Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

From our rooftop, the Lord shines upon Jacmel.

One day, a month or two ago, we went to see our container that was located at the Pastoral Center. To our surprise, it was not in its place. We soon learned that it had been moved because they needed to expand the building. We were happy about that since the container was right next to the entrance of the chapel, and we thought it was an “eye sore.” No one had told us it was moved, but we were grateful that they had moved it for us.

On Saturday, June 20, we knew we needed to go to the container to get some medical supplies that we wanted to share with the hospital, and we needed to clean out the container to prepare space for the next container which would be coming sometime in July. When we opened the container, we realized what had happend when they moved it–everything was turned over and tossed about; it was a mess. We were so shocked that we didn’t think of taking pictures! We got right down to work and began to move and go through boxes.  Please remember that it is 95 degrees here in Haiti everyday, starting at 10 a.m. 😅  We realized that this was going to take much longer than we expected. 😰

  
We thank God for Fritz who helped! 😎

Now that school is finished and summer vacation begins, “Friday Night at the Movies” also begins. The kids and teens enjoyed “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” translated in French, of course.

On Friday, June 19, we had our follow-up meeting with our second group of Water Women. They have been using the Water with Blessing filters and buckets for the past three months. This meeting was a  time for faith-sharing from the Gospel of John 8:4-26 (the woman at the well), their experiences of using the buckets and filters, with whom they are sharing the purified water,  and their difficulties.  It was amazing to listen to their sharing, especially how grateful they are for the filters and buckets for they see how their children and their neighbors do not have the sicknesses they had before, such as typhoid and cholera, because of using dirty, unclean water.

  
We checked their filters and buckets to see if they are working properly and kept cleaned. Afterwards we all drank a cup of purified water from the buckets.

We then gave them new filter covers that were made by our dear Felician Sisters in the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent, Livonia, MI. We thank you our dear sisters for sharing in the Water with Blessing project here in Haiti.

While Sr. Victoria is with us, she has been a great help in the Mother Angela Clinic pharmacy. She is making order, doing inventory and helping us with the many medications that have been donated by various mission teams during the past six months. We, too, have been helping to count pills and prepare them for the clinic.

Today, June 17, is the deadline for Haitians who have been living in the Dominican Republic for many years or who have been born there from Haitian parents to show proof they are documented citizens living in the Country. If they cannot show proof, they will be deported back to Haiti. Many  Haitians have not lived in Haiti for years; for many, they have lived in the Dominican Republic their whole lives. This may effect 1/2 million Haitian people. Many  of them do not even know the Creole language. 

Please pray for our Haitian brothers and sisters who may be deported from the Dominican Republic! 🙏

On Saturday, June 13, we celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a very special feast for all Felician Sisters throughout the world. Early in the morning, we found on the floor a small picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. None of us knew where it came from, but we knew this was a sign that Mary is with us in a special way. We had our simple ceremony of the offering our hearts to Mary and consecrated ourselves to her as all Felician Sisters did today throughout the world. 🌹🙏❤️     

On Tuesday evening, June 9,  our volunteers gathered in our small dining area for a time of sharing their experiences of the Art of Accompaniment in Haiti. Each of them shared what a profound experience they had personally known as they walked with our Haitian brothers and sisters. You will notice in the first picture that one of the volunteers is holding a small puppy. This is not ours; the volunteers bought the puppy for Jacque, their translator. 

On Wednesday, June 10, the volunteers all returned to Michagan.  They all have expressed plans to return. Sister Victoria is here with us for another 2 weeks. 

If you want to see a video that one of the volunteers has put together of their experience, go to: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OheE4fR8W-Q