The Journey of a Soul
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(L - R): Donna Saveria Moscini, Donna Marianna Pinto,
Madre Abbadessa Petrucci, Madre Margherita Copitani,
Donna Vincensa Compinopli,
Donna Eugenia. |
The Benedictine Monastery perches quietly on a ridge overlooking Castries Bay. It is a ridge/scene that has touched the heart of poets leading them to speak of mythic themes. Michael Gilkes writes :
Of island-hopping they’d had their fill,
the god Hurucán and his wife, Hewannorra,
so they decided to settle on Morne Coubaril
overlooking the city of Castries, St. Lucia.
(Coubaril)
Once, this place was known simply as Coubaril. Today the nuns have changed it to “The Mount of Prayer.” The same poet writes “Her name rings, with three long strokes,/the Benedictine convent’s angelus.” As the monastery celebrates thirty years of existence in St. Lucia, its story is entwined with another tale, the extraordinary journey of its foundress, Mother Marianna Pinto, who is also celebrating the golden jubilee of her first profession. With the archdiocese in festive mode as we prepare for Jubilee 2006, we commemorate these other jubilees. We celebrate the establishment of monastic life in St. Lucia by telling of its early beginnings. Many lives weave the fabric of that tapestry. The late Archbishop Patrick Webster OSB and Sr. Gertrude Gurney OSB, spring to mind.
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Caterina at 15 years.
The photo her father removed from the show window |
We will however, begin to share the story, by talking with Mother Pinto. Her journey is part of the history of the monastery. We call it ‘the Journey of a soul’ : Catholic Chronicle. : Mother this place is so beautiful! You say it is a miracle, like your own vocation. Tell us about yourself, how you came to be a nun.
Mother Pinto : I was very young, very active, enjoying my life in the world, but God called me even while I was enjoying the world to follow him.
CC: How old were you ?
MP: I was about twelve years old. But my father didn’t want to hear anything about religious life, to give his daughter forever to God, to be enclosed in a monastery.
The Jealousy of God
CC: So there was a jealousy on the part of your father ?
MP: O yes, very very strong jealousy. Indeed I remember one month before I had to do a photo, I don’t remember for what, but the photographer was so proud of the shot that he put an enlarged picture of me in the show window of his studio. My father happened to pass by and as he saw my face in the window, he didn’t think twice. He went and said “Please remove my daughter’s picture from that window!” This photo has become a very dear picture to me, because it brings to my mind what is the jealousy of God that I felt from the very first moment that God called me, that God was jealous of me.”
CC. So you saw your father’s action as the hand of God in your life ?
MP: Yes, that a father was jealous of his daughter as God is jealous of me. Because whenever I felt, whenever I had even a thought or a desire that ungodly, God was there to humiliate me to correct me, and I saw his jealousy.
CC.: Now your family must have been a very religious family. You must have come out of an atmosphere or religious practice if your father felt that kind of jealousy for you.
MP: Yes, my father was Christian, very Catholic person, but not so prayerful a person like my mother, my mama. Now I remember my mama would pray every novena, especially the novena of the Sacred Heart, the novena of Saint Anthony and the Rosary. She would call the people around to come into the house to pray. But myself, I didn’t know how to pray. That was truly a revelation. And for people it has been even until now that wonder how God can call a person who didn’t like to pray, to a life of prayer behind grills.
CC: How many were you in your family? How many children ?
MP: We were ten children, five boys and five girls, but two died and we are eight living today. Of these, two of us, one is a priest and one is a religious, a Benedictine nun.
CC: Well, that’s what I was saying, that somehow God’s hand was in your family. Not only did he take you who didn’t like to pray and call you to be a nun, He also called your brother to be a priest.
MP: Yes, I would say that the spiritual force, the Christian spiritual force in my family was my Mama. She was a spiritual, prayerful person who always called people to pray. My father was a man of charity, a giving person. So if we had a house, we had it more for my Mama, because she was the person looking after the finances etc. But if it was for my father, he was all heart for people.
The Call
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| Caterina as a postulant, with parents and brother Vito on the Cupola of St. Peter |
CC: Now, we’re talking about the fiftieth anniversary of your First Profession. How long ago you actually entered the monastery? You said that at about twelve you remember the incident with your father taking out the picture from the show window. At what age did you actually enter religious life?
