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During the Lenten season we began catechesis with our kids. At first it was once a week and now we are blest with twice a week. Fr. Elicien has a class once a week and another day we or James, a young man who desires to be a priest. Some of our kids are preparing for Baptism and Communion, and some for the sacrament of Confirmation. Fr. Elicien has a special Mass every Saturday evening for the Sunday Eucharist, some older ladies who cannot get to a church come with the kids.

On Sunday morning about 8 of our kids (because we cannot fit more in the car) come with us to one of the neighboring parishes for Mass.

Since we have a worshipping community everyday in our chapel and we worship in the native language of Creole, we knew it was time to purchase a “tanbou” drum. Drums are hand made in Haiti by seminarians in Port au Prince. Fr. Elicien tightened the head of the drum and waxed its skin, and then began to play for us.

We are blest that we have more and more people helping us with the mission of the mobile clinic. This is a sign that God wants and desires this for His people. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Clara, a student nurse from University of Notre Dame, Jacmel, joins us to learn clinic nursing. In Moncil, one of our sites, there are two nurses from the parish that assist us in health education and taking blood pressures. This help is needed every week in all four sites that we serve because we have so many people who come to the clinic every week.

We are very blest with our dedicated Haitian doctors and nurses that we have hired. They do not count all the hours and time they put into helping people who would never have access to health care as they do now because of the Mother Angela clinic. There are days we leave at sunrise and return after sunset. They truly love their brothers and sisters.

Sr. Marilyn brought a new fruit, which is very delicious, from Bishop Launay’s garden. We don’t know the name of the fruit; but it is very good for eating, and even better for juice.

Sr. Giovanni Monge, a Felician Sister from Livonia, MI, is responsible for helping us with funds and medical supplies for the running of the clinic. Last week she came to see the work of the clinic and to offer her nursing skills. She had the opportunity to meet with the village people in areas where the clinics take place, taking time to listen and answer questions. Our visit this week to Cap Rouge, our farthest ride up the mountain, was a long day. Starting at 6:30 a.m. and continuing until 8:30 p.m., the medical staff saw 106 patients. Sr. Giovanni had the opportunity to see how men, women and children come to the village Churches, not only for spiritual healing, but physical healing as well.

On Sunday, March 23, together with Sr. Giovanni who is with us for the week, we met with the leaders of the two villages where the clinic will be offered. First we participated in Sunday Mass at St. Yves, Monchil. The Mass was solemn because the choir celebrated its third anniversary. After Mass we had our meeting with the village leaders in preparation for the clinic. There are nurses in this village, who most likely will volunteer to help us for the good of their people. Then we made our way to La Font, about a half hour away, to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where the village leaders were waiting for us. The people were very interested in the presentation that Dr. Yves made and showed their enthusiasm to help the clinic that will be coming to them every week.

Each of these places where the Mother Angela Clinic will be serving usually had medical attention given them once a year. Now they will have it every week.

Every Saturday, our kids come together for art class, led by our young adults. With our financial help, they were able to purchase materials needed to start a new project with paper mâché, a particular art form famous in Jacmel. The girls are creating all kinds of paper flower arrangements.

On Thursday, March 20 we had our second day of clinic in St. Jude’s chapel, Citi Lumineire. This day we were blest with two doctors. This has been a learning process for us too, we have created a form for the patients to fill out as they wait for their consultation. We have learned quickly that many of our people do not know how to read or write, but we found people who could help them. It is a joy to see all our people working together for the good of each other, especially the young people.