Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti

Sister Julitta has begun her English and Creole classes.

Not being a Polish word but a Polish tradition, we celebrated Śmigus-dyngus. Śmigus–dyngus is a Roman Catholic celebration held on Easter Monday across Central Europe. … Traditionally, boys throw water over girls and gently spank them with pussy willow branches (in some regions) on Easter Monday, and girls sometimes do the same to boys. Well the nuns did this to Jean Philippe and Sr. Marilyn did it to Sister Inga.

By most ancient tradition, this is the night of keeping vigil for the Lord (Ex 12:42), in which, following the Gospel admonition (Lk 12:35-37), the faithful, carrying lighted lamps in their hands, should be like those looking for the Lord when he returns, so that at his coming he may find them awake and have them sit at his table.

This is exactly what we did this holy vigil. We began at 10:15 p.m. with the blessing of the fire.

Therefore, O Lord,
we pray you that this candle,
hallowed to the honor of your name,
may persevere undimmed,
to overcome the darkness of this night.
Receive it as a pleasing fragrance,
and let it mingle with the lights of heaven.
May this flame be found still burning
by the Morning Star:
the one Morning Star who never sets,
Christ your Son,
who, coming back from death’s domain,
has shed his peaceful light on humanity,
and lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Go in peace, alleluia, alleluia.

Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

Our vigil finished at 6:15 a.m.

On Holy Saturday, April 3, preparations for the holy Feast of Easter began early in the morning with coloring eggs, blessing of the Easter food, and practicing music for the great Vigil of Holy Saturday.

Traditional foods were prepared and then blessed by Father Alain.

On Good Friday, April 2, Sisters Marilyn, Izzy and Julitta participated in the annual Way of the Cross that the Cathedral Church organizes for the city of Jacmel. At 6:30 a.m., we were on our way to the place where all the people were to meet. Each Station is decorated beautifully in a unique way. For the people, this is a privilege to be asked to decorate a Station. Hundreds of people participated.

“Let us bear all things thankfully, be it poverty, be it disease, be it anything else whatever: for he alone knows the things expedient for us…. Are we in poverty? Let us give thanks. Are we in sickness? Let us give thanks. Are we falsely accused? Let us give thanks. When we suffer affliction, let us give thanks.… Affliction is a great good. “Narrow is the way,” so that affliction thrusts us into the narrow way. He who is not pressed by affliction cannot enter. For he who afflicts himself in the narrow is he who also enjoys ease, but he that spreads himself out does not enter in and suffers from being, so to say, wedged in.” Saint John Chrysostom

For the Triduum this year, we had a different experience here in the Mission. The catechists from the Neocatechumenal Community were with us.

Holy Thursday, in the morning, the Chrism Mass is celebrated with the Bishop in the Cathedral. The Bishop and priests gathered at our Mission for the procession. After the Mass, there was a social for the priests before they returned to their parishes.

We had the opportunity to meet some of our Franciscan brothers, too.

Let us love and serve one another!

On Wednesday, March 31, we were blessed to have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Reconciliation for our young people, who we had prepared for the sacraments over the years. We are committed to the spiritual renewal of the world; and it is important that, before every liturgical feast the Church celebrates, we offer this time for them. Fr. Emmanuel presided and Fr. Alain assisted him with confessions.

Before the celebration began, Sister Inga introduced Sister Julitta as a newest member of our community. Everyone was delighted to have another Felician Sister in Jacmel.

After the service, all enjoyed PIZZA and a SODA!

Early in the morning as the sun was rising, the parish family of Sts. James and Philip gathered in the mission for the blessing of the palms and solemn procession.

Today we gathered together
to herald with the whole Church
the beginning of the celebration
of our Lord’s Paschal Mystery,
that is to say, of his Passion and Resurrection. For it was to accomplish this mystery that he entered his own city of Jerusalem. The city of Jerusalem was here in Jacmel, Haiti. With faith and devotion, we commemorated the Lord’s entry into the city for our salvation, following in his footsteps,
so that, being made by his grace partakers of the Cross, we may have a share also in his Resurrection and in his life.

After Mass all our kids participating in our Faith Formation gathered to greet us and followed us home. There some sweets were awaiting them.

Almighty ever-living God,
who as an example of humility for the human race to follow
caused our Savior to take flesh and submit to the Cross,
graciously grant that we may heed his lesson
of patient suffering
and so merit a share in his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

May you all have a blessed Holy Week!