Greetings in the Feast!
Some of you were on the original "mailing list" last November; that letter obviously got widely disseminated (that's fine), and has provoked a number of inquiries (which is how some others got on this distribution list). A few others I've added, hoping you will find an update of value. If you're not interested, please feel free to hit the delete key, without worrying about whether you'll continue to get such letters. You won't, unless you decide to sign on to the newly formed Yahoo mail-group by sending an e-mail to:
haitianorthodoxmission-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
That list will be the distribution route for future updates.
As many of you know, the old Haitian Orthodox Mission website/domain was hijacked by representatives of the ROCOR/MP. Fortunately, I was able to retrieve most of the materials, and have spent much of the past few days painfully rebuilding the site (with, I think, many improvements, despite the limitations of Google's web-hosting application). Please pay it a visit (it is not, at this point, anything like current -- I've addressed myself first to the task of rebuilding the basic framework and the "historical documents" section). Much work remains to be done (and I'll be unable to do much if anything during the next two weeks, as I'll be the captive of dial-up connections), but I'll try to bring it up to date as quickly as possible. Notices of major changes will be made to the mail-group above.
Unfortunately, I was unable to make a planned visit to Haiti between Nativity and Theophany -- I finished Nativity services with both legs badly swollen, with tissue break-down on ankles and feet. Bad circulation, obviously not entirely corrected by the two vein surgeries undergone in the past two years. So I spent the time planned for the trip mostly on my back with legs high in the air -- and, thanks be to God, was sufficiently recovered to serve a somewhat attenuated cycle of services for Theophany. Today much better than yesterday or any day in the past two weeks, despite vigil last night and liturgy and blessing of water this morning. Thanks be to God!
So what has happened in Haiti since November? I'll try to be as succinct as possible, providing a little background for recipients who may not have seen the original letter.
After the submission to the MP, Fr. Jean fairly quickly announced himself (early in the summer) as choosing to accept the submission. Fr. Grégoire temporized, and failed to respond to all queries as to his decision -- until I found out third-hand later in the summer that he too had submitted. Fr. Dcn. Amboise had made it clear from the beginning that he would not submit, as had the faithful of St. Augustine's in Jacmel, unanimously in a parish meeting.
Acting as Administrator of the Mission (appointment already confirmed by Vladyka Agafangel), in August I sent letters of dismissal from the Mission to Fr. Jean & Fr. Grégoire (an action later ratified by Vladyka).
Fr. Dcn. Matthew had informed me early in November that he and Bp. Michael were planning to visit Haiti in December, shortly after my already-planned trip. I passed on some suggestions, caveats, etc, and there the matter lay, until...
I received an urgent e-mail from Nicolas at St. Augustine's the week after Thanksgiving that Bp. Michael and Fr. Dcn. Matthew, together with Fr. Jean & Fr. Grégoire, had shown up at St. Augustine's with only a few hours' warning, demanding entry to the church for the purpose of holding a meeting there. Nicolas refused them entry. (Fr. Amboise had told them by telephone not to bother to come to La Plaine; they didn't pursue the matter.) They indeed held a meeting, though on the terrace at the hotel. Promises were made to establish an alternative ROCOR/MP church in the vicinity, pending attempts to seize the St. Augustine's property.
The only follow-up to this of which we are aware was one liturgy conducted a few weeks ago by Fr. Jean in a rented room (whether just for the occasion, or for a longer term, I don't know). Steps are being taken to protect the property from any ROCOR/MP attempt to seize it.
Shortly after Bp. Michael's visit, Fr. Jean attempted to gain entry to Maison Mission, the Haitian headquarters for the Mission and my home when there. He was refused entry by our landlord.
I was able to visit Haiti as planned in early December, to serve a first liturgy at the newly-completed Chapel of St. Dorothy at La Plaine, then at St. Augustine's in Jacmel. Both services were heavily attended, Following the service at St. Augustine's, yet another parish meeting was held, which re-affirmed the commitment of the faithful there. More information on that visit in the recently-mailed issue of Living Orthodoxy, which many of you will have received; and soon, perhaps yet tonight, to be posted on the website.
Fr. Jean has made several attempts to have the Mission re-registered with the "Ministry of Cults" with himself named as its administrator. (He failed to carry through the renewal of registration with which he was charged, which should have been done in 2005). So far, he has been rebuffed, pending clarification of the situation. I was to have met with an Inspector of the Ministry last week, but was of course unable to do so.
In sum, we have lost the two priests, the Church of the Nativity in Port-au-Prince (but not most of its congregation, who now attend services at St. Dorothy's), the house-chapel of St. Moses the Black (at Fr. Grégoire's home), the land, rented chapel and congregation of St. John at Les Cayes, and the congregation of St. Nicholas at Cap-Haïtien (mostly family and close friends of Fr. Jean). The mission of SS Peter & Paul at Léogane seems to have revealed itself as a fiction -- when I stopped by on my way to Jacmel in December there was no sign of any activity.
And now comes the painfully important part. In order to get St. Augustine's School built and up and running, and purchase an additional adjacent tract (space needed, but also essential to protecting the existing property), the Mission has gone deeply into debt (first time ever). Some $22,000 has been borrowed from the St. John of Kronstadt Press. At the time this was done, there was no reason to think these funds would have to be replaced in the immediate future. However, some very unfortunate family circumstances have placed an immediate demand upon the Press for that money; if it is not repaid in the immediate future, money will have to be borrowed from commercial sources at unfavorable interest rates to cover the loan. Donations, or long-term loans at low or no interest, are urgently needed to cover this situation.
Just as seriously, the Mission coffers are EMPTY. There is no money with which to meet the payroll for St. Augustine's School later this month ($3,000 needed), nor for the many students in external schools (several at university/ professional level), about the same amount again. If funds are not found, several of those students are likely to lose a semester's work.
So... the situation is grave, but we trust in the Lord's providence -- and your generosity.
On a brighter note, Vladyka Agafangel has given his blessing for the ordination of Fr. Dcn. Amboise to the priesthood; he will be able to serve both St. Dorothy's and, at least once a month, St. Augustine's (assuming our financial situation improves enough to cover his travel costs!). Now to arrange to get a bishop to Haiti for the ordination!
God willing, I'll be able to make the already-planned (and ticketed) visit to Haiti in mid-February, serving for the Meeting of the Lord, for Sunday, and for the feast-day of St. Dorothy on 6/19 Feb., and blessing the homes of the faithful. I beg your prayers that my current relative incapacity by that time will be only a dim memory!
In Christ Jesus,
Fr. Gregory Williams
Holy Theophany 2008