Finally the day has arrived when we are returning home to Haiti! It has been a blessed, beautiful pilgrimage and visit with community, family and friends. Today, Friday, August 26 (feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa) we will return with our Felician Associate, Delia Chamora, who will join us in our Felician Haiti mission for two weeks.
On July 19, we left Jacmel, Haiti, together with Wanitha Ceus, Omanie and Debora Scutt for Lodi, NJ. Wanitha and Debora were chosen to participate in WYD. Sad to say, only Wanitha received her visa for Poland. Debora, being a minor, was rejected at the last minute. It was not all sad; Debora did have a visa for the USA and came with us to visit family in Connecticut for the first time. We had only two days to get ready to begin our pilgrimage.
On July 22, we made our way to JFK airport and boarded a plane with hundreds of other pilgrims for Warsaw, Poland. It was in Warsaw we met with the other 45 pilgrims participating in the Felician Youth Pilgrimage, WYD Kraków 2016. The excitement was high and the energy contagious.
The pilgrimage began in Warsaw, walking in the footprints of our founders Blessed Mary Angela. Then it was to Czestochowa, Kraków, and the home of St. John Paul II, Wadowice and Oświęcim.
For Wanitha, our doctor who works in our mobile clinic, it was a life-changing experience. Her most touching transforming moments were walking in the footprints of Blessed Mary Angela, especially before the Blessed Sacrament and Divine Mercy Sanctuary. She also shared how profoundly she experienced the universal church and its embrace from everyone participating.
We all were encouraged and filled with hope for our young Church, as Pope Francis reminded us all to “be living writers of the Gospel.”
Haiti is famous for its delicious mangos. We have mango trees everywhere. We have learned to use them in a variety of ways: mango parfait, mango bread, mango bars, and now, mango custard pie. 😋
In the ministry of presence, we are called to be disciples. We are not doing for others, but being with others.
Each time we visit the construction site, we see something new. Now the wall that is being built is looking like a wall. This is exciting for us as we see the dream coming true. St. Joseph, pray for our workers. 🙏🏽
On Wednesday, July 13, our little ones got the opportunity to participate in their own Year of Mercy Pilgrimage. During this Year of Mercy, we have been teaching them the gift of Divine Mercy in various ways. They were given the pilgrimage scarf; and Sister Inga spoke about the meaning of the logo of the Year of Mercy, as well as the importance of pilgrimage and walking with Jesus everyday and sharing his mercy with others. Then we walked through the streets in procession, visited an elderly lady who needed prayers for healing, and ended in our chapel by praying together the Divine Mercy chaplet. One of our little girl’s, Deli, said after praying the chaplet: “Mwen santi mizerikod Bondye.” Translated says: “I feel God’s mercy.” Her face was so delighted by the experience.
On Saturday, July 9, we took our teens and young adults who are preparing for the sacraments on a Year of Mercy Pilgrimage. The Diocese of Jacmel has designated Immaculate Conception Church in Zoranje as the place for pilgrimage and the holy door for the Year of Mercy. We started the day with a catechesis given by our seminarian, James, who explained the history of the Holy Year of Mercy, the significance of the Door, and the grace of indulgence. We then prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet, received the Sacrament of Reconciliation, prayed the Rosary, and attended Mass. We thank Madam Omanie who helped us lead the songs and chaplet, as well as Fr. Poussin and Fritz who helped us with the driving. At the end of the day every one of us walked through the holy door of Mercy. It was a mercy-filled day.
On Friday, July 1, the Mother Angela Clinic went to a new place in the mountains, where there is a great need for medical care. Sr. Desirè and Sr. Marilyn accompanied the clinic team. It took an hour and a half to ride up the mountain, through a river and then over rocky roads.
People walked miles and hours to come and see our doctors. Some for the first time.
When the team arrived, people were waiting for us in the chapel. Sr. Desirè helped our pharmacist with medications, and Sr. Marilyn helped the nurse to get the vital signs. We saw 117 patients in one day. Thank you for supporting the Mother Angela Clinic!
After a long day of mission…giving thanks for love is to give!
Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti 