to Saint Domingo to fight the slave rebellion, this included a Polish legion. There were about 5200 Poles sent to Saint Domingo by Napoleon. The Polish officers were told that there was a revolt in Saint-Domingue; however, upon arrival, the Polish brigade realized that the rebellion that they were informed of by the Napoleon army was actually slaves in the Colony fighting for their freedom.

At that time, there was a similar war going on in Poland. Polish soldiers were fighting back at home for the liberation of their own country. In 1772 Russia, Prussia and Austria invaded Poland. Many Poles hopeful of uniting in some way to win back Polish territory, made alliance with France and joined Napoleon’s army, but as a distinct Polish units.

Many Polish soldiers decided to leave the French army and join the slave rebellion. They all settled in Casale, La Vallee de Jacmel, Fond des Blancs, La Baleine, Port Salut and St. Jean du Sud. Several Polish soldiers
participated in the Haitian revolution of 1804. The Polish soldiers acquired Haitian citizenship after Haiti’s Independence, and settled there never to return home. Even today, you can find Haitian Poles, blue eyed, blond, with European features.

Pope John Paul II who visited Haiti in 1983, mentioned the Polish contribution to the slave rebellion leading to Haiti’s independence.

As a Pole, hearing about this I desired to visit this place. It was very moving to talk to people who considered themselves as having Polish roots and proud of it. They were happy to have a picture taken with us. The most moving moment of the day was two ladies from Casele showing us the shrine of our Lady of Częstochowa. They pronounced this name very well! There was a woman by the little chapel who comes there every Wednesday and prays with the Scriptures for the whole day. We were blest to meet her. This visit was also a gift and grace for Sister Marilyn who on the feast of Blessed Mary Angela was graced to go deeper into our Polish roots of our Congregation right here in Haiti. For both of us it was a special gift on this feastday that we received the Eucharist in their beautiful church.

Flying above the Caribbean Sea along the coast of Haiti from Jèrèmie to Port-au-Prince.

“…watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” 1 Peter 5: 2-3

It was a real blessing to meet a true shepherd of his flock, Bishop Joseph Gontrand Decoste, SJ, of the Diocese of Jèrèmie The Bishop offered us hospitality in his residence for the week. On our last day he celebrated the Holy Eucharist and prayed for our Felician Congregation. The Bishop expressed his hope that one day the Felician Sisters will be in the Diocese of