Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

On Friday, May 1, we returned to Jacmel. Our travels were blest and it was good to be home again. 

On Saturday, May 2, it  was time to clean our household. After unpacking our suitcases, we always put them back into our storage space that was once used by the school for bathrooms. We thought the toilets were all turned off because they have not been used these past two and a half years. But…we learned that there was another pipe, and this pipe had cracked and burst;   water was everywhere! It was coming out at a strong force, like a geyser, with jets of water pouring out and flooding everywhere. Sr. Marilyn put her thumb and hand on the broken pipe to stop the flow of water as best she could, and Sr. Inga ran around to every water pipe in the house to shut them off. We did not know from where it was coming. In such a panic, Sr. Inga then called our plumber, Genio, who immediately came over and shut off the main connection for all the water on the compund. Sr. Marilyn was soaking wet, water flooded everywhere, and everything in the closets was wet. We were able to salvage some things in the boxes. It turned out to be a full day of cleaning our closets and rooms where the water had seeped into everything. What a day! Thanks be to God we had some help from our friends!

We have been in the States for four weeks. Our visit began with Our Lady of Hope Province Chapter of Elections in Chicago, IL. It was a prayerful experience of discernment, centered in the Word of God. Women of hope were called forth and responded with a faith-filled “yes” to be our servant leaders.

Then we returned to New Jersey to celebrate the the 50th anniversary of religious life with our Sisters Janet, Juanita, Rosita, Charles and Edwardanne.

The third week found us on the road again for meetings in Coraopolis, PA. The Formation Convocation for Our Lady of Hope Province was another spirit-filled event, proclaiming our capacity and desire to live and witness the Reign of God. 

On Tuesday, April 28, we met for the Haiti Support Committee meeting. We love this commission because we certainly experience support and passion for the Haiti mission from the Provincial Administration, our sisters, and lay people that share in the art of accompaniment with our Haitian brothers and sisters.

On Friday, May 1, we will be returning “home” to Jacmel. We ask for your prayers, especially for Sister Inga as she awaits to begin the process for getting her green card. Bondye beni ou! God bless you!

Since we were leaving for the US on the Monday after Easter, we were wondering if we should have the traditional blessing of food. We wanted to share the Easter food with the poor so, on Easter Sunday, we invited a poor family to share our table.   With the kids, we prepared colored eggs to share with the neighborhood. This brought much joy to all!

After 2 years of preparation, eight young people from our community received the Sacrament of Baptism. The last days of their prpearation were especially intensive for all of us. Our young people had retreat during Holy Week–Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Besides the spiritual side, we needed to purchase new clothes and prepare their birth certificates, as well as getting their godparents’ information settled and finalized. It was a busy time, but a holy time.

The Paschal Vigil, was a great event for all of us. The celebration lasted for 6 hours. All were dressed in new clothes and ready for the holy water, oil and new candle. As the new fire was blessed, it lit the darkness. We processed with our candles lit with the newly-blest fire and listened to the Exultet, that proclaimed JESUS IS RISEN and is in our midst. We all sat attentively under the newly-blest paschal candle and listened to our salvation history proclaimed. After the Gospel and homily came the moment we had been preparing for–the sacrament of Baptism. More than 20 people were baptized and welcomed into the Church. It was a glorious moment of faith. They were all drenched in the newly-blest water, and so were we! We also had the privilege to be Eucharistic ministers for the celebration.

On Easter Sunday, we rose singing Jesus is Risen, He is truly risen. Jezi leve byen vivan!  In the afternoon, we had a big feast for the newly-baptized, their godparents and families. Alleluia!

Peace  and all good to our blog friends! Even though we have been back in the USA for a week already, we want to share with you some of our events that led us to the great and glorious Easter Resurrection.

  During the Lenten season, every Sunday evening we heard the RARA band marching through the streets. These are people of all ages, who participate in voodoo.  They march through the streets every Sunday during Lent and eeryday during Holy Week. They dress up in black robes or robes similar to that of a bishop, and they play drums, whistles and other musical instruments. Our kids tell us these gatherings are not good. Their dancing and gestures are erotic. They have these RARA marches everywhere throughout the country.

🎶”Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!” 🎶

We were able to obtain large palms, having been gifted from the place where we were on retreat. We decorated the area where we were having the Celebration of the Eucharist. The kids helped us prepare the area for the solemn procession into our Jerusalem.

The music was prepared, the palms ready for blessing, and the Word of God invited us to process with our palms high. Sr. Inga gave a beautiful introduction for entering this Holy Week and journeying with Jesus from death to life. Sr. Marilyn cantored the psalm, “Bondye mwen, Bondye mwen, poukisa ou abandone mwen?” (“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”)

The Gospel of the passion was proclaimed in parts and everyone stood and listened in awe.

From March 27-29, we were graced with the opportunity to go on a weekend retreat in preparation for Holy Week here in Haiti. It was a graced time of solitude. We could hear the humming birds and the wind blowing through the palm trees.

We brought all who walk with us here in Haiti before the Lord. We remembered our kids and teens preparing for Baptism this Easter Vigil and all our people here in Haiti. And we prayed for peace in the world.

“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:4-6

On Thursday evening, March 26, we had our Chemen Kwa, Stations of the Cross, for our kids and teens. Using a power point of pictures from the movie, “The Passion of Christ,” and personal meditations that would bring our kids and teens in union with Jesus, we walked the way of the cross together.

We were wondering if this was a bit much for our little kids, but after the service we went to visit our neighbors; and one of the little boys who had been there said to us clearly, “I saw Jesus today! I saw Jesus today!”

On Wednesday, March 25, we had some heavy rain during the day, which lasted into the evening. Our little neighbors came to us, telling us that water was leaking everywhere in their little shack, especially on their bed that we just had made for them. We had a a large tarp that we had bought last year in the market. After we bought the tarp, we noticed what was written on it– USAID–and we know that the USA gives them for free. Anyway, this night the tarp was a real gift from God. We saw two of our older boys out in the rain, playing soccer, and we asked them to help us put the tarp on the roof. They found a ladder and climbed on top of the shack. We heard the tin roof creaking and were worried the wooden beams would break, but we kept praying as they finally got it covered. After that, we brought the little boys and our two older boys to the house to give them some dry t-shirts and some chocolate cupcakes. At least now our little family can stay dry during our rainy season here in Haiti. 

The schools are now having their exams, and the kids are out of school for two weeks. I guess you could call it “spring break.” When the kids don’t have school, we have them here on our grounds for different activities. We have English with the computers, bracelet making, various activities and games with our little guys.

Last week Ali, Chris and Tim brought us a new supply of crafts for fun activities. We thank them for the bracelet-making materials which our girls love, as do some of the boys. They also bought us a number of pink t-shirts which we gave to the girls in the bracelet-making club.