What assumptions do you make about the people around you when you're stressed? False feelings can be like water to a fish. We don't even know there's life beyond our little pond. 

Haiti has a unique Marianist history. It all started with the missionary efforts of lay Marianist, Agnes Dumas of France
,who moved to Haiti in 2000 and founded several Marianist Lay Communities. In 2003 the SM began their foundation in Haiti. As

you all know, on January 12, 2010, Haiti suffered a terrible earthquake which devastated the lives, homes, and livelihoods of so many Hatians including the lay and professed Marianists. They have been struggling ever since to pull their lives and communities back together. MLNNA and Marianist laity around the world generously contributed financial support to help, but the needs are both physical and emotional. The Haitian society is in pain. That is the short, recent history.

 

Br. Richard Joyal SM (of Quebec) went to Haiti to close the SM mission there after the August 2012 shooting of Br. Yxnold Chevalier. As if poverty, natural disasters, and killings were not enough, on April 25, 2013 Br. Richard was robbed and murdered.

Restoration of a lay Marianist's house in Croix des Missions by the CLMs.

With the departure of the religious, only the four Marianist Lay Communities now exist in Haiti. They are located in Fort-Liberte (North-East), Artibonite (St Marc) and Port-au-Prince (Croix des Bouquets). The 125 lay Marianists are involved in activities such as schools, visits to the sick, accompaniment to the Friends of Faustino etc.

 

Since the beginning, the MLC'S in Haiti have been through many changes. Again today, after the departure of the Society of Mary and the brutal death of Br. Richard, they strive to keep the torch lighted, even though the task is extremely difficult.

St. Marc CLM

 

God does not want discouragement, but accepts failure. More than three years after the earthquake people are still going through difficult times. The efforts from the government seem so little. People stagnate in misery and single-parents are increasing. Young people are searching to make sense out of all of this. The country seems to be in permanent suffering of all sorts. But God never stops working in the hearts of all men and women of good will, inspired by the Spirit so that the world will be more just.

 

Let us pray:

1. That the blood of Br. Richard, murdered in Haiti, gives us a new missionary spirit
2. That the Marianist Family, especially MLC's, strive, each in their own surrounding, for a better and just world
3. For peace in the world, especially in Haiti, so that the children held in contempt and abandoned have a better future.
4. For all the sick members of the Marianist Family, that the hope of the Risen Lord comfort them.