An Encounter with Samantha

(shared by parishioner, Michael Lien) 

During a trip to Haiti in 2016, one of our stops in Port-au-Prince was at the Missionaries of the Poor, a facility for disabled youth and adults. As we walked in, I was challenged by what I saw and heard. I found myself praying, “Help me Lord, I don’t know if I can do this.”

I eventually found my way to a young girl terribly disabled since birth, named Samantha. The whole time we had been there, she had been softly crying as she lay on her suspended little bed. After speaking quietly for a while, I began to sing to her. Slowly, she stopped crying to listen and watch me sing. After many songs, I eventually got to some that I used to sing to my children when they were little. As I began to softly sing the Brahms Lullaby, she gave me a wonderful gift as she laughed and smiled at me. That moment is one I will carry with me always.

People have asked me why I traveled to Haiti and why I am involved in the Haiti ministries at St. Mary’s. If they could visualize Samantha’s smile and hear her laugh as I did, they would know. 

How We’ve Helped

Thanks to the generosity of parishioners, we’ve been able to make a real difference in Haiti. Most of our resources have been focused on the village of Marfranc, located in western Haiti. Our initial work repairing the Elder Care facility and building the new Cecelia Duffy Memorial School was destroyed months later by Hurricane Matthew.

Reiser Relief rebuilt the Elder Care facility and St. Mary of the Lake rebuilt the school. That school building is open and completely filled with the littlest learners. We provide financial support to cover the expenses of the 172 students, which includes their books and tuition and a hot meal each day. The school has bathrooms with running water and a hand washing station, thanks to your generosity. Our support also provides food for the Sisters, an outreach program to the people of the village and some expenses at the Elder Care facility.  

The Work Continues

The parish has been blessed by opening ourselves to the people of Haiti. We welcome your ongoing support of the people of Haiti with your prayers and dollars, and, if it be God’s will, your physical presence.

The most immediate project in Marfranc is the construction of a second school building. With the first building full and the number of students increasing, Sister Evelynne dreams of a second building for the 2020-21 school year. Sister has received a bid of $102,300 for the new building. With your support, we will team with Reiser Relief to build this second set of classrooms, as Sister and the people of Marfranc work to educate and form the future of Haiti. Checks for this effort should be made payable to St. Mary of the Lake with the word “Haiti” written in the memo line.

Follow the Work

Soon, we will be launching a new page on the parish website to help keep parishioners informed of all the great work made possible by your generosity. In the meantime, check out reiserrelief.org for information on the work in Haiti.

Advent Parish Study Week 1: Watch “Prepare the Way” by Bob Rice

It's been said that Christmas is merely a pagan day that was Christianized by the early Church and now the pagans want it back. Yet the holiday we call Christmas (and the season of Advent that precedes it) is marked by wonder, holiness, and beauty, which go beyond mere sentimentality. Preparing "the way of the Lord," as begun by John the Baptist, continues for us now, signaling the beginning of the Church year.  

 

Join our parish wide study in a small group, on your own, or during Community Night on Wednesdays. Find the study on our website, or at Formed.org by entering “Advent”. Printed study guides are available! Contact Samantha at the office for details. We will follow this schedule on our Journey to Joy:

 

Complete week one before the First Sunday of Advent, December 1

Complete week two for the reflection on 12/7-8

Complete week three for the reflection on 12/14-15

Complete week four for the reflection on 12/21-22

Get FORMED Now!

Login Has Changed!

The first time you sign in on a device (desktop computer, phone, tablet, etc.) enter the email used to register. You will receive an email to “Sign in to FORMED.” Follow the link and you are set on the device. No more passwords needed!

 

Signup Is EASIER!

Visit FORMED.ORG , select Sign up and “I belong to a parish.” Search for St. Mary of the Lake by name or use our zip code, 55110. (Be sure you select the correct St. Mary’s when searching by name!) Click “Next,” enter your full name and email address and you are ready to enjoy FORMED!

COMING UP

Thanksgiving Day Mass

Thursday, November 28 at 9:00 AM