Greetings from Florian in Haïti,

I received many emails concerning the situation in Haïti and about my safety after the passage of the cyclone Jeanne. Since I am living at Port-au-Prince in the south of the country, I have not been touched by the cyclone. Of course we got a little bit of rain but nothing serious. I will not talk about the situation in Gonaïves and the North-West of the country. Every body knows about the 2000 dead and all those qui are trying to survive. Survival is the word and the whole country is struggling for survival. What a wounded country! Why us . . . Why Haïti again . . . why . . . ? So many questions without any answers. And, pure coincidence, these days we have the readings of the book of Job at the daily mass. Job is lamenting about his fate but continue to hope against all hope. « The Lord had given, the Lord has taken back. Blessed be the name of the Lord! »

I think only the Haitian people, with their unshakable faith, can repeat those words of Job. After every catastrophe, after every coup d’Etat, the country stands up ready to face the next ordeal . . .

It is in this country that, we Marianist religious have decided to start a new mission. October 4 will be the 1st anniversary of my arrival in Haiti. Already one year! How fast the time goes. It has been a very special year but a blessed one where the Lord has confirmed His project. Indeed, the project is taking shape little by little and on October 6, I will be happy to welcome 2 new brothers. Then we will have a true community in this country. But this is a new page in the history of the Society of Mary in Haiti and I keep for another time the pleasure to tell you more about it.

«In this month of October, Our Lady of Haiti, protect your children ».

Thanks for your messages of concern. We count on your prayers.

Father Florian, sm