Little Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus in Haiti

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” begins the historical novel of Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris before the French revolution. Thus the opening passage skillfully highlights the extreme political and social contradictions of the era. This sentence came to mind as I was reflecting on what I could share with you about Haiti and the Little Sisters during our own and their “worst of times.” I don’t need to go into detail about what makes it so. What I hope would happen is that what we Americans have now been experiencing up close and personal for these last several months will help us better understand and identify with the suffering, injustice, anger, fear and frustration the Haitian people and Little Sisters have been enduring for several decades!

Most of us reading this article have not had to face the possibility of having to choose between food or health care, but many of us know someone who has. The people of Haiti have no health insurance, most of the hospitals and clinics have been closed due to gang violence and many go many days without food. The price of gas has affected most of us to cut back on daily essentials or do without and for some people, to lose their homes. And unfortunately we know some of these people personally. Due to the violence, destruction and burning of many villages and homes (which usually are more of the hut or shack variety), hundreds of thousands of Haitians are homeless. The price of gas in Haiti is in most cases more than a person’s daily earning, if they have a job. Most of us don’t have to worry about being taken by ICE agents as we go to work or school or shopping or… but some of us do, and many of us have known people who have been taken away from their families, sent to their country of origin or other countries, put in deplorable detention centers and others killed. The people of Haiti face being forced to join a gang and/or being killed by gangs who control most of the capital, Port au Prince, and extend their control of the rest of the country. We are anxious and fearful about the upcoming elections as we read or hear about varying conditions proposed that would interfere with or restrict some people’s right to fair and free elections. Haiti hasn’t had elections since 2016 when Jovenel Moise was elected president. The position of president has been vacant since he was assassinated in 2021 and the timeline to hold elections has been repeatedly delayed due to gang violence and internal police conflicts.

No, these are certainly not the best of times! And the Little Sisters? Each communication with them ends with their gratitude for our support, our solidarity with them and a promise of remembrance in their daily prayers. Founded to minister to the poorest of the poor in the rural regions of Haiti they somehow continue their mission: most of their schools are still open, they continue to try to care for orphans and give minimal health care to their people and share, when possible, what they have with them in spite of the challenges and dangers they face each day to do so. Perhaps it is we who should be grateful to them for the example of true commitment to and love of their brothers and sisters, for their courage, their faith in God’s providence and especially their hope for a better future. But they are hungry and several of them are ill and unable to get the medical attention they need, especially Sister Denise. In the midst of all the chaos and uncertainty in our world today, please remember our Little Sisters and the people of Haiti in whatever way you can.

If you’d like to make a donation to support the ministries of the Little Sisters (note your donation is for Haiti) send to: IHM Development Office, 2300 Adams Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509. Thank you.