Thank you!

Thank you to all who helped celebrate a beautiful fall day with us at Grace's house with food, family, friends, and raising funds for our mission :)

School has started at Child Jesus School!

 

Buenas Tardes Padre Martinez! Estoy en Petit Goave desde el Domingo pasado.Ayer,lunes,el primer de Octubre de este ano haciamos la entrada escolaria como todas las demas escuelas sugun el deseo del ministerio de la educacion nacional.

Los alumnos y profesores fueron a la Iglesia para participar a la misa del Espiritu Santo que se confundida este ano con fecha de Santa Teresa.Estamos todavia en la antigua escuela.Esperamos su venida para cambiar de lugar,haciendo la bendicion antes de empesar a trabajar.

 

 

Good afternoon Father Martinez! I'm in Petit Goave since Sunday. Yesterday, Monday, the first of October this year we opened the school and began classes as all other schools as expected by the National Ministry of Education.

Students and teachers went to the church to attend the Mass of the Holy Spirit, which was combined this year with the feast of Santa Teresa. We are still in the old school building. We are waiting until you come to move into the new building, so that it may be blessed before we get started to work there.

How you can help

Merci
Thank you
Gracias

We are so grateful for any little contribution you might have that would help pave Ellen and Grace's "little way" to Haiti: donate small and make a big difference HERE or personally through Ellen and Grace.  

Plans for our journey in Petit-Goâve, Haiti

We make the journey in joy and openness:  to be open to finding joy in all the people and places that we encounter, and to reflect the beauty back to them in an empowering way in our collaborations with the community.  



Throughout the week, Grace and Ellen will stay with a host family, explore the area, and visit the school every day.  

We will bring first aid kits, and share in finding God in taking care of our physical bodies.  

We will bring journals, and share in finding God in our artistic and poetic self.  

We will bring tools and paints, to help our neighbors build their wall and paint a mural, and share in finding God in our community. 

We will bring any additional money we raise from your support. 



We hope to bring back companions on the journey-- from both here and there-- and inner transformation to love every more deeply. 

Hurricane Isaac hits Haiti

We received initial reports of the tropical storm Isaac's damage to Haiti and to the School of the Child Jesus:

Greetings to all friends of Child Jesus School, Petit-Goâve, Haiti.  Below are the comments received from Fr. Marc Claudy Magloire, a priest of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince and Administrator of Child Jesus School and Servants of Mary Center.  His comments appear translated into English (green).

Please help us spread the word.  Once again our sisters and brothers in Haiti have been affected by natural disaster.  This time it was Hurricane Isaac.  There has some lives lost and much destruction, once again, to homes, churches, schools.

As you can read below, Child Jesus School, sponsored and supported by Order of Servants of Mary has once again suffered damage.  Once more, the protective wall has crumbled.  Once again, the property and the school are at risk, as Fr. Magloire indicates below.

We turn to you, once again, for your financial assistance in response to the needs of the children of Child Jesus School, their families and staff.  Whatever contribution you are able to make at this time will be greatly appreciated.

Please send your donations (check made out to Servants of Mary) to:

CHILD JESUS SCHOOL

SERVANTS OF MARY

3121 W. JACKSON BLVD

CHICAGO IL  60612-2729

In advance, we thank you for your generosity.  Please remember our sisters and brothers - children, youth, adults, and elderly - in Haiti in your prayers.  Thank you!!

Fr. Vidal Martínez,OSM

Spiritual Assistant

Servant of Mary Center

Child Jesus School

Petit-Goâve, Haiti

Bonjour mon Pere,je viens de terminer une visite a Petit Goave apres le passage de l'ouragan devastateur du nom de Isaac.A l'ecole Enfant Jeuss,les degats sont consirables.Beaucoup de nos bananiers sont tombes,le mur situe en face de la nouvelle construction est tombe ras le sol,la cours est devenue un peu desert et l'insecurite de la maison se fait sentir.

Comme solution provisoir,j'ai vite fait un barrage en bois avec des toles pour remedier provisoirement au probleme.Nous devons tres rapidement penser a relever le mur,pour eviter que des gents du dehors viennent penetrer la cours de l'ecole.Paix Pere Magloire Marc Claudy

Hello my Father, I have just completed a visit to Petit Goave after the devastating hurricane named Isaac.A Child Jeuss the school, the damage is consirables.Beaucoup our bananas are tombs, located opposite the wall new construction has fallen low to the ground, the course became a little desert and insecurity of the house arises.

PROVISIONAL solution as I quickly made a wooden dam with sheet metal to remedy provisionally probleme.Nous need to think very quickly up the wall, to avoid that the gents come out during penetrate the school. Pere Peace Marc Magloire

Suggestion: Il est un fait que le relevement du mur est une affaire urgente.Mais si vous voulez avoir une plus grande idee de ce qui s'est passe exactement,avoir des photos d'appui vous pouvez faire le travail apres avoir visite l'ecole en Octobre prochain. Bref! En tout cas, ecrivez-moi pour que je sache exactement ce que je dois faire. Paix! Pere Magloire

Suggestion: It is a fact that the raising of the wall is a matter urgente.Mais if you want a greater idea of ​​what exactly has happened, have photos you can support the work after having visited the school next October. Short! In any case, write me so that I know exactly what I do. Peace! Pere Magloire

Learning about Haiti: Piti Piti zwazo fe nich

"Little by little a bird builds a nest:" a well known Haitian proverb. 

