2023
May-June 2023
TWINNING – COMMUNICATIONS – LIFE IN HAITI
“TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE LIGHT TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD…FOR THE LOVE TO ACCEPT THE WILL OF GOD…FOR THE WAY TO DO THE WILL OF GOD ”
. . . essential teaching of Mother
TWINNING – A WITNESS OF FAITH
BENEFITS OF WINNING FOR OUR PARISH will be at the beginning of each update.
This month we are featuring spiritual growth for each community.
CABRINI HAITI OUTREACH- West Bend, WI AND CABRINI COMMUNITY CENTER -Jacmel, Haiti
Benefit of Twinning #2-SPIRITUAL GROWTH
This consists of a message that is loving, supportive, serving and bringing hope through faithfulness to God’s poor. These qualities will have a great impact on the lives of parishioners through this outreach of mission. It will create an awareness of the poorest of the poor and what God calls all of us to be for them.
FOLLOWING – TESTIMONEY of the last sentence above. “Stay with me” for the rest of the story. When Cabrini began this ministry 34 years ago, we realized that we had an obligation to include our school in this process. If done personally and consistently a bond could be built between the children of West Bend and Haiti.
In September, I realized that we had come full circle. I received a phone call from a former alumni student from Cabrini School who was now a young adult, and he was being led by the Holy Spirit to act on the knowledge he had acquired at Cabrini grade school.
John Roeber is now in college and was taking courses in computer design. (He saw my plea for help). He had always admired our yearly videos presented in church to raise funds. To make a long story short, I contacted John after receiving a call from Ann Taylor, the teacher at Cabrini in charge of raising funds for the Haiti Water Project. A Power Point Presentation was put together with John’s talents and perseverance. It was based on footage we shot over the years when Bill and Walnes would do an assembly program and spend another full day at the school visiting each classroom for a half hour of personal time. The assembly presentation would feature the Cabrini students and their personal involvements these many years. It was a huge success. John also came to help me set it up and spoke to the students briefly about his plans. Enjoy the following pictures. All had a great time! Me too, what a blessing to have that opportunity to see the fruits of our labors.
As one 2nd grade student offered a comment after the program said, “The Haitians really need our help!” The children must have carried that message home because they raised $2735.95 through a, “COIN WAR FOR HAITI.” Thanks to all who contributed and thank you for all the prayers you continue to send to Haiti. Miracles do happen! We just need to Trust in the Lord and be His Hands and Feet.
FOOD DISTRIBTUION
We delivered food to 41 families serving at least 300 people on April 13 & 14, 2023. God also blessed us with a special donation for that feeding. As Carmelo said, most of the moms cried when they see the delivery coming.
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance continues, the door gate was totally replaced as the old one was falling apart and the large gate needed repairs and paint. We hope to get our Starlink satellite connected and set up this coming month. In addition, maybe divided a few rooms inside the center. Solar is on hold until we get assurance that the equipment we need will be available. Shortages are all over the world and the supply line is difficult in Haiti because of the gangs controlling the ports and roads.
MINISTRIES
Bible Study Ministries are winding down for the summer. May 11 & 12 are the end of the spring sessions. Food distribution and water project will be done in July. That way Cabrini continues to maintain the relationship with the families during the summer months.
SPAGHETTI DINNER
SEPTEMBER 23, 2023 AFTER 4:30 MASS in the CHURCH HALL
We will be showing the Power Point Presentation at the Spaghetti Dinner on September 23, 2023. Save the date!
Volunteers needed, (servers, set up, take down, cooking). Call Kim Nielsen: 920-918-2517.
We will be doing gifts baskets again, as last time they were a huge success. Start collecting now!
April-May 2023
TWINNING – COMMUNICATIONS – LIFE IN HAITI
“TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE LIGHT TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD…FOR THE LOVE TO ACCEPT THE WILL OF GOD…FOR THE WAY TO DO THE WILL OF GOD ”
. . . essential teaching of Mother Teresa
TWINNING- A witness of faith
BENEFITS OF PARTNERING AND TWINNING FOR OUR PARISH will be at the beginning of each month update.
PERSONAL
- Parishioners can identify with their contributions to MISSION. Our Parishioners will know the missionaries, the mission grounds, the country and its political problems. They know the people; they see pictures of their donated items, the children whose lives are changing and how their money is being spent. DVD and photos will help to put “Flesh” on the faces of a people beyond our borders. We have given them a safe way to give to God’s poor and help them to fulfill the call of the gospel.
ASK YOURSELVES IF WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THIS IN OUR
Twinning relationship with Haiti.
POSTPONING MARCH 2023 MISSION TRIP
After months of preparation and planning God closed the door to our traveling to Haiti at this time. Since we began Cabrini’s outreach to Haiti in 1988 and started traveling in 1994, we have had to alter our mission trips five times. The Holy Spirit continues to show us ways in which we can continue to do the ministries. Look what the Lord Provided. With all of the new technology we are able to continue our work in Haiti. Personal time is always important but we can continue building on the seeds we planted during those in person visits.
