Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

On Monday, March 23, the Mother Angela Clinic team gathered in our convent chapel for a day of reflection.  The day was led by Father Samson Pierre, rector and pastor of Sts. James and Philip Cathedral. Father gave a conference based on Pope Francis’ Lenten letter to the faithful. There was opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during an hour of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The day ended with Mass, celebrating the first anniversary of the Mother Angela Clinic, which had begun its mission a year ago on March 19.

We thank everyone who helps us with the clinic in order that it might serve many poor people who would never be able to see a doctor or receive medications. We thank God for his blessings and ask Him to continue to lead the way for us. Blessed Mary Angela, pray for us!

Ali and Tim are the niece and nephew of Sr. Marilyn; Chris is Ali’s husband. They decided to come and visit the mission in Haiti. As soon as they arrived, they wanted to see and experience life in the mission. Today they experienced the Klinik Manman Angela in Kap Wouj. After walking around the village and meeting the people, they saw the clinic in action. They visited a home of a young man who was very sick and too weak to come to the clinic. 

After we returned home, we took a ride through the city of Jacmel. They even got to wear the famous masks that are made in the area.







We were invited to join in prayer and solidarity for the intentions of the victims of violence in Haiti, especially directed towards the people of the Church. From November 2014 through March 2015, 25 religious communities have been attacked with some type of violence by thieves; some were wounded and killed. This violence has also touched many priests.

On Monday, March 9, all priests and religious men and women in Haiti gathered throughout the country for a day of prayer. The day began with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and ended with Mass, celebrated by Bishop Launay Saturne in Sacred Heart Church. 

In Port au Prince, along with prayer, there was a march in solidarity with all those who were victims of violence.



On Friday, March 6, we went with Daniel to Port au Prince. Daniel is one of our artists, a talented young man who works with our teens in the Felician Haiti Art Program. Twelve years ago, he was involved in an accident, and he was shot in his left leg. With no medical attention, Daniel lost his leg. Through charity at the time, he was given a prosthesis that, from the beginning, really did not fit him; now it is broken at the knee. We found an organization that makes leg prosthesis, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. We are now waiting for the doctor to come and take a look at Daniel and see what our next steps will be.

Dr. Thomas Illwala is originally from Kenya. He came to Haiti five years ago to work with Healing Haiti’s Children in making legs and arms for children who lost limbs From the earthquake and by accidents. The Knights of Columbus sponsor the program, which is run by Project Medishare.

The process took about two hours. Daniel was measured for a new left leg. With the help of the Knights of Columbus, he will be given a new leg. The prosthesis will cost $160 USD. It takes about 4-6 weeks to make the prosthesis.

So now we begin the wait for it to be made and prepared.

Sr. Victoria, professor of Nursing from Madonna University, is here in Jacmel for the third time. She is accompanied by her brother, John, and three Madonna University Nursing Students. Sr. Victoria has been giving lectures in the School of Nursing at the University Of Notre Dame of Haiti, while her brother and students have been helping in the Mother Angela Clinic. 

Sr. Victoria was touched by the poor situation and the lack of materials with which the nursing students have to deal here in Haiti. She has made it her mission, through fund raising, to purchase equipment to assist their program. We thank Sr. Victoria for bringing us medications for the Mother Angela Clinic and other needed items for our kids. 











Our first group of Water Women met for the third time, together with their children. They received a Water Woman coloring book that they shared with their children. This was time given for the women to teach their children the importance of having clean water. It is truly “Water with Blessing.”
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Today, March 2, we finished the formation of the second Water Women group. They received their filter and bucket to share clean water in their home and to share the filtered water with three other families. More and more people in our area have access to clean water. We are getting more and more experience in preparing the women. The other day, we received an invitation, asking us to prepare a group of women in another part of Haiti for a parish that wants to purchase the filters and buckets.
 





















On Tuesday, February 24, we had our first class for women who do not know how to read and write. Many of them are the mothers of our children. We know them personally, and we know that not being able to read or write has been a frustration for them. We have always wanted to begin a session like this. The other day we were blest to have our Creole teacher and friend, Omanie, start this new class for five women in our home. We want very much to help them. Some of them are very young, already with children. They never had the opportunity to go to school or finish school because of their difficult lives. They will be meeting twice a week.

As we sat there and watched these women, learning for the first time to hold a pencil correctly, to draw a circle, the letter “C”, or a straight line, was amazing but sad that they never had this opportunity. Watching their faces and their real desire to learn was humbling. How much we take for granted the gift of knowing how to read and write.

On Saturday, February 21, Clara, our nurse in the Manman Angela Klinik who finished Nursing School last June, had her graduation from Universite Notre Dame D’Haiti. The day began with a beautiful Mass, presided by Bishop Launay Saturne. Following Mass was the Graduation ceremony. May God be praised!