When this proverb crossed our path in learning about the people of Haiti, we know we are already connected with the people, though we do not know them yet. 

We also come across this beautiful Haitian drum art, which also reminds us of our connection through the love of beauty and art. 

A "Little School": Learning about the mission

In the city of Petit-Goâve, Haiti at the Servants of Mary Center, there is a “little school” called the Child Jesus School. It is an elementary and vocational school for poor and needy children 10 years of age and older. These children would never be able to attend school or receive an education, mainly because their parents or relatives are not able to pay the monthly fees required by the schools in Petit-Goâve.

The Child Jesus School provides a basic education for the children, as well as providing school supplies, uniforms and a nourishing meal each day the children attend class. The children also receive religious formation and instructions to prepare them for the Sacraments as well as learning the basic prayers and, of course, songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

There is a staff of 12 men and women, who care for the 67 students presently enrolled from  first to fourth grade. Because of the lack of space at the present time, many other needy children have, unfortunately, been turned away.

Thanks to the generous contributions received from Secular Servites and communities as well as friends and supporters, a playground and basketball court has been constructed for the children. What a joy this has been for the children! They can play in a safe and protected environment under the supervision and watchful care of the staff. The children and staff are very grateful to all the donors who have made the playground a reality for them.  Those who wish may make a donation for the purchase of the necessary sports and playground equipment.

Each day, before returning home at the end of the school day, the children sit together and enjoy a nourishing meal that is prepared and served on school grounds. For many of the children, this is their principal meal for the day. We are grateful for a Secular Servite who has been providing a monthly donation to help cover the cost of the purchase of the food.

After the children have concluded their elementary education, they are subsequently offered the opportunity to participate in a 3 year vocational, professional education in one of the following areas: cabinetmaking, carpentry, tailoring, mechanics, masonry, electricity, art, cooking and baking.

Odette Morency,OSSM, a Secular Servite, was instrumental in establishing the school.  Now, Fr. Marc Claudy Magloire and Fr. Vidal M. Martínez,OSM are responsible for administering and overseeing all activities, programs, faculty, staff and needs of Child Jesus School.  If anyone is interested in visiting...please contact Fr. Vidal Martínez,OSM to discuss possible arrangements. For further information, please visit:  School of the Child Jesus

Learning about the Little Way

Each day in Haiti, Grace and Ellen will read from and prayerfully reflect on the "Little Way" of St. Therese, as presented in this book by John Nelson. 

The days' reflections will focus on:  Joyful Humility, Bold Confidence, Tranquil Trust, Persistence in Prayer, and Daily Practice.  

You can look forward to hearing more of our reflections on the Little Way throughout and after our pilgrimage. 

Patrons for the Pilgrimage

 

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

The world came to know Therese through her autobiography, "Story of a Soul". She described her life as a "little way of spiritual childhood." She lived each day with an unshakable confidence in God's love. "What matters in life," she wrote, "is not great deeds, but great love." Therese lived and taught a spirituality of attending to everyone and everything well and with love. She believed that just as a child becomes enamored with what is before her, we should also have a childlike focus and totally attentive love. Therese's spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love.

"My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses."

It is interesting to note that St. Therese, the Patron of Missions, during the last year of her life, drew the United States as her Mission and country for which to pray and sacrifice throughout the following year.

We pray in confidence each day throughout this year--Grace and Ellen's 25th on this earth-- in intercession to St. Therese for the people of Haiti, and for us all to believe so that we might imitate the "little way" each day.  

Blessed Cecilia Eusepi,OSSM (Secular Servant of Mary), who was beatified on June 17, 2012 in Italy

Cecilia’s Simple Life

Born to good and simple parents who raised a family of love, Cecilia is youngest of 11 children. Initially from the small village of Monte Romano, (also North of Rome) Cecilia moved to Nepi at age 5. After her father died, her uncle takes care of her mother and family, and brings them to Nepi to work on a farm in La Massa, just outside of town. Soon, Cecilia is entrusted to the nuns.

Cecilia was already most devout as a young girl. Barely a teenager, at age 13, she officially joined a monastery called the 3rd Order of the Servants of Mary. She had high hopes and plans to study in Rome and Pistoia and then Zara to become a missionary there.

She did go to Rome and Pistoia, however her missionary dreams were curbed by her poor health after three years. Intestinal tuberculosis made her returned at age 16 from the nuns in Pistoia back to Nepi, where she died here two years later. During these last years, she was visited often and by many who sought her council.

Her strong devotion to Mother Mary and Jesus, as well as her being exemplary of operating in ‘little ways’, was noted by those in Rome. 

During the period of her illness, at the behest of Father Roschini, Cecilia began writing a diary in May 1927 (finished September 1928) and autobiography, called “The Story of a Clown (storia di un giglio)”.

Responding to a call...

... to go out to all the world, and live the Good News!

The story of the call:  Somewhere along the train ride from St. Louis to Chicago, Grace meets Theresa, who shares her experience of visiting the "little school" of the Child Jesus in Petit-Goâve, Haiti.  Grace and Theresa become friends and continue talking in St. Louis, where they both currently reside.

 

Then, sometime in June, along a bike ride somewhere in Missouri, Grace and Ellen share a conversation about the good things that could happen if they, too, connected with the people at Ecole de L'enfant Jesus.

Eventually, Grace, Theresa, and Ellen all meet and pray together, opening a door to a pilgrimage to Petit-Goâve, learning the little way.