Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti

Do you remember our Afterschool Program? This is where our teens are helping our young kids with their studies, homework and preparation for their quarterly exams.

On Thursday, March 10, our teens responsible for helping the children led a meeting with the parents. We began with prayer and then shared our concerns and need for collaboration. 

The parents are very grateful for the time and space here on our grounds for their children to do their homework. Most of them, if not all of them, do not even have a table to work and write upon.

On Monday, March 7, five of our teenage boys met in our chapel for their first class to learn to become altar servers for our Saturday evening Masses which are celebrated in our chapel. These five boys received the Sacrament of Baptism and Communion last year at the Easter Vigil. They now are preparing for Confirmation.

Alex, who is the head altar server of St. Michael’s Parish, together with Jerry, conducted the class. The boys were given the importance of serving at the altar of God and  their call to be good examples  for others.

As you can see, they came to the meeting in their Sunday best. This tells us they are taking this privilege and call seriously. 

Sister Adrianna made it through her first week here at the mission in Jacmel. She has found helping in the Mother Angela kitchen a joy.

  
  
She is participating in our activities by being present to all our kids, by preparing for Mass, by checking our new property to see if they started construction, and by visiting with Bishop Launay. She is also learning that, when washing dishes here, you need to use Clorox for the rinse water.

Our newest member in our Felician mission here in Jacmel is Shamael. She was born on Friday, February 26, after midnight. Her mother, Beverly, is one of the young women who helps us make the Blessed Mary Angela chaplet bracelets.

On Sunday, February 28, Sister Marilyn returned to Jacmel, accompanied by Sister Adrianna from Lodi, NJ, who would be Sister Marilyn’s companion while Sister Inga completes her immigration process for the United States. As you can see, our kids already have embraced Sister Adrianna with their loving welcome!

On Wednesday, February 17, the Committee for the Felician Haiti Mission met in Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Central Convent in Livonia, MI. It is always good to gather with our sisters and partners to share updates of the mission and ways we can continue to walk in relationship with our Haitian brothers and sisters. This also includes the efforts of Madonna University and Felician University.

Another blessed event that took place at the end of the meeting was the signing of the contract to begin construction of the new convent on our property in Jacmel. May God continue to be known, loved and glorified.

At our last Provincial Assembly, Sister Mary Christopher, our Provincial Minister, introduced a simple project to help the poor and homeless, using plastic bags that are crocheted into mats for sleeping or sitting on the ground. This is perfect for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Our Sr. Lois Marie, from Lodi, NJ, embraced the project and made us two large mats for our people. We thank Sr. Lois for thinking of us and our people.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Wallington, NJ, invited us to speak during the Masses on Saturday, February 6, and Sunday, February 7. This was the second time we shared the Felician Haiti mission at Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. We were blessed to be able to thank the parishioners for their support two years ago and to update them regarding God’s growth of the mission.

There were eight Masses in all: three in Polish and five in English. We thank our dear Sisters Janet Marie and Maria Magdalena for assisting us in the collection at the end of each Mass. The faith community was very generous in their support of the mission in Haiti. We are in awe at the goodness of the Lord through the generosity of his people.