A letter from Sisters Jeannette Bussen (Baden) and Mary Ellen Gondeck (Congregation of St. Joseph), directors of the Federation’s Mission Haiti Project:
Girl-Students
It was a phone call from our representative at the U.N. after the devastating earthquake in Haiti 2010 that initiated our relationship with Mission Haiti Inc., the Sisters of the Companions of Jesus, and girl-students: Sheidna, Rose, Taila, Slat, Ferlands, Ferla, Serena (grade 8); Tamara, Christerline (grade 9); Nastacia (grade 10). The students attend Annunciation, Guardian Angels and College Coeur de Marie (Heart of Mary) schools. Last year the country experienced civil unrest focused on opposition to government policies. This year they experienced the global virus of Covid-19. They are facing some of these hardships in already difficult levels of poverty.
This year the U.S. Federation of Sisters of St. Joseph again commits to another year of education for ten girls, some of whom we have followed since grade one. We are blessed for the opportunity as a Federation to make a difference in the lives of the ten girl-students and their families, and to Haiti and the world. The Season of Lent has typically been a time to re-commit to the girls and so to Haiti. We come again asking for your outreach to your sisters, families, friends, and on and on to support the girl-students through another year of school.
2021 Haiti Lenten Calendar
The Haiti Calendar this year takes a new approach. It uses the latest encyclical of Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti (Brothers and Sister All). This social encyclical focuses on social and economic challenges of today, reaching out to others. The calendar offers a quote and reflection for each of the six weeks of Lent. It could be used as shared prayer group, group discussions, or as personal prayer. We welcome your ideas for its use.
Please also consider sharing the introductory letter, which can be used to communicate and involve your Congregational Leadership, Sisters, Associates, Agregées, staff, etc.
- As in the past, the information on page 2 under the introductory information can be edited to include your congregational name and address. If you wish your congregational address to be in the calendar, it can be inserted (instead of Federation Address) under “Donations can be sent to.”
- All checks should be made payable to the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and include Mission Haiti on the check memo. At the end of Lent please send all checks to: The U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 86-44 Edgerton Blvd, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432.This year, we are also offering an online option for people to donate to Mission Haiti. Please visit this form and be sure to select “Donation for Mission Haiti” on the form.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2021. Our hope is that this information offers some help for participation in the Haiti project for this year. We are privileged to dream with our brothers and sisters in Haiti to build a better world. As Pope Francis says, “Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs, and conviction, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.”
Do not hesitate to contact one of us with questions or suggestions.
In peace and gratitude,
Jeanette Bussen and Mary Ellen Gondeck
jbussen@stjoseph-baden.org / mgondeck@csjoseph.org
