Felician Sisters of North America Mission: Haiti

Our sisters who are participating in the Art of Accompaniment had the opportunity to visit our neighborhood. We needed to visit one family in particular that was in desperate need of having clean drinking water. We met with Madam Fani and her extended family and gave her a water filter and bucket. She now joins the many “Water Women” we have in the area, who are participating in “Water with Blessing.” 

Take a look at this short video…

On Sunday, August 9, we welcomed four of our Felician Sisters to Haiti: Sr. Margaret (Rome, Italy), Sr. Julitta (Krakow, Poland), Sr. Angela (Livonia, MI) and Sr. Rita (Livonia, MI). It is a joy to have our community and Felician presence grow in Haiti.
    
    
   

Every week, our children come for catechesis that always includes fun activities.

On Wednesday, August 5, we returned to Kap Wouj, St. Anne’s Parish, to meet with 21 women who accepted the call and ministry to be Water Women. Madam Omanie helped us to lead the 3-hour formation program. We are very happy that now this area in the mountains will have clean water for drinking, cooking and washing. We thank all those who have donated to the Water with Blessing project.
    
    
    
    
    
   

Donaldson is a little 6-year-old boy who is very poor and neglected. He likes coming to our home everyday. He was always dirty and wore the same clothes everyday. We gave him some new shirts, shorts (thanks to your genrosity), and new underwear.

 One day we noticed that Donaldson had a terrible skin rash with opened sores on his arms, legs, torso, head and ears. It was like infected pimples.  We asked our Dr. Wanitha to see him. Donaldson has Scabies. Scabies is most common among people who live in overcrowded conditions, and whose ability to practice good hygiene is limited. Scabies can be passed between people by close skin contact. Although the mites can only live away from human skin for about three days, sharing clothing or bedclothes can pass scabies among family members or close contacts. 

It has been over two weeks since Donaldson saw our clinic doctor. He is getting better slowly but surely. Thank you for all your support to help care for these kids. Look at Donaldson with his new clean shorts and t-shirt.

  
Here is Donaldson’s legs when we first saw them, this rash was all over his little body.

Today, Friday, August 7,  was a full day as we prepared for our four Felician Sisters to arrive on Sunday. As morning broke, the beginning of the day, as always, began with prayer before the Word of God, followed by Morning Prayer. Then the day began to unfold with kids and teens coming for the Pay-it-Forward program. A visit to Caritas was followed by a meeting with the Mother Angela Clinic Team. After a quick dinner, we worked with our pharmicist to learn a new program for our medications. Next came cleaning and preparing bedrooms and some last-minute shopping in preparation for our sisters arrival on Sunday…. But that is not the end of the day. In the evening, we had a beautiful Penance Service for our kids who made their First Holy Communion this past May. It was a beautiful prayerful time, using the theme of the Prodigal Son. Fr. Limond, a priest ordained two years ago, presided at the service. It was a very holy as mercy filled the chapel. Then, right after the service, the heavens opened with heavy rainfall. Water was everywhere. In fact, as we write this, it is still pouring. So what we had cleaned earlier is now filled with water. But, no need to fear, all will be well. Here in Haiti, we have learned that plans can change quickly, and we must trust in God’s providential care. 

On Wednesday, July 29, we made our way up the mountain to Kap Wouj to bring the Water with Blessing project to the poor. We had asked the parish priest to get 20 women he thought would be good cadidates to participate in the program. Madamn Omanie, who has been helping us with the program, also went was with us. When we arrived, we needed to clean the classroom that we were going to use for the meeting. Then we waited. It was to begin at 10 a.m. Only one woman had arrived by that time so, after a half hour, we decided to “go into the street corners and invite anyone you find.” We did just that; we went to visit the poorest homes in the area and invited the women. We now have  more than enough “water women” to begin the Water with Blessing project. This will be our third group of women who are sharing purified water. Next week we will return to Kap Wouj to begin their formation and ministry as “water women.”

We thank all of you who have donated and support this project. Because of your genorsity and support, clean water is given to many people throughout the Diocese of Jacmel. Thank you and God bless you.😇🙏🏽