On Friday, October 27, Sr. Suzanne Kush, Provincial Councilor and Director of Formation for Our Lady of Hope Province, came for a visit to Jacmel. This was her first time in Haiti. One reason for Sister’s visit is that we have some young women seeking life with us as Felician Sisters. Sr. Suzanne was right at home from the first day.
It is not unusual for us to have a few mothers with their babies come to our door with needs.
Sr. Suzanne even met our set of twins.
Everyday, in the morning and in the afternoon, we have our kids come to work on their homework and do activities that will improve their skills for school. Everyone comes with excited smiles and works hard, learning together.
When they finish their homework, the kids are able to play with games.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Helen Keller
On Thursday, October 5, we began our faith formation classes for our children. Our Catechists prepare with us every week for their lessons, and then they conduct their classes with the children. We begin by listening together to the Good News with a story from the Word of God, and then we share how we can live this Word in our lives. This week we shared how the Word could produce its fruit in us for the spreading of the Kingdom of God.
We have children who are currently preparing for Baptism and Communion, and every week there are others who want to participate in the faith formation program.
On October 3, in the evening, our teenagers gathered with us to celebrate the Transitus of our holy father, St. Francis of Assisi. After sharing with them the story and life of St. Francis, we watched a short video on his prayers and his passion, as well as his love for the cross, creation, non-violence, living the Gospel, and embracing all of humanity.
We then shared the final moments of the death of St. Francis, when he asked for the Gospel of John 13:1-17 to be read. The blessed bread was then broken and shared, followed by Psalm 142, which was chanted by one of our boys. After this, all were encouraged to do what is theirs to do, as we live today as followers of the Gospel of Jesus.
May the Lord give you peace!
As we began this new week, we have been experiencing a “flock of babies” arriving at our door–all of them sick with colds or injuries from falling. More and more, we understand what is meant by total availability.
This little guy fell in his house, but he seems to have something else going on, because he does not stop crying. Today, they all go to the Mother Angela Clinic that is nearby and will see Dr. Wanitha, who is our pediatrician.
Here are our twin baby girls. Two of our teens decided to play with them for awhile to give their mother a break. They, too, need to see the doctor.
The Mother Angela Clinic continues to grow as we reach out to various areas in the mountains, areas where people have never had access to medical treatment due to distance and rocky roads. But the Clinic team does not allow that to stop them from visiting places where there is a need. On Friday, September 29, the feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the clinic traveled to a far distant site in the zone of Decouze. We only get to visit this site every month and a half, since we have 28 places in all to visit. Once we left the main road, Nationale 2, we made our way up the mountain on a very rock and steep road. The site was gorgeous, and we felt like we could touch the clouds.
Once we arrived, many people were waiting for a chance to see a doctor and receive medications. As always, we began with prayer and then a few minutes of health education. Today, it was the importance of not sharing medications one receives with someone else, unless it is prescribed by a doctor. Sr. Marilyn shared the story of the Felician Sisters here in Haiti and about Mother Angela’s passion for the sick. She also told everyone how happy we were to be with them.
As always, Dr. Yves sees the elders and Dr. Wanitha sees the children, babies and mothers.
The people in this area do not have clean water and suffer with many types of infections.
It is our hope to bring the “Water with Blessing” project here in the very near future.
On Wednesday, while we were taking Fabiola for her tests, we went to visit little Rosamita. She looks wonderful! She is walking and talking. Of course, when she first saw us, she was a bit apprehensive. But then she seemed to realize who we were. Of course, a cookie or two helped.
We also had good news that Rosamita’s mother, Christella, has been visiting monthly, as well as her father.
On Monday, September 25, we were returning after 5 p.m. from the airport at Port au Prince. When we pulled into the property, we saw a group of kids gathered. Fabiola, a 13-year-old, had passed out. This has happened to her before, and we had taken her to the hospital. This was a bit different because it looked as though she was having a seizure of some sort. We took her again to the hospital. This is always an interesting adventure, since you need to find your own gurney and then push it into the emergency room. Then you have to look for the doctor yourself. They seem to know us there, so they responded to us immediately. Then we needed to go and buy the necessary medications, so we went to the hospital pharmacy; but they did not have everything that was prescribed. Sr. Marilyn then went to the streets to check other pharmacies.
It was suggested that Fabiola see a neurologist. At first, we wondered how can this happen, but then they showed us a paper with a doctor’s name. He has hours at a clinic on Wednesday’s and he would do some tests needed.
On Wednesday morning, September 27, we took Fabiola and her mother to the clinic.
The clinic was next to the orphanage where little Rosamita is living. Remember her? We got Fabiola registered. Thank God we have been networking, because we knew one of the doctors who knows the Mother Angela Clinic and our work. The neurologist was also familiar with our clinic. What a blessing for us!
We learn more and more how the ministry of presence calls us to serve where needed. Fabiola is now on medication and will return next month to monitor the medication and to be tested again. We thank God that this way was shown to us.
On Friday, September 15, feast of the Sorrowful Mother, a young 17-year-old mother came to our door with her malnourished, pre-mature baby son. He was born after seven months and now, at two months old, he was fighting for his life.
Sr. Danat, had worked in a maternity ward years ago as a nurse, and her skills came back swiftly. Thanks be God she was with us and that our clinic doctor was here working in the pharmacy.
It was suggested that we bring the mother and child to the Missionaries of Charity here in Jacmel or to the hospital. We decided to go to the Sisters, and they took them right away. The Mother will be staying with her baby until he gets strength.
On this feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we thank God and Our Lady for guiding the way and using us to behold their child…😇
It was five years ago today, on the feast of St. John Chrysostom, that we made our journey to Haiti to embrace the ministry of presence. In this morning’s responsorial psalm, we prayed:
“Every day will I bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
Let all your works give you thanks, O Lord, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom and speak of your might.
Making known to all your might and the glorious splendor of your Kingdom. Your Kingdom is a Kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.” Psalm 145
We believe this scripture has been fulfilled in our living here in Haiti, especially in Jacmel. Our humble journey began in Port au Prince, where we lived in the house of Yvon Kerizon. We lived for a few months in one room. We were given many opportunities to meet with Bishops in different dioceses, to learn the language, and get to know the people and culture of our Haitian community. During these simple beginnings, we even experienced our first hurricane–Sandy.
We were invited to Jacmel by Bishop Launay Saturne, who gave us the second floor of a school building to begin the ministry of presence in Jacmel. The Lord was waiting for us here as He already had plans of what was to come: The Mother Angela Kitchen, Mother Angela Mobile Clinic, English instruction, the Pay-it-Forward program, assisting kids and teens to go to school, teaching women to read and write, sponsoring the “Water with Blessing” project, starting a teen choir, visiting homes, and, of course, introducing our Faith Formation program. We, too, are amazed at God’s grace, strength, and powerful presence in our midst. Thank you to all who accompany us with our Haitian brothers and sisters.
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 