cises, discussion, illustrative materials, posters, religious communities, participation, sharing ideas, questions, etc. We

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1 From Sister Mary Alban Bouchard Dear friends and helpers of our CSJ mission in Haiti, It is time to update you on activities as well as to thank you sincerely for your faithful support (financial and spiritual) and your interest in our work in Haiti. initiative of UNESCO for the new millennium, passed by the General Assembly of the UN. Let me tell you a little more about this project I adapted for Haiti. It is based on 6 principles: 1. Peace must be built on truth; 2. Seek the common good; 3. Learning of non-violence; 4. Praying for peace (cf. St. Francis of Assisi); 5. Learning alternative thinking; 6. A firm belief that every person has gifts for peace-making. After a prolonged summer in Canada, I am about to return to Haiti to begin the New Year. Having completed the urgent post-hurricane and post-earthquake projects, I intend this year to concentrate on the education project called Lape Gaye (Sowing Peace). The readithe method is to teach ness is there on the part and then practice what of several organizations Groups are learning a culture of peace was just taught through including teachers, jus- through games, play-acting, exercises games, play-acting, exertice and peace offices, and more. cises, discussion, illustrative materials, posters, religious communities, participation, sharing ideas, questions, etc. We etc... I called it a new moment for Lape Gaye in remember what we do better than what we hear. a memo to myself just before I left for Toronto. Pope Benedict s Jan. 1, 2012 Peace Day Message The material comprises 17 booklets which I wrote was about educating the young in justice and spein the Kreyol language. The first is an introduccifically for peace. tion: What is culture? What is peace?... continued on next page The Building a Culture of Peace project was an

2 There are four cultural analyses of Haitian culture by four different Haitian professionals spaced across the booklets. These are written from different points of view (spiritual, social, etc.). Reflect on the analyses. Are they true? Do you claim them? Which characteristics are we proud of? Which are harming us? Four booklets are peace stories to be read and discussed: #2 - The Lion, the Mouse and the Rabbit (true friendship, true peace) #4 - The Evergreen: Story-Teller of Peace (what happens to her?) #6 - The Singing That Saved the World (No words!) #8 - The Day the Sun Stayed Down (Why? Includes leadership qualities needed) Other titles include: I enjoy teaching a #3 - Based on the Pope people of all ages. John Paul II Peace Day Message of Jan.1, 2002: No Peace without Justice, no Justice without Pardon. It is very touching to see the pope visiting his assassin in prison. One youth said, pointing to his heart: I can t imagine doing that. It moves me right here. #5 - About the art of listening with exercises 2 in listening and a story of a woman who landed the plane when her husband had a heart attack. She did it by listening to ground instructions. Someone heard her call for help on the radio and guided her down. #7 - Women Make Peace news to the guys!!!!! #9 - Three Haitian Peacemakers: a 98-yearold deacon, a Mennonite lawyer who gave up a government job to join the Peace Brigade (and helped me with the project), and Serge Noel, my little heart patient who was given the name The Little Prince. #10 - Conflict Resolution: Everybody wins. Learn 6 rules. #11 - Sports For Peace, a big success (Should I invite the Leafs?). We even train the fans. #12 - Violence/Nonviolence: Choose. It is a choice but we need to learn non-violent ways culture of peace to and practice. Pose problems, apply learning. #13 - Jesus as Model of Non-Violence. It is a question of the uses of power. #14 - Gandhi as Model of Non-Violence #15 - Peace For the Children #16 - Peace with the Earth: using Agenda 21 e.g. forests, what they give us? How we can we save

3 3 them? Participants were very interested and learned much. #17 - Non-violent Response to Personal Attack. It is a challenge but possible if you are prepared and convinced. Lots of examples are included... One man came up to me at the end of a session and said: You have brought us life today. We all know it is always God who gives life which makes me dare to believe this project is God s work in its source and its results. A plan is afoot for a summer Festival of Peace for the Children. That is not to say that I will ignore or not take part in other events and needs such as the Children s Carnival (Mardi Gras before Lent) or not help a very needy person. You can see I have a big agenda ahead but we have been at it for a decade and I have seven good and committed presenters. We have been to nine of the 10 dioceses. Expenses involve reprinting, meals and travel for sessions, stipends for presenters and office rent. Things were exciting at the Children s Carnival during Mardi Gras last year. When Pope John Paul II came to Toronto for World Youth Day, I was in Haiti but I sent him the booklet based on his Peace Message and asked for his blessing. It means working with a view to my priorities. There are networks already in place so we are ready to go... with God and all of you. Have a wonderful New Year. I remember all of you at daily Eucharist that you may have happiness, wisdom, fortitude, peace and especially a spirit of thanksgiving. Sister Mary Alban Bouchard I received the Apostolic Blessing and so did my collaborators. Now we have a patron in heaven to invoke for the success of this educational endeavour. We will be glad to know that you are keeping this work in your good prayers.

