Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

On Saturday, we went to see Nadia and her baby boy (who she still had not given a name)  to see how they were doing. We walked into her one-room shack and saw there was blood everywhere on the bed. The midwife had not tied the umbilical cord correctly. So, with Nadia’s friend (Nadia is the mother), we rushed to the hospital with the baby. There was no doctor around, but a nurse was in the maternity ward. She cleaned up the blood, re-tied the cord, and told us to see a pediatrician. There was no pediatrician in the hospital. She told us of one in the city, so we looked for this doctor; he was not in the office. The bleeding had stopped, so we gave Nadia and her friend alcohol, gauze, diapers, and powdered baby milk. We then gave Nadia money to see this pediatrician on Monday. 

What an experience! We have done and learned many things here in the Haiti Mission, but this one has made such an impression on us as we see life and survival before our eyes. The baby is huge. The mother was very big during the pregnancy. The gift of life is unbelievable. Last night, we again visited the mother and child; and all seems well. The baby seemed more alive than in the morning. Please pray for Nadia and her baby boy. 🙏🏾

On Friday, October 14, in the evening, we witnessed God’s amazing love for his poor. Young Nadia, a 23-year-old woman, delivered her baby boy in her home, a small shack, through a midwife (Fanm saj).

We had terrible rains and heavy winds. Everything was drenched and flooded. The walls are soaked, and the paint is peeling. One of the pipes was knocked down. For the past three days, we have no electricity; it seems as though wires are down, and we don’t know when they will be repaired. Here in Jacmel, many of the stores are empty; and essential items are getting scarce, such as propane gas and clean water.

Today we prepared packages of soap powder to wash clothes and a bar of soap for our families, because all their belongings were under water and are full of mud. We went to deliver the packages and assessed the homes of our people. Some of them lost their roofs, and all of them had muddy water inside their homes. Their mattresses were soaked. During our visits, we invited the people to come to our home to pick up rice, beans, corn meal, flour, sugar and milk.

One woman told us today that her brother and his wife were killed when their house collapsed on top of them.

We write this blog in the dark, praying we have enough battery to publish it. Many of you have sent us messages, asking how you can help our Haiti Mission after the hurricane. The easiest way would be to send monatery donations to:

Felician Sisters of North America

Write in the memo: Haiti Mission.               

Mail to: 871 Mercer Road, Beaver Falls, PA 15010-6856

Thank you again, and God bless you all for your love, prayers and support for our poor people.

We ask for your prayers for Haiti, as we are expecting the arrival of Hurricane Matthew It is predicted to arrive Sunday evening, and the worst is predicted for Monday. All we can do is wait it out and keep vigil. It is reported that this is the strongest hurricane coming since we arrived in Jacmel. The speeds of the winds are being said to reach 155 mph. Please pray for all our people! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

This is the theme of this year’s catechetical program.  We thank Toni-Ann Russo for creating the t-shirts that gave us the theme, but in Kreyol: “Bondye kreye nou pou nou kapab remen.” 

On Thursday, September 29, we began our new catechetical year with a prayer service, stating the theme and song with our children. Then we gave them their shirts, which they are to wear every Thursday for class. Some of the kids are preparing for Communion.

With our teens preparing for Confirmation, we set the theme for the year and ended with Adoration; and, of course, we gave them their t-shirts, too.

Every year we have new kids that appear in our neighborhood and come to our home. The reason for this is that the mothers come from the mountains and look for a place to live, so they can send their children to school. They may not have the money to do so, but they try. This year we met Monachka. She is 4 years old. She came to us with sores on her head, an extended belly, no shoes, and hardly any clothes. We first gave her some flip flops and our famous pillow case dresses. She loved how pretty she looked. Then we went to visit where she lived and met her mother, who is sickly. We sent them to the Mother Angela Clinic to see the doctor and to get some medication. Monachka now comes everyday to eat and joins in our activities. Now she even comes for catechesis.

One day, we visited the neighborhood and visited the school in the area. We saw a little girl facing the wall and crying. It was little Monachka. We were told she was interrupting the class and was being disciplined. She did not have a notebook, backpack or pencil with which to write. She now has the supplies she needs because of you who have donated school supplies for our children. May God bless you! 

Many of our readers help to send our kids to school. Our children cannot afford school, but, with your help, we can do so this year. On Wednesday, September 28, we went to visit one of the schools where one of our kids attends. You may remember Donaldson. He has a chronic case of psoriases. At times the sores bled, and he was not been allowed to go to school for the past year. This year, we found a school that accepted Donaldson. The classes take place in a Church, and we asked the director if Donaldson could wear long sleeves and long pants. The problem was solved and now he goes everyday. After school, in the afternoon, he attends our after-school program to continue learning and to do his homework.

On Saturday, September 24, Toni-Ann Russo, our Felician Associate and a benefactor of the Haiti Mission, came to Jacmel to volunteer and learn about our mission. As for everyone who comes here, our kids right away are welcoming and they embrace our visitor as a sister in Christ. Toni has been busy giving water to the children everyday since she arrived.  She says: “I will never hear the words of scripture, ‘give me a drink’ the same way again without thinking of the hungry and thirsty children of Haiti.” Byenvini, Toni! Welcome, Toni! 😊

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! Thank you for allowing Jerry to work on his dream to study. He will be able to begin his studies in November. We appreciate your response. 🙏🏾