The Little Sisters in Haiti Celebrate 75 Years of Service
by Eileen Coleman, IHM
On December 14, 2023, the Little Sisters of Sainte Thérèse will anticipate the conclusion of their schedule of celebrating the 75th Anniversary of their founding with the celebration of Mass in the chapel at their Motherhouse in Rivière Froide. They began their mission to provide education, pastoral care, agricultural methods and health care to the poorest of the poor in the rural regions of Haiti in 1948, and were the first indigenous congregation of women religious in Haiti.
These 75 years have presented them with every kind of challenge and obstacle imaginable that needed to be faced and overcome, or in some way manipulated, in order to fulfill their mission of serving the people of Haiti: dictatorships, assassinations, coups, political corruption, kidnappings, violence, murder, gang warfare, the raping of their forests, hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes, all of which, in so many ways have played their part in creating a country torn apart by poverty, corruption and violence.
Yet through all these past and present challenges, these Sisters continue to have remarkably strong faith and trust in God’s providence as they continue to pray, heal, teach, work and yes, worry too, holding the hope of a better life for the people of Haiti in their hearts and prayers. But hope seems to be the middle name of the Haitian people, and an essential characteristic of the charism of the Little Sisters.
Please know of the deep gratitude the Haitians and especially the Little Sisters have always asked me to express to all of you who have continued to support them with your prayers, concern and generosity through these twenty-eight years of our twinning relationship. Let us continue to support their efforts in sowing seeds of hope! And let us congratulate them while at the same time holding them in admiration and inspiration.
The invitation above reads: "Come celebrate with the Little Sisters of Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus their diamond Jubilee beginning October 2023 by participating in one of the following activities:
October 1: Procession leaving the Church of Altagrace at 1:00 p.m. to the Chapel of the Little Sisters of Riviere Froide followed by Mass at 3:00 o’clock
October 27: Eucharistic Celebration at Pelerin 2 (Petionville) at 9:30 a.m.
November 19: Great Eucharistic Celebration at Maribal with the participation of all the chapels of the parish
December 14, 2023: Closing of the Jubilee at Riviere Froide in the Chapel of the Little Sisters of Saint Therese beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The Little Sisters are counting on your presence to glorify and thank God with them for all good things.
