FEB 3 – FEAST DAY OF CLAUDINE & JESUS-MARY SCHOOL’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY
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. Then 30 years ago in 1998, Sr. Francoise, SNJM and Sr. Pat Dillon, RJM reopened the school which now has nearly 500 students!
Shown on the right, are preparations for the 30th anniversary, as visiting St. Mary’s Academy high school girls from Bay View, Rhode Island work with the Jesus-Mary student council to prepare a banner and a former student paints another banner.
Claudine’s and the school’s feast began with breakfast eggs from MFOH’s “Be a Good Egg” initiative.
Fr. Dachemy Destine, Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, presided at mass and did a wonderful integration of Claudine’s life and forgiveness with the scripture readings for Claudine’s feast in Creole.
Mass was followed by a special meal in wonderfully decorated classrooms. After the meal, classes presented songs, skits and dances, one of which you can see by clicking this link: https://rjmusa.org/fon-ibo-celebration.
The festivities ended with a multi-prize raffle. First prize was a Surtab tablet (manufactured in Haiti). Other prizes included a solar charger, soccer ball, shovel and hoe. – Sr. Pat Dillon, RJM