4 4 From Sister Lorraine Malo Dear Friends, Another year another letter! It seems quite impossible that it is already time to try to give our good donors some feedback about what we are doing with their generous donations! What a difference a year can make! As soon as you begin to read this newsletter, I think you will notice that the tenor of this year s letter is certainly different from past years! The name of the game now seems to be Empowering Haitians to Carry On. Although I hope to visit Haiti soon, many of you already know that I will not be returning to Haiti as a permanent resident. My health has not been the best this year and frankly, I am getting too old for the kinds of demands that life in Haiti entails. Despite being sad about this, I am also trying to be realistic and practical and asking myself, How can I still be truly helpful to the Haitian people? I think the answer lies in helping the people find their own abilities and skills and providing any help I can so that this can happen. In that light, our ministry in Haiti continues through the work of a young Haitian, Clervil Salomond, who directs a small orphanage which houses ten children. Clervil takes responsibility for all their needs and at the same time serves a hot meal to eight other children who do not live in the orphanage but are in at-risk situations. Your contributions to the Haiti Fund provide food and nourishment to ensure the children thrive. I pay a farewell visit to the orphanage run by Clervil Salomond. Clervil takes care of 10 children and also provides food to eight other children living outside the orphanage.

5 5 At Clervil Salomond s orphanage, the children have their dinner. Every three months, Father Rick Frechette, with whom I used to work in Haiti, receives a generous amount of money, again supplied by the Haiti Fund, which enables him to carry on his burial programme. Every Thursday, Father Rick and his team go to the Port-au-Prince General Hospital Morgue and retrieve anywhere from 50 to 60 bodies and bury them in Titanyin, the cemetery of the poor. These are the bodies of people who are found dead on the streets of the capital, victims of accidents and/or violence. Others are members of families who cannot afford a decent burial. This project is made possible by your generosity. I have helped Father with his burial programme on occasion and I can assure you that it is a much-needed ministry in a country like Haiti where life is treated as cheap and death is even cheaper! We hold a weekly burial in Titanyin. In 2011, a house was built for the Lagent family using resources from the Haiti Fund. I hope to continue to be supportive of this large family. With ten children, there are many mouths to feed and children to educate. They are doing well in their new house and are happy and grateful to have a secure place to call home. Each day they pray for the Canadians who made this all possible! All this is to say that I think our new role in Haiti is now one of empowering the Haitian people to help themselves. I can no longer do the handson ministry that I did for many years, but I am very happy to be able to help the projects that I worked on to continue and prosper and even surpass anything I was able to do! This is made possible, year after year, by your prayers, your love, your encouraging letters and your financial contributions. Your care and support are compelling signs of hope, shining confidently in the midst of the darkness that has crippled Haiti for so many years. Many thanks to each and every one! May you and your families be blessed abundantly! Sister Lorraine Malo

6 6 From Sister Rosemary Fry Dear friends and helpers of our CSJ mission in Haiti, This past year has been a time of transition for me and so when I began to settle down to write this letter to you, the word transition was very much on my mind. As I reflected, a quote from the Jesuit, Father Médaille, who gathered the first women in our community together, popped into my head. He was basically telling us to launch good works of service and then pass them on for others to bring to fruition. For the last couple of years, a small inner voice had been telling me that my work in Haiti was near completion. Sacred Heart Centre was in good hands and running smoothly. I enjoyed living with the Sisters of St Joseph of St. Vallier but more and more I missed my own community. I loved being with the children at the Asile Communal but knew it was work for a younger, more At the Asile, Teresa, who could not stand before, was able to walk independently. agile person, and so last February, I began adapting back into life in Canada. This September, I visited people in Cap Haitien. All that I experienced during that time confirmed that I had done the right thing in listening to that inner voice. Sacred Heart Centre, where I had spent so much of my time and energy, was being directed by an enthusiastic young Haitian. Many of the programs that the staff and I had developed, with the families that the Centre serves, were continuing well. However, what was most exciting were the new initiatives being developed to meet the emerging needs: initiatives being developed by Haitians for Haitians! At the Asile, I was warmly welcomed by the Brothers and the children. The physiotherapy program for handicapped children, funded by the Haiti Fund, was functioning well with three young Haitian trainees. Little Teresa, who could not stand up when I left, was walking independently!

7 First, I met Limbe, whom I had affectionately named greased lightning because he spent all his time running from one end of the room to the other until I managed to get him to take my hand and walk with me. He came and took my hand immediately and stayed at my side during my visit. 7 ated and all four have jobs. They continue to come to the regular meetings and encourage the others. Wislin, whom I have told you about before, is giving computer lessons to the others. This spring, Yves, whose school Here are some students supported by the Haiti was totally demolished in the earthfund. quake, will be graduedline, who is blind and is only able to function ating with a four-year degree in computer science within a very tiny space, recognized my voice imfrom a building that looks more like a two-door mediately and climbed into my arms. Of course garage. Another young woman has completed her it was hard to leave apprenticeship in these small ones of sewing. While I was God who have enin Haiti, she received tered into me and a donated sewing taken possession of machine and started me. They have given to support herself me so much. Howand her child. Anothever, they are grower young man is now ing in the care of the being paid a stipend Brothers and because during his apprenof your generosity ticeship in auto mewe are able to prochanics. vide for the physiotherapy program to I will be returning to help them develop to Yves, a student, will be graduating with a four- Haiti at least a couple their full potential. of times a year to year degree in computer science. make sure that all is And now an update on the older students that the going well with the activities we are carrying out Haiti Fund is supporting in finishing school: with your donations to the Haiti Fund. Meanwhile, I really do have a sense of living out Father Under the direction of Rosnie, with the help of Médaille s advice and with your help empowering Jude, this program too is running well. There are the Haitians to help each other. The work that now 22 students either in high school, university you have supported for so long is continuing! or what we would call community college courses. Four have completed their courses and gradusister Rosemary Fry

8 Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto 101 Thorncliffe Park Drive Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1M2 Phone: Fax: