Celebrations!

One of the greatest gifts I have experienced since arriving in Cap Haitian, is the ability to connect with the larger Family of Holy Cross.  On Wednesday evening, the Holy Cross men invited us to pray and celebrate our founder's feast day together.  The party included a delicious meal and different houses taking turns providing entertainment.  There were songs, jokes, and dances.  It was truly a wonderful fèt!

For the women's congregations that day began a year of celebration since 2016 marks 175 years since our initial founding.  All of the women's congregations are collaborating in celebrations since we were one congregation when we began.  At this time, I may be the only sister from one congregation who is currently residing and ministering on a full-time basis with one of the other congregations (if there are others, please let me know.)  I am very grateful for this experience.  It is enriching to recognize the commonalities and the differences between the Marianites of Holy Cross and the Sisters of Holy Cross.  That we as Women of Holy Cross are celebrating together and that we are increasingly collaborating gives me hope for the future of Holy Cross, for the future of the church, for the future of our common mission.

Please click on the link and read our proclamation:  http://www.womenofholycross.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Proclamation-English.pdf

Pets

Pets 

When I was visiting my congregation in New Orleans last month, a sister asked me if we have, "pets for the children at the orphanage."

I responded by saying that, "we have animals."  The English word, "pets" just does not seem to fit since pets at least in my experience, generally don't end up on one's dinner plate.  The question got me thinking about how pets are in fact, a luxury.

     

We have dogs at both the orphanage and the convent where I am living.  The word security would best describe their role.  I often hear the dogs that roam our yard at night, although I have never actually seen them.  Perhaps the presence of dogs are one reason explaining why none of the Holy Cross convents experienced burglary last year when a series of break-ins occurred in various religious residences throughout the country.  One evening a few months ago, I had left my cell phone in the pick up truck; I was afraid to fetch my phone for fear that they dogs had already been released.  Sometimes what is meant to provide security also brings about fear.

While visiting my parents a few weeks ago, I found myself comparing the life of their beloved Boarder-Collie, Quinn, to the nameless convent dogs.  The contrast is quite striking.  Like, people, dogs don't have any choice regarding the circumstances into which they are born.  Quinn may be quite intelligent for a dog, but really she has no idea how good she has it!    

this is where the orphanage dogs spend the day

There are actually a couple of cats at both the convent and the orphanage.   They could possibly be considered pets; at least, they will not end up on our dinner table.  I do attribute their presence to the reality that I have not seen any rats on either property; rats were a common site when I worked near Port-au-Prince. The cats are not supposed to come into the house, although they like to sneak in following those who are not paying attention, or those whose hands are too full to close the door immediately.   When I try to convince them to follow me out of the house, I typically start in Creole and if the cat is not following my directions, I switch to English, then laugh to myself at myself for having the absurd (although only half conscious) thought that switching languages would actually increase the chances of the cat obeying my directives.

Prayer Politics 

Everyone please, pray for a truly just and peaceful resolution to Haiti's current political crisis.Here is the link to one short very recent on-line article, in case you are interested but not yet aware of the situation. http://news.yahoo.com/haiti-presidential-candidate-wont-participate-election-094921349.html

Feast Day Blessings

To my Marianite Sisters and everyone in the Family of Holy Cross, may you experience many blessings as we celebrate the life of our founder, Blessed Fr. Moreau tomorrow.  Happy Feast Day!  Bon Fèt Pè Moreau!        

Earthquake anniversary etc...

Anniversary of the Earthquake

Today is the sixth anniversary of the earthquake.  Please continue to pray for those who were affected, especially for those who continue to grieve losses and suffer the effects of this horrific tragedy.      

This morning as I sat down to pray, I found myself reflecting on how little I knew of Haiti before the Earthquake and of how since that terrible event, this nation has become such an integral aspect of my life. My prayer produced a poem:

Six years ago, you were virtually a stranger to me, Then,
When you were shaken
somehow in your suffering and misery, you caught my attention,
in the midst of my deepening desire to serve, my seeking and searching,
someone suggested our meeting.

In a spirit of accompaniment, I came
walking into your brokenness and pain,
discovering your beauty, your gifts, your language, your ways.
The dance of my spirit forever changed, influenced by the beat of your rhythmic drum.

Not sure that I've done anything to soothe your suffering,
Not convinced that my presence has ever eased your pain.
Certain though, that you have taught and truly transformed me.
Ever grateful that we have not only met,
we have intimately embraced.    

