Felician sisters encourage faithful to recognize Christ child in Haiti
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
As the season of Advent begins a new liturgical year, Felician Sisters Mary Inga Borko, and Marilyn Minter welcome the beginning of the Felician Sisters Haiti Mission in Jacmel, a port city on the southern coast of one of the world’s poorest nations.
Since their arrival in Haiti in September, the two Felicians visited a number of places to determine where they could fill a need. In a country where there are very rich and very poor with nothing in between, where mansions perched on hillsides oversee tent cities and slums prone to flooding, and where children are sold into slavery, there is a sore need for the Felician commitment to justice, peace, and preservation of human dignity.
While religious groups had established missions in other towns, Jacmel lacked a religious presence. The Sisters knew they found a perfect fit in this town they described on their blog as “the greenest part of Haiti.”
As the Year of Faith opened in October, the Sisters compared their life of service in this way: “We are walking the footprints of Jesus Christ in Haiti being in relationship with our brothers and sisters.”
Their journey to find a new home for their ministry led them to visit Kaville, a camp for those still displaced by the earthquake of January, 2010. Located on a soccer field behind a gated city, Kaville is a muddy tent-city, home to 180 children under the age often.
Within one tent, the Sisters found a family jubilant over the birth of a new child. The tiny tent contained pots, pans, and simple necessities and chickens clucking and strutting about. “We felt like we were in Bethlehem,” they reflected, “and there’s something moving us to do more.”
As Sister Inga and Sister Marilyn set up shop this Advent, they are inviting their brothers and sisters in the faith to recognize and to worship the Infant Jesus in the poor of Haiti and are asking: What can you bring a newborn child?
The sisters suggest hygiene kits, including soap, wash cloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, wet-ones, and hand sanitizer; multivitamins for small children; small toys for children; sneakers for children (can be used but must be “gently worn;” monetary donations to provide clean drinking water.
For those willing to help by collecting goods, the suggestion is to seek out a service in that sends items to Haiti. In areas where there are Haitian communities, there are special services that send barrels and packages at low cost.
Those sending from New Jersey should contact [email protected].
The address of the receiver in Haiti is: Yvon Kernizan (Felician Advent Project), Delmas 83, Rue Balmir #8C, Delmas, Haiti, WI.
Monetary donations should be sent to Felician Sisters Haiti Mission, 871 Mercer Road. Beaver Falls, PA 15010-6856. In the memo section of the check should appear “Felician Advent Project.”
To follow the story as the Felician Sisters Haiti Mission continues to unfold, go to
http://feliciansistershaiti.wordpress.com
Related Stories
Sunday, December 14, 2025
E-Editions
Events
As the season of Advent begins a new liturgical year, Felician Sisters Mary Inga Borko, and Marilyn Minter welcome the beginning of the Felician Sisters Haiti Mission in Jacmel, a port city on the southern coast of one of the world’s poorest nations.
Since their arrival in Haiti in September, the two Felicians visited a number of places to determine where they could fill a need. In a country where there are very rich and very poor with nothing in between, where mansions perched on hillsides oversee tent cities and slums prone to flooding, and where children are sold into slavery, there is a sore need for the Felician commitment to justice, peace, and preservation of human dignity.
While religious groups had established missions in other towns, Jacmel lacked a religious presence. The Sisters knew they found a perfect fit in this town they described on their blog as “the greenest part of Haiti.”
As the Year of Faith opened in October, the Sisters compared their life of service in this way: “We are walking the footprints of Jesus Christ in Haiti being in relationship with our brothers and sisters.”
Their journey to find a new home for their ministry led them to visit Kaville, a camp for those still displaced by the earthquake of January, 2010. Located on a soccer field behind a gated city, Kaville is a muddy tent-city, home to 180 children under the age often.
Within one tent, the Sisters found a family jubilant over the birth of a new child. The tiny tent contained pots, pans, and simple necessities and chickens clucking and strutting about. “We felt like we were in Bethlehem,” they reflected, “and there’s something moving us to do more.”
As Sister Inga and Sister Marilyn set up shop this Advent, they are inviting their brothers and sisters in the faith to recognize and to worship the Infant Jesus in the poor of Haiti and are asking: What can you bring a newborn child?
The sisters suggest hygiene kits, including soap, wash cloth, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, shampoo, wet-ones, and hand sanitizer; multivitamins for small children; small toys for children; sneakers for children (can be used but must be “gently worn;” monetary donations to provide clean drinking water.
For those willing to help by collecting goods, the suggestion is to seek out a service in that sends items to Haiti. In areas where there are Haitian communities, there are special services that send barrels and packages at low cost.
Those sending from New Jersey should contact [email protected].
The address of the receiver in Haiti is: Yvon Kernizan (Felician Advent Project), Delmas 83, Rue Balmir #8C, Delmas, Haiti, WI.
Monetary donations should be sent to Felician Sisters Haiti Mission, 871 Mercer Road. Beaver Falls, PA 15010-6856. In the memo section of the check should appear “Felician Advent Project.”
To follow the story as the Felician Sisters Haiti Mission continues to unfold, go to
http://feliciansistershaiti.wordpress.com