In Haiti, we were welcomed and treated as family from the first greeting to the last goodbye and the feeling was mutual. From the outset, it was apparent that Father Junior and the pastoral council have been good stewards of all that God has entrusted to them. The parish center, 

which also contains a rectory which allows Father to live near his parishioners is 25% complete and livable. In fact, we also were able to stay with him and have our meals there together.

In addition, the foundation for the remainder of the school building and the other half of the rectory were already laid. While waiting for the next building project to start, Father is growing green 

beans inside the foundation because the soil is contained and will not run off. They have also 

expanded the school to include the next age group and when the first floor is complete with two other rooms, others will be added. 

 

Father gratefully received the much needed school supplies and gave us time to get acquainted with teachers and students. It was a joyful time as we presented t-shirts, toothbrushes, toothpaste, candy, and some beanie-babies as gifts. We had time to play with the children in the yard, sing songs, and learn some French. Equally edifying was our time with the pastoral council, in which we emphasized our common mission as sister parishes. Each of us was grateful for the other and the mutual exchange of spiritual and material goods for building up the kingdom of God.

We also reiterated the essential understanding that what they have received from us was a gift from God and that, although the resources were acquired at Sacred Heart in Lewisburg, they already belonged to our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We were merely the instruments of God bringing what was needed where God wanted it in the first place. 

 

In particular, I was privileged to serve at Father Junior’s side during mass in my capacity as deacon. Although I did not know French very well or any Kreyol, I could still assist at the altar. Father did, however, encourage me to read the gospel in French on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord; so, with Stacy Mastrolia’s assistance, I learned the passage in French and was able to present it with full knowledge of what I was reading. The video can be found at http://www.sacredheartofjesus.org/sister-parish-in-haiti on the left hand side of the screen under the title "Haiti 2018."

 

 

One final highlight among so many others which captured the theme of our voyage was a visit with the local bishop, Monseignor Pean, who was so welcoming and humble. He embraced us as his own and declared, “We are family.” He received us in his own home and served us some 

refreshment himself. He spent at least an hour of his day with us and we cherished his encouraging words, the welcoming atmosphere, and the personal blessing he bestowed on us 

before our departure. 

 

We are family, indeed. We are a church without borders. The good news of Christ, the kingdom of God cannot be contained, nor can its resources. I pray many others come to receive the kind of blessing that a trip to our sister parish offers, even moreso, I hope we all appreciate the 

privilege of sharing the gifts we have from God as Saint Paul and the early gentile Churces did with the poor and suffering in Jerusalem. Thank you all for making this possible and know how much you are loved by our family in Haiti.