Water must be carried and firewood must be procured in order to make lunches four times weekly for the younger students. Note the size of the kettles and containers needed for this huge undertaking.
As part of our seven-year sister parish relationship with St. Anthony the Hermit in Haiti, alternate visits take place each year, either in late winter or mid-spring. Last April Fr. Jude spent five days meeting the people of SIJ and preaching at all the weekend Masses. This February three members of the Haiti Sister Parish Ministry flew from Washington DC to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with their final destination being the St. Anthony the Hermit Parish in Chenot. While this trip marked Sean Hackett’s sixth visit to St. Anthony, it was an exciting first visit for Carole Glowacki and Frank Bonomo who enjoyed meeting students and teachers in both Our Lady of Providence elementary school (near St. Anthony Church) and the middle school in Cosabel (located about an hour’s walk away). Most gratifying was observing the feeding program so generously supported by St. Isaac Jogues parishioners and friends. The children are looking happier and healthier than on previous visits. Even when the funding is provided to purchase the food and fuel, feeding 650 children and 300+ adolescents is no simple task. This first series of photos from the 2014 visit offers a glimpse into the school setting and the feeding program in action at both schools.
Contact
Sean Hackett: sfhackett@juno.com
Shirley Zongker: szongker@verizon.net