On one of my very early visits to Haiti I was chatting with Fr. Grégoire and spoke of my (then) puzzlement that, despite the horror of much which surrounded me, I yet found that I was very much in love with the country.  His only response — Yes, Haïti the Beloved!   Nothing has happened to change that; indeed, quite the contrary.  The horrors got worse, the danger much greater (at least for the moment somewhat diminished, thanks be to God!), the needs of the growing Mission increased (with much greater demands on my time and energy) — more beloved than ever. 

The beauty manifests itself all around, even through the piles of garbage and the grim-faced machine-gun-toting guards and soldiers.  Much of it shines through in the “folk art” paintings which are to be found in all manner of places.  For me (and those who have acquired them from and for the benefit of the Mission), the primary source is Fatima, who without fail on weekends, even if a storm threatens, spends no small amount of time in unwrapping and displaying her treasures on the cliffs which ring the beach at Cyvadier. 

And again we see it in Juliette, whom long-term friends of the Mission will remember first as a grim, closed in upon herself, street girl from Les Cayes.  Cared for and loved by the faithful, she now presents a very different countenance, at home at the Foyer of St. Mary of Egypt at LaPlaine, a home she shares with Roselynn and her children (all students at the Collège St. Nicholas, directed by Fr. Dcn. Amboise).  On the same site, construction has begin on a chapel to be dedicated to St. Dorothy of Kashin (photos next time!), much needed for the faithful of the area who all too often are unable to reach the Church of the Nativity because of social or weather conditions. 

Not far away, at the “new land”, situated beside what is destined to be one day the principal route out of Port-au-Prince to the north, we are pleased to have been able to provide a good deep well for the people of the area.  Needless to say, it has become a much-frequented gathering place! 

Indeed, beloved!  Every visit refreshes that awareness, and when I’m away for too long I find myself eagerly anticipating “going home” on the next trip.  My pre-Lenten trip was busy, as always, but not nearly so hectic as the overcrowded December trip.  Business in Port-au-Prince, a weekend visit to St. Augustine’s at Cyvadier (with a stop along the way to replenish Mission Bleu supplies), and finally a visit to LaPlaine (impossible in December because of time constraints and political unrest) followed by a day-long seminar at the OK Corral, largely centered upon the coming Lenten services and the special challenge of celebrating at once the Annunciation and Holy Saturday.  Too long until May!