Weekend

On Saturday, at the cathedral in Cap-Haitian eleven men were ordained priests, two of whom are members of the Congregation of Holy Cross.  The liturgy was joyful and lovely (though quite long,) and I was glad to have attended.

On Sunday morning there was a mass and a graduation at Petits Mains (I visited this ministry last May:  http://kmnhaiti.blogspot.com/2015_05_01_archive.html.)  We celebrated that six women had completed their training in industrial sewing.  Since two of the sisters I live with work there, and since there were not therapy groups at the orphanage that day, I decided to attend. I was grateful that I did as I enjoyed the liturgy, ceremony and simple celebration.
       
That afternoon, I went to the orphanage so that I could welcome the children as they returned from their vacations.  As I opened the gate separating the school yard from the orphanage property, my heart was filled with joy as four children who had already arrived called my name while running to greet me.  Many of the children seem happy to have returned.  Many seemed to have enjoyed time with family.  Seeing the relative(s) they had spent three weeks with leave the orphanage was very difficult for a couple of the youngest children.  I held one little girl as she cried, trying to be present to her, in time her crying quieted a bit.  Then when it was time for me to leave, she resumed crying, but my departure was inevitable and I was determined to return to the convent before dark. I left that evening with a heavy heart.  (The next morning she was doing fine.)    

Community Update (and a little language story)

The two sisters who work at Petits Mains will soon leave for two months of training in Canada; I will miss them.  A young sister from Burkina Faso, Africa, has come to work at Petits Mains in their absence.  She will live here in this convent with us.  Although the African sister and I don't really have a common language, we have managed to communicate and I am enjoying her presence in community.

On the evening of her arrival I heard a sister talking to her about me.  In order to verify if I was understanding properly, I asked the Haitian sister in Creole, if she was telling the African sister that I understand a little French.  (I feel like I only randomly understand very little if the context is very clear and most of the words happen to be similar enough to either English or Creole.)  When the sister said that yes she had said that I understand a little French, I was tempted to disagree but realized I did not really have much of an argument, since after all they had been speaking French and I had in fact actually accurately understood.

While I was away on vacation a couple of goats were born on our property.  I am including photos of these new kids especially for those of you who prefer my updates when pictures are included. (Out of respect for confidentiality I don't post photos of the human kids, so enjoy these!)
Take care!  Many blessings!      

               

  

Updates and Contrasts

Updates
Happy New Year!  January first is a big holiday here in Haiti, as it is Haitian Independence Day.  Most of the sisters went to visit their families for the holiday.  I spent January first in Florida with my mother and father, who spend much of the winter there.  After spending a couple of days there with them, they drove me to the airport in Miami on Sunday morning.  Sunday afternoon, I returned to Haiti.  Two of the sisters who live here returned from family visits the same day and the postulants returned today.  It was wonderful to travel and visit and connect with people and it is also equally wonderful to be back in my current home and reunite with the sisters here.

Only a few of the older children have returned to the orphanage; one of the secondary schools has resumed classes.  Most of the children will come on Sunday and the primary school most of the children attend will reopen on Monday morning (si Dye vle.)  There is a school schedule in the orphanage convent, which seems to indicate that schools were to open on Monday of this week.  Someone explained to me that the reason it did not open has something to do with tradition.  Last year, if I recall correctly, the school did attempt to open before the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th) and many children were absent, so it seems that is the reason it is not opening until next week.  I was very happy to see the children who have returned and look forward to seeing the others when they arrive.  I am using this time to organize and clean the playroom and prepare for my therapy groups and for my English class.

Contrasts

On Tuesday  of last week, I waited for the snow to turn to rain, put on my winter coat and boots, scraped ice off of my parents' Buick, drove myself to Massachusetts to visit my twin sister. Later that evening I walked gingerly along an icy sidewalk between a parking lot and an Asian restaurant where I met a friend for dinner before returning to Rhode Island.
Today I wore summer clothes and sandals, and drove a convent bicycle the one mile between the convent where I live and the orphanage.  On the way home I briefly stopped the bicycle along the unpaved dusty road to chat with some neighborhood children.
While last Tuesday and today were so strikingly different from one another, I can say both were very good days!

I hope you are enjoying your days wherever you are and whatever you are doing.  Take care.  Many blessings!