Bridges

Come and join the CELEBRATION WITH OUR JUBILARIANS who have served lovingly and faithfully in the Lord's vineyard for a grand total of 560 years and still counting...

MIGRANT MINISTRY REFLECTIONS - Sr. Norene Costa, RJM

In the darkness of the night, white vans transport migrant families to the shelter. Approximately 125 mothers, fathers and children arrive at the shelter, located in an unoccupied school named in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Upon arrival, there is a background check of the migrants by border officials, followed by a medical examination of each newcomer. What was once a school auditorium now serves as a bedroom furnished with cots and a blanket, but no pillow.

The staff and volunteers are getting used to the new shelter location. It is a bit of a maze of hallways, staircases, rooms on different levels but it does have a very handy elevator.

Sowing Hope for the Planet, a campaign of the Union of International Superiors General (UISG), invites you to register for their upcoming April 11 webinar: Listening to the Cry of the Earth and the Poor.

Last week, from March 7 - 11, I had an opportunity to visit the Novitiate of the Americas in Mexico City and to spend time with Middia Doute, our second-year novice.

MEET THE JEAN RABEL TEAM - Haiti: This year we are six members! Three Irish, three Spanish.

During the Bicentenary we featured contributors’ memories of an RJM who had touched or inspired them in some way.  This year’s jubilarians were asked if they had memories to share.  Sr. Jackie Picard is the first to reply.  Note that all readers of Bridges are warmly invited to contribute.  Keep them coming!

In 1989 Sr Pierrette, SNJM, Mr. Jean Desnor and Mr. Claude Etienne began the Jesus-Mary school under a Kanip tree (seen on far right) and Pierrette then built a one-room schoolhouse which closed when illness forced her return to Canada.

Again, we are faced with an 'address to our nation' presenting the migrants without any dignity, respect or compassion and depicting them close to being a 'national threat' even while many political figures and people along the border have presented a starkly different picture.

On January 19, 2019, Sr. Rose Kelly, RJM and Sr. Nazareth Ybarra, RJM were presented with the prestigious Willian Jefferson Clinton Goodwill for Haiti Award which honors outstanding individuals who have undertaken extraordinary work and dedicated their lives to the people of Haiti.