Author Archives: Felician Mission: Haiti

Daily the VIM volunteers are learning to live the Felician College Core Values. Everyday the volunteers have an academic hour. On Saturday, May 24, the core value for the day was Respect for Human Dignity. After their first day of class with their students, we visited the Missionaries of Charity. Sister Clara Maria shared the sisters’ mission and provided an opportunity to interact with the poorest of the poor. The sisters care for women, men and children with special needs, as well as malnourished babies.

On Monday, March 26, the volunteers focused on Transformation. After class, the volunteers met Karolina, a young architect from Krakow, Poland, who has been living in Haiti for two year. She shared how living with and in other cultures has transformed her life.

We, too, can witness that, in meeting all the people who come to our home, our lives are transformed.

On Friday, March 23, four Felician College students–Kesha, Desiree, Marie and Anthony–together with Sister Mary Honorata, arrived at Port au Prince from New Jersey to begin their 10-day mission in Jacmel. They will be teaching English.

Every week we go to four different places with the Mother Angela Mobile Clinic. The Lord is sending us many people. Our people in the mountains do not have access to medical care. We thank you for your generous support of our clinic so that children and all people can get medical attention. Keep praying for us.

We need your prayers for the schools here in Jacmel. It seems as though the teachers in the schools have not been paid, they and are not showing up for classes. Students are in the streets, protesting every day. The sad thing is that they have not beeen learning these past few weeks. Please pray for a resolution to happen soon. Mesi anpil!

Today we have manifestations in the city because teachers have not been paid so here are our kids having fun while they learn!

To end this busy weekend, St. Michael’s celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation with 33 candidates on Sunday, May 4. The Mass lasted four hours. It was a beautiful celebration as everyone was dressed for the welcoming of the Holy Spirit in red and white. Each candidate carried a red candle as they renewed their baptismal promises; then, individually, they had hands laid upon them by the Bishop and they were anointed with the sacred chrism. The mission of Jesus continues through the gifts and talents of these young people. Let the fire of the Holy Spirit fall upon us all!

The day following two days of celebrating the diocesan feast and the welcome of Cardinal Chibly, all the priests and religious gathered with Bishop Launay Saturne. The morning gave us insight on the history of the Catholic presence in the Diocese and why Jacmel needs to continue to be about the new evangelization. The afternoon was on the Year of the Family and our preparation. The speaker was a priest who teaches at the seminary in Port au Prince; he is the director of the new evangelization for the Diocese of Port au Prince. After his presentation, the newly-formed committees gave reports. Of course, all was said in Creole, but now we can understand. Thanks be to God!

May 1 was another great day for the people in the diocese of Jacmel who gathered to celebrate the Eucharist with the Cardinal. There were so many people, with all the priests and religious of the diocese gathered together in one place. Once again it was as if the Pope was coming. The celebration took place in the newly-built conference center in the middle of Jacmel. This was the first time we had been in this building. Cardinal Chibly reminded us that we are called to be about the mission of Jesus Christ; we have a universal call to rebuild the Church, especially here in Haiti. He reminded us that Pope Francis has a special love for the poor. We may be poor physically, but spiritually we have our faith community to proclaim the Good News that Christ is truly risen and is in our midst. We must work and walk together! The choir and the dancing all made a joyful noise to the Lord! “>

On April 30, Jacmel was ready to welcome Haiti’s first Cardinal. The whole city, as well as people from the mountains, gathered in the streets at the entrance of the city. There was more excitement than ever because Cardinal Chibly is from Jacmel. It was as though the Pope was coming; people stood with the signs, and a musical band played while choirs sang. We stood waiting for his arrival for two hours. He finally reached the entrance of the city and walked among the crowd. He spoke to us and reminded us that we all have a mission for the universal church, especially here in Haiti. He gave us his blessing and said he looked forward to seeing us the next day as he would celebrate Mass for Jacmel’s feast, the Feast of St. Joseph and Sts. Philip and James. After that he drove through the town of Jacmel, greeting all the people. It truly was a great day for Jacmel. We also learned that, because of the feast, there would be no school or work for two days. br />