This has been a week full of contrasts. On the one hand Massachusetts has been inundated with campaign ads for the Massachusetts Senate race, on the other hand we’ve spent the week praying, grieving, and consoling one another as we witness the devastation in Haiti.
Since Massachusetts is the state with the third largest Haitian population, there are many who have personal stories of connections to Haiti.
St. Cecilia’s, a parish where I’ve been involved over the years, has a strong connection to
St. Joseph Family Homes in Haiti. You can read all about it on St. Cecilia’s website. I was there for liturgy last Sunday and Fr. John, the pastor, spoke passionately about our connection to the people of Haiti. His basic message: We are them...we are one with them…Many parishioners have visited the St. Joseph Family Homes and members of the homes have come to visit St. Cecilia’s. This tragedy is right here, right now.
Another member of the parish is the president of
Cotting School, a special needs school in Boston. They have a sister school, Wings of Hope, that is also connected to the St. Joseph Family Homes. It is heart wrenching and almost surreal to read of the recent renovations to the school and realize how much has changed.
I keep wondering about Sisters of St. Joseph in Haiti. Last week we received news of some of our sisters in Haiti. Today I found this article about two sisters from Toronto and Quebec, CA. The title is:
Canadian Nuns are Safe and Determined to Stay. One is a Sister of St. Ann; the other a
Sister of St. Joseph from Toronto who refuses to leave Haiti saying, “There is work to be done.” That attitude is so characteristic of Sisters of St. Joseph and women religious in general.
Do you have personal stories about Haiti? Please share them.
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