Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti

😮 Hornets in the kitchen.

Do you remember Rosamita?  Last year in November, we needed to find a safe place for her to live and finally found Children’s Hope Home for her. We visited Rosamita before Christmas and wanted to see her again after the holidays. But you know how quickly time passes…well, today we went to see Rosamita and to bring some clothes, candy and toys to the children where she lives. She is walking and looks very healthy. She has everything she needs except parents. Rosamita’s parents do visit her every month. We are happy she is well cared for but sad it has to be this way.

On Thursday, March 9, and on Monday, March 13, we had a new group of “Water Women” for formation. These women are very special because they are from a group of women who are sick with AIDS. There is an organization that is led by a Haitian woman who tries to help these women physically, psychologically and spiritually. They are fragile in many ways but still wanted so much to become “Water Women” for their families and neighbors.

We are now in the process of training two of our women, Madanm Omanie and Melinda, to be the coordinators of the “Water with Blessing” Project. It is a blessing to watch them lead the group. At the end of this month, we will have another 20 women enter the formation process to become “Water Woman,” in the “Water with Blessing” Project. Clean water is such a need here in Haiti.

Here in the Haiti mission, the Lord shows us again and again how the Gospel is so real. Whatsoever you do to the poor you do to me, or when I was sick you comforted me, or when I was a baby you clothed and fed me…so many opportunities to experience the living Word in our midst. Last week, in the same house, one elder is dying and new life is born at the same time. It certainly does put life into perspective. We thank God for these moments.

On Friday, March 3, Sr. Victoria Marie arrived with six nursing students and friends to share in our Haiti Mission with the Mother Angela Clinic and homecare nursing. As always, Sr. Victoria brought many over-the-counter medicines and vitamins, hygiene kits, and other useful items for the mission. We always enjoy our Madonna University friends who walk in relationship with our Haitian sisters and brothers. We thank them all for sharing their skills and passion for healthcare with us. 

The first few days they did healthcare assessments on the children and people in our community. Those that needed to see a doctor saw our clinic doctor, Dr. Wanitha, the following day.

Helping and assisting in the Mother Angela Clinic.

It was a blessed week of sharing and meeting the needs as they came, which is what the Felician Haiti Mission is about. Our new Felician Mission friends left on Friday, March 10. 

On Friday, March 3, our children who participate in our catechesis program gathered for the Way of the Cross. Using scripture, signs and symbols, we walked the Way with Jesus, remembering His suffering and death and praying to know the way we can follow Jesus. At every station, one or a few kids participated in wearing or carrying a sign or symbol of the Way Jesus walked.

On Thursday, March 2, our friend Eric Moyer, from Orlando, Florida, came to give a 3-hour workshop on how to use a new program he designed for patient information and records for medication. This new program will be used by the Mother Angela Clinic team. Everything will be recorded on iPads and synced into a data base. This has been a long-awaited dream of ours. May God be praised for opening this new door!

On February 2, after midnight, St. Yves Church was broken into. Their tabernacle, with the sacred Consecrated hosts, was stolen, as well as musical instruments and microphones. At that moment, the church had been desecrated. The Bishop was called, as well as the priests of the diocese. The parish faithful and all priests had to pray, fast, and do reparation. The Church was closed for one month. The people celebrated Mass in other areas during this time of prayer. On March 1, Ash Wednesday, the faith community, with Bishop Launay Saturne and many priests of the diocese, came to do the purification rite of the Church. St. Yves received a new tabernacle from St. Stephen’s Parish in Orlando, Florida. The tabernacle was blessed will need to stay in the rectory. It was a beautiful celebration, and we were very blessed to be a part of it.

On Friday, February 24, Sr. Marilyn was invited by Sr. Janet Lehmen, SC,  to teach her English class the song “Holy is His Name” by John Michael Talbot. The text and the melody offered much opportunity to give witness to the call of Mary and her surrender to the Lord and to know what is ours to do. The students you see in the photos are in the Nursing program.

Every Thursday and Friday, we have different groups who come to meet the Lord in the Word and to deepen their relationship with Jesus. We have four different groups, with kids and teens on different levels of faith. As Jesus says: “Let the children come to me for blessing.”

Some are preparing for their First Holy Communion.

And others are learning Bible stories and meeting the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in creative ways. They are learning to pray and sing praise to the Lord.