Gratitude and Pride

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Hello to all,

After my trip to some of the St Luke schools in the south of Haiti, I want to thank Nebez, Raphael, Jaebets, Roseline and Augusnel for the phenomenal work they are doing.

After all the miles and miles in jeeps, boats, horses and on foot, and even though I can hardly see, hear, stand up, or walk after all the wear and tear I would like to tell you all how moved I was to see the beginning of the new school Saint Raphael in Des Varennes (on the Grand Riviere de Jacmel) and the school at St Louis de Sud, where Augusnel is from, and the phenomenal work at Nan Roches and Dame Marie (St Augustin and Manitane Schools) that Nebez has been working on for years.

As you know, unlike me, none of these guys write stories about what they are doing, which is a pity because their experiences, challenges and results are phenomenal.

Since they don't write, many of you have no idea of what character it takes, what determination, what vision, what ability to stick to it, because as you know, outside of the urban areas of Haiti it is difficult even to move yourself, never mind tons of iron, bags of cement, etc.

The hospitality was of deep friendship, and it was real and heart warming and fun.

The difficulty of getting anything done, trucks having to drive IN and UP the Jacmel river to bring building materials to Des Varennes, boats that have to land at La Sirengue with the building materials which are then carried up the mountain, or hauled by mules, or recently, by a big truck sliding through the mud- there is nothing easy about it.

Aside from the character and dedication of our leaders, what could not be avoided was noticing how hard life is for the people. A very very hard life. For the fishers in the sea, fishing even for sharks in small canoes, the work in the gardens that are like cliffs, the lack of supplies, stores, clinics, transportation. It is a very hard life.

And yet the people do their best, work hard, keep trying and hoping for a better tomorrow. If Nebez, Jaebets, Roseline and Augusnel and Raphael keep up their phenomnal work, they won't have to wait very long for a better tomorrow! It will soon be here.

Chapeau! Congratulations! I feel very proud!

Fr. Rick Frechette

Port au Prince

August 24th, 2015

Square dance for God

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As we start August, whoever called these the dog days of summer sure knew what they were talking about. But they are sultry not just because of the heat, but also because of the dire situations of poor people around the world. Pope Francis is trying to have all of us see the poor, understand how real they are, how much their suffering hurts. He wants is to be concerned about them, in a very practical way.

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Easter March 2015

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If Advent and Christmas have a more natural tendency to aim us toward joy, Lent and Holy week aim our gaze at sorrow. During all the liturgies of Lent, both mass readings and the liturgy of the hours, we widen our gaze to grasp the sufferings throughout history, and the present sufferings throughout the world, and can’t help but wonder if Resurrection is possible, and what it could really mean.

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Fourth of Seven Golden Nights

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During those precious days, on January 12 we watched with disbelief and with horror the news of the earthquake on television. I was shaken by the tragedy in Haiti, and torn as to what to do because to return to Haiti would be to sacrifice the chance to be with my mother, to help her, hold her, hear her last works and advice, for this very last time on earth.

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