Is there any hope for Haití?

“Our Marist works in Haiti are safe and have not been affected. …. Pray to Our Lady of Hope for a bright future for Haiti”, requested Br Sergio de Jesús Cáceres Vera, from the Province of México Occidental, in view of the serious social, political and economic crisis that the country has been experiencing in recent months.

Since 1985, when the Marist Brothers established their presence in Haiti, the Little Brothers of Mary have had to face many challenges in the country, such as natural disasters, protests and other unrest. It all began 37 years ago when the Brothers from Canada arrived in Haiti on 15 September 1985. Then, in 2009, the Province of Mexico Occidental took responsibility for the pastoral support of the Brothers and for the Marist mission in Haiti.

At present, there are 30 Brothers (10 perpetually professed and 24 in temporary vows) and around 90 lay Marists. We have 3 formation houses (21 Brothers in the scholasticate, 9 novices and 6 second year postulants) and 3 schools with 1,300 students. The Marist communities are located in Jérémie, Damme Marie and Latibolière. See more details.

This month, the Mexican brothers in Haiti expressed their concern about the dire situation prevailing in this Caribbean country in an article that they published (Revista Voces) entitled “Is there any hope for Haití?”, written by Br. Sergio de Jesús Cáceres Vera.  This is reproduced below:

In recent months, Haiti has been experiencing a social, political and economic crisis that cannot go on. Insecurity and kidnappings have made the population afraid to venture out into the streets, criminal gangs control road movements, while the lack of basic necessities has plunged the majority of the population into extreme poverty. In recent weeks, rising fuel prices have filled the streets with protesters desperate for food, water and fuel to survive.

This situation has forced schools to be unable to start classes to this day, and we don’t think it will be possible to start in October. A Salesian missionary from Port-au-Prince writes, “The population is being driven to steal to eat. Everything is shut down. We are surrounded by violence and there is no water, no fuel, no food and our means of communication have been reduced due to the lack of electricity. The situation is unsustainable and living in Haiti has become impossible”.

Barricades in the streets, demonstrations, looting of banks and shops… Nothing is spared in the violence and chaos that reigns in the country: neither public nor private companies, nor international organisations, nor even religious congregations and churches.

The population on the streets is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry for wanting to triple the price of fuel by withdrawing the government subsidy, remembering that this Prime Minister took the reins of the country after the assassination in July 2021 of the then President Jovenel Moïse.

For the time being all our Marist works in Haiti are safe and unaffected. Like Marcellin, every day we sing the “Salve Regina” to entrust the situation of our country and our own safety into the hands of Mary and her divine Son.

Pray to Our Lady of Hope for a bright future for Haiti.

___________

Br. Sergio de Jesús Cáceres

Review Voces – Province México Occidental – October 2022