Here in the Haiti mission, the Lord shows us again and again how the Gospel is so real. Whatsoever you do to the poor you do to me, or when I was sick you comforted me, or when I was a baby you clothed and fed me…so many opportunities to experience the living Word in our midst. Last week, in the same house, one elder is dying and new life is born at the same time. It certainly does put life into perspective. We thank God for these moments.
On Friday, March 3, Sr. Victoria Marie arrived with six nursing students and friends to share in our Haiti Mission with the Mother Angela Clinic and homecare nursing. As always, Sr. Victoria brought many over-the-counter medicines and vitamins, hygiene kits, and other useful items for the mission. We always enjoy our Madonna University friends who walk in relationship with our Haitian sisters and brothers. We thank them all for sharing their skills and passion for healthcare with us.
The first few days they did healthcare assessments on the children and people in our community. Those that needed to see a doctor saw our clinic doctor, Dr. Wanitha, the following day.
Helping and assisting in the Mother Angela Clinic.
It was a blessed week of sharing and meeting the needs as they came, which is what the Felician Haiti Mission is about. Our new Felician Mission friends left on Friday, March 10.
On Friday, March 3, our children who participate in our catechesis program gathered for the Way of the Cross. Using scripture, signs and symbols, we walked the Way with Jesus, remembering His suffering and death and praying to know the way we can follow Jesus. At every station, one or a few kids participated in wearing or carrying a sign or symbol of the Way Jesus walked.
On Thursday, March 2, our friend Eric Moyer, from Orlando, Florida, came to give a 3-hour workshop on how to use a new program he designed for patient information and records for medication. This new program will be used by the Mother Angela Clinic team. Everything will be recorded on iPads and synced into a data base. This has been a long-awaited dream of ours. May God be praised for opening this new door!
On February 2, after midnight, St. Yves Church was broken into. Their tabernacle, with the sacred Consecrated hosts, was stolen, as well as musical instruments and microphones. At that moment, the church had been desecrated. The Bishop was called, as well as the priests of the diocese. The parish faithful and all priests had to pray, fast, and do reparation. The Church was closed for one month. The people celebrated Mass in other areas during this time of prayer. On March 1, Ash Wednesday, the faith community, with Bishop Launay Saturne and many priests of the diocese, came to do the purification rite of the Church. St. Yves received a new tabernacle from St. Stephen’s Parish in Orlando, Florida. The tabernacle was blessed will need to stay in the rectory. It was a beautiful celebration, and we were very blessed to be a part of it.
On Friday, February 24, Sr. Marilyn was invited by Sr. Janet Lehmen, SC, to teach her English class the song “Holy is His Name” by John Michael Talbot. The text and the melody offered much opportunity to give witness to the call of Mary and her surrender to the Lord and to know what is ours to do. The students you see in the photos are in the Nursing program.
Every Thursday and Friday, we have different groups who come to meet the Lord in the Word and to deepen their relationship with Jesus. We have four different groups, with kids and teens on different levels of faith. As Jesus says: “Let the children come to me for blessing.”
Some are preparing for their First Holy Communion.
And others are learning Bible stories and meeting the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creative ways. They are learning to pray and sing praise to the Lord.
It is Carnaval time everywhere, especially here in Haiti! In every culture people have a way they celebrate with special cakes. Last week we shared with you the King’s Cake that was shared with us. Today, on Fat Thursday, we wanted to bring Panczki Day to Haiti. This was a new experience for both of us!
The week of February 13-20, we were asked if two American volunteers from Lavalle could come and spend a week with us at our mission in Jacmel. They are from Louisiana and Tennessee. They have been in Haiti since September, working in a school in the mountains of Lavalle. They are teaching English to 200 students. The school is sponsored by an American from Tennessee.
Hannah is from New Orleans and Abby is from Nashville. They graduated college last year and wanted to give a year of service. They had heard about the Mother Angela Clinic and the various activities we have here in Jacmel and asked if they could come for a week while their school had exams.
In the mornings, they went with the clinic to help and to learn more about acute care among the poor. In the afternoons, they helped with the Mother Angela Kitchen and taught English to our teenagers. It has been a joy having them with us, sharing community and the mission with these young women who eventually want to become a doctor and a nurse.
Hannah
Abby
Hannah and Abby having English class.
On Friday, for their English class, Hannah and Abby made a famous King’s cake, which is served in New Orleans at every Mardi Gras. They shared it with the kids and us. It was delicious!
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 