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Haiti Mission
The week of April 18-19, 2009, was billed as “A Gwo Fêt” – “A Big Celebration” at Resurrection Catholic Church in Moneta. Chris Barrett – Pastoral Coordinator, Father Joe Lehman – Pastor, and parishioners pulled out all the stops to pause, give thanks, and celebrate the 20th anniversary of Twinning with the Foyer des Filles de Dieu girls’ orphanage in Port-au-Prince. Welcoming and Honoring Paula Thybulle: Paula Thybulle, Director and Founder of the Foyer in 1988, helped the people to carry out their plan for the weekend, her presence adding joy and meaning with her arrival on April 16. Her granddaughter, Najela, who will go to Haiti soon with her husband Timothy and 3-yr. old son Sebastian to help Paula in the administration of the orphanage, accompanied her. On Saturday and Sunday during the Masses of Thanksgiving Paula emphasized that during these past 20 years the parishioners have saved the lives of over 270 girls and are currently doing that with the 70 girls who reside in the Home. These girls have been provided with housing, full food nutritional needs, medical care, and education – some through University level. In a country like Haiti, where only three in ten children go to school at all, and 80% of the population is classified as illiterate, the achievements of the orphanage is nothing short of a miracle and a sign of hope. Paula was moved to tears numerous times by the love shown to her by the people of Resurrection. She emphasized numerous times “Bob, you must thank the people for their generous support.” Paula always has a waiting list, but occasionally circumstances take precedence as in the case of the two latest arrivals, ages three and five, who were saved from a father who had been caring for them but due to the conditions in Haiti becoming so despairing he was ready to drown them in a river and then kill himself. Since 2004 the economy of Haiti has rapidly declined to the point of seriously challenging the ability of the poor to even survive. Paula reminisced a bit about how not too many years ago people could live in Haiti without the high masonry walls topped with broken glass but now people are starving and seeking food. There are no government nets in Haiti. CRS (Catholic Relief Services) and World Food and others are there but cannot cope with the level of hunger today throughout the country. Two other girls are now at the orphanage because their mother, a merchant outside the Foyer, was killed by random shots while on a Tap-Tap downtown, after the coup of 2004. Following the Mass of Thanksgiving at which Paula talked and a 4-minute DVD of the orphanage girls was shown on Saturday, there was a parish potluck dinner beautifully presented by the Pot Luck Committee headed by Anna Turner and Nancee Costello and attended by about 200 parishioners. An added fillip was cocktail shrimp and Lois Treacy’s famous rum punch with genuine Barbancourt Haitian rum. During the Masses Paula received a Blessing from Father Joe Lehman and the congregation for sustaining her missionary work. Paula was also presented with a plaque blessing her and giving thanks for the twinning. Paula then presented Resurrection Parish with a wooden sculptured map of Haiti – a beautiful wall hanging. Over the 5 days Paula and Najela were with us a number of smaller gatherings were held. Sister Betty Bagen, former Pastoral Coordinator at Resurrection, drove down from Philadelphia to be with us. There was a wonderful dinner hosted by Lillie Head and her husband Wilbur and a soiree hosted by Bob and Mary Flynn at the “family lake house” on Doctor’s Point where Paula, Najela, and Sister Betty stayed. After the 4 p.m. Mass on Sunday there was a gathering of about 30 parishioners and we were able to ask Paula and Najela some questions about Haiti, their work, and the future of the Home. Visit to Booker T. Washington National Park: A highlight for Paula and Najela was a visit to Booker T. Washington Park. They loved the video presentation, so well done, depicting the life of Booker. Paula especially liked Booker’s focus on and commitment to education that she so much believes in herself and feels is so necessary for our girls at the orphanage. Thanks to Lillie Head the Park Service were awaiting our arrival. It was a beautiful day and their hospitality was great! The Fruit of our Labors: Over 20 years of Twinning with the Foyer des Filles de Dieu significant results have been achieved: 270 girls lives have been saved and 70 are in the process of being saved; two missions to Haiti occur now each year – one in January and one in mid-year; there is a consistent monthly donation to the orphanage to maintain a basic lifestyle of housing, daily food, medical care, and education; the Haiti Mission Committee meets regularly and supports a whole page in the parish newsletter; the parish supports a monthly envelope for the orphanage on the 3rd Sunday of the month; a number of parishioners consistently pledge support; this has been Paula’s 5th visit to our parish; for 14 years we have “piggy-backed” on the sea container program of the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas and this year sent 50 boxes of essential materials – almost two Ton; the eating area was relocated at the Foyer and built new about two years ago; and a new water purification system (reverse osmosis) has been installed! This year we planned Haiti Solidarity Week (a national and international event) to coincide with our 20th Anniversary. It underscored the benefits of our parish being connected relationally to Haiti and how the poverty, hospitality, and spiritual health of the Haitian people enrich us. Part of our celebration at Mass included a beautiful banner created by the Justice and Peace Committee, namely Kathy Lietz, Joyce Disbrow, and Alyce Welch, with the words: “Avec Bondye, nou Akompli Travay la” – “With God, we Accomplish this Work”. |
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Resurrection Catholic Church 15353 Moneta Rd., Moneta, VA 24121 Phone: 540.297.5530 / Fax: 540.297.6316 E-mail: info@resurrectioncatholic.org © Copyright 2003 by resurrectioncatholic.org |
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