The Sisters of St. Ann Mission in Haiti

While at our school, Sister Rita made a special presentation to our students about the SSA schools in Haiti which had been destroyed in the earthquake. She used pictures and words to introduce us to the many students and teachers who are learning and teaching in the most difficult of circumstances. Her message brought foremost to our minds and hearts the importance of the social justice dimension of our faith.

Sister Rita travels to Port-au-Prince, Haiti regularly and works with the Haitian Sisters of St. Ann to provide education to the students whose schools were destroyed in the earthquake. Sister Rita showed slides of the students in their temporary classrooms, many without walls, where students who sit near the back of the class get wet when it rains.

The pictures of the students revealed their pride in being educated and the stability that going to school created in their young, traumatic lives. The Sisters work hard in outdoor open fire kitchens to provide one meal a day for the students since it is the only meal they will get in a day.

The slides showed piles of rubble which had yet to be removed and the absence of water and electricity as the city struggles to get back to a normal life. The Haitian Sisters had constructed sleeping tents and outdoor gathering places to continue to be in community.
Sister Rita told stories about individual students, teachers and Sisters whose dedication to education is the only light of hope in the experience of darkness and despair.

Sister Rita was so grateful for our students’ response last year, with thousands raised to go to support their mission in Haiti. Our student Lent initiative this year will, likewise, be directed to supporting the mission of the Sisters of St Ann in Haiti. Should you feel called to support their work directly, please do so through:

Haiti Relief Fund,

The Sisters of St. Ann,

1550 Begbie Street,

Victoria, BC. V8R 1K8.

We thank God for the many blessings in our faith community of Little Flower Academy and we journey into this Holy Season with Sister Rita’s message in our minds and the faces of the Haitian students imprinted on our hearts.

Blessings to you and your families and every good wish for love, peace and joy in 2011.