St. Mary's - June 2006 Newsletter

St. Mary’s Renews Covenant with Haiti

By Fr. Mike

During the weekend liturgies of May 6 and 7 parishioners welcomed Fr. Brutus Gulber, OMI, the pastor of our twinned parish in Haiti – St. Michel in Bateau a Roche. Fr. Gulber traveled to the Diocese of Worcester with 15 other priests and Bishop Alex Verrier, the bishop of the Diocese of Les Cayes. This visit gave the bishops of our two dioceses the opportunity to renew the covenant that had been established in 1994.

It also provided time for the pastors to spend a weekend with the parish that has been offering them prayerful and financial support as part of the twinning relationship. Fr. Gulber spent the weekend in our rectory and participated at Mass at Shrewsbury Nursing Home and one of the First Communion celebrations. He got a flavor of life at St. Mary’s, concelebrating at the weekend Masses and meeting many parishioners.

After communion Fr. Gulber spoke in French to the congregation, and Fr. Mike was able to retrieve enough of his high school French to offer a rough translation. Fr. Gulber expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received here at St. Mary’s and for the financial support we offer each month to St. Michel. He told us that the people of St. Michel live in deplorable conditions, but that they are a people with a strong faith in God. They come to church each week to pray and sing of the goodness of the Lord.

There are over 17,000 people in the parish of St. Michel. They have one church, six chapels and four other outdoor areas for the celebration of Mass. Fr. Gulber noted that people lost their homes and animals during Hurricane Dennis and are still working to repair and rebuild their homes. Despite the poverty of the people and the pastoral challenges that Fr. Gulber faces, he was able to communicate to us a sense of the joy and depth of faith that the people of Haiti exhibit.