We have applied and been accepted to start receiving the services of the satellites that are now in skies above the Caribbean. Soon the center will have its own web connections for IPADS, NOTE BOOKS, Cellphone, etc.
If anyone has an Apple or Android Cellphone that they are upgrading and your phone works and, there is still life in the battery please call Marianne. (262- 338-8845 Leave a message). The more memory the phone has the better. They need to be unlocked, not just cleared by the service company you have.
WATER FILTER MAINTENANCE
On March 17, 18, 19, 2023, Director of the water project, Gephte, accompanied by Director of Ministries, Carmelo, visited the homes of 40 of our families to service their water filter systems and provide them with cleaning supplies for several months to keep their buckets clean. The water testing was to take place but it was postponed until the testing kits arrive in Haiti via DHL transport. The Mission team had planned to bring them but could not travel to Jacmel. The testing will be done in July.
FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Food Distribution will take place in April. We are thankful for a donor that gave us a grant for the complete distribution. God sees the heart of His people and gives blessings abound.
MAINTENANCE
Maintenance continues on the large gate this next month. It needed repairs and scraping of rust and repainting. Jacmal is close to the salt water from the Caribbean Sea so that painting is very important.
MINISTRIES
All the ministries are continuing through these turbulent times. We continue to help our families with medical care as well. Our Partnership with CCH continue to work alongside of the families of the Cabrini Community Center.
Please note we are planning for the Cabrini Haiti Outreach Spaghetti dinner on September 23, 2023. We hope you will reserve the date on your calendar and if you wish to volunteer please email or call Marianne and she will pass it forward.
LIFE IN HAITI . . .
PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!
NO ONE HAS EXPERIENCED WAR IN THE HOME LAND OF UNTIED STATES. SO IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO REALIZE THE IMPACT IT HAS ON DAILY SURVIVAL. I PRAY THAT WE NEVER WILL. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO REMEMBER OUR HAITIAN FAMILIES ARE LIVING IN AN UNDECLARED WAR ZONE AT THIS TIME IN A SMALL ISLAND NATION.
God sees our response to their need!
February-March 2023
PRAYER – PLANS – PROJECTS – PROVISION
“TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO PRAY FOR THE LIGHT TO KNOW THE WILL OF GOD…FOR THE LOVE TO ACCEPT THE WILL OF GOD…FOR THE WAY TO DO THE WILL OF GOD ” . . . essential teaching of Mother Teresa
The country of Haiti finds itself at the precipice of becoming a failed state. We have known this for a while as the gangs become more powerful with every minute that passes. The biggest problem is that they control the roads and the ports. So food, water, and gasoline are not available to the general population and only the rich can purchase them. Many Haitians owned businesses have had to close their doors and the upper middle class are leaving the country. (Those with visas and green cards). Therefore, Haiti Outreach comes once again to ask for prayers. Please pray daily the prayer card above. You can also find one in the church narthex Haiti Display. Pick one up and put it somewhere visible.
PROJECTS – FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Our Cabrini Community Center continues to help the families in the Jacmel area, feeding 300 people each distribution. We complete the first distribution January , 2023, giving them more than double the rice. We have eight families that need cooking pots and more that need charcoal to cook the food we give them.
WATER FILTER MAINTENANCE DURING THE DISTRIBTUION OF FOOD – all water filters were inspected and small repairs made.
MAINTENCE OF THE SECURITY WALL – after 10 years serveral repairs and door replacements had to be made to the security wall.
PLANS – Mission trip plans – tentatively March 16-27. The biggest problem is getting from Milwaukee to Miami without six & nine hrs. of layovers taking almost two days to arrive in Haiti. Prayers needed that AA Airlines will put on an extra flight for Spring break. The Cabrini team continues to be small because of the political unrest. Marianne Boehme and Michael Digmann, who have gone many times, continue to lead the charge. Bill Nathan and Walnes Cangas, our Haitians administrators, will join them in Jacmel. Part of our job will be to plan and hire a company to install the solar system and to vent the plumbing pipes. Also to resurface the front porch and install railings, plan a prayer garden with trees and plants surrounding the cross. We will also be taking much needed pictures and video for the 2023 Video to be shown at the mission appeal on September 16 & 17. Also, this is the year for the semi-annual spaghetti dinner on September 23rd. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. WATCH FOR INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.
PROVISION
Because of the generosity of many donors we are able to focus on the food, water project, faith formation, leadership skills, as well as the construction. We need to ask once again for your continued monthly, support if possible. The lean time of the year will be coming up, spring and summer. We know you have many great choices for investing your hard-earned money and we hope you will continue to consider Haiti Outreach worthy of your giving.
As we learned in the update last month, twinning is a new way of being a parish. The people of Haiti continue to smile and love Jesus in the mist of abject poverty and hardships. When we visit Haiti, they give us so much more than we give them in Jacmel. We feel God’s presence among the poor as Mother Teresa said, “You will never know how much the poor have done for you until you reach heaven.” Blessings again and thank you. In God’s Love. Haiti Outreach Team