MP: For about two years my father didn’t want to hear about my vocation. Even my godmother wanted to send me to the Capuchin Nuns where her sister was already a nun. But it so happened that God’s ways are not our ways, God’s thoughts not our thoughts. I spoke with Abbot Giovanni Ceci, the Abbot of the Benedictines in Noci, where we have a monastery for men, and he asked me why do you want to go to the Capuchins? I didn’t know at that time the difference between Capuchins and Benedictines. Because the Abbot insisted that I should go to Roma, I remember that moment I asked my father if he would prefer me to go to Ostuni or Roma. Ostuni is not far from Noci, only about a hundred kilometers. My father said “No,no,no. If it is to send, I send you to Roma, because at least I know I can’t come to see you very often. But to come to Ostuni everyday and unable to see you…This was why I went to Roma. I was only fifteen years old, in February 1947 when my father suddenly, from one day to another, said he was bringing me to Rome. I know it is a miracle, I will not say why, but I know it is the plan of God that things happened that way. So the day after, at the beginning of February, I was enjoying my carnival in Noci, when my father decided. Next day I went about saying goodbye to my dear friends and relatives, and the day after with my Mama and my auntie Maria, they brought me to Bari. So my father brought me during the night to Roma and my Mama and my auntie returned to Noci. When I remember this moment, it still brings tears to my eyes, saying goodbye to my Mama and my auntie Maria as they boarded the train at Bari.
CC: So in a way, you’re saying that your godmother who wanted you to be a Capuchin was really one of those who figured in your vocation.
MP: I believe that a vocation is the greatest grace that God can give to a human being. How it happened ? God can call you through a funeral, through a friend, through a book. But this happened to me, I was going with my friend to learn our job, to the Lerario family. My friend was very very dear to me. Everyday we would go morning until afternoon to spend our hours learning our new job.
CC: What was that ?
MP: It was a machine to do knitting. One day coming back with my dear friend Clelia, she was a little pessimistic kind of girl,(she is still alive) she said “Caterina, I think I have to go and live my life in a convent.” I said “Clelia, if you go there. I will follow you.” Clelia is still in Noci, Caterina went into the monastery, and here I am after about fifty-eight years.
CC: Clelia never went into the convent?
MP: Never!
CC: Is she married?
MP: No. This was the beginning, this was the calling. Even if I liked to enjoy myself. In fact people were amazed to see me enjoying carnival and asked how you can go and live your life in a monastery? But I was so happy to leave the world, saying that the world was not for me. Indeed that was very sad for my father when I told him that the bells will ring as for the funeral of a dead person when I leave Noci.
CC: So then you entered the monastery at Monte Mario, ?
MP: Yes, I entered Monte Mario in Rome, where my Papa brought me. We had traveled all the night from Bari, and it was the first time I saw my Papa crying. He was in tears when he left me, but in a way he was happy. He saw Lady Abbess Hildegarde, he saw the place where he was leaving me.
First Profession
CC: And so that means from the age of fifteen you entered that monastery? Did you begin your studies as a nun right away or were you just an ordinary student living in the monastery?
MP: As you know very well you cannot be a postulant at fifteen years old, but I was a very mature girl. This was my problems in the world, people thought I was seventeen or twenty years old… So Lady Abbess saw potential in Caterina and the possibility of studying to be the PRO of the monastery. And so I studied, got my degree in education and became the contact between the monastery and the world outside. For this reason I spent, seven years as a postulant.
CC: So you were studying, getting your degree and doing public relations for the monastery?
MP: Yes, and also, of course, a lot of temptations. But I was so strong in my conviction, that when people saw this young girl, so active, and asked “how you can give your life to God by just remaining in a monastery?” I felt so proud, so strong, so convinced, that I was telling them God does not only like beautiful people or ugly people, God likes everybody and can choose anyone.
CC: So you did that work as PRO for the monastery for about seven years and then you made your first profession?
MP: No, after I started the two years of Novitiate…
CC: So all of the seven years was considered part of your postulancy?
MP: Yes, I got my degree and after that I got my driver’s license, and became one of the first, together with one nun of the monastery, Donna Anselma, we became the first two nuns after Vatican II to have a driver’s license. Because until Vatican II you would never find a cloistered nun driving in Rome. Then in November 1953 I did my clothing with four other postulants. At the ceremony there were also seven solemn professions and two temporary professions. It was on the 13th November 1953.
CC: That was November 1953…
MP: Until the 21st April 1955 when I did my Temporary Profession.
CC: And this is the anniversary we are celebrating this year?
MP: Yes.
CC: Now, after your first vows, what kind of work did you do in the monastery?
MP: As I told you I was the PRO of the monastery, the driver, the secretary and I also took care of the nursing of Lady Abbess Hildegarde. She loved me so much as I loved her also, and she saw in me the person to be closest to her after the Novice Mistress Margarita Capitani.
CC.: For how long was she abbess of the monastery?
MP: She was the longest abbess in the history of the Church, over fifty years as abbess. She was elected abbess at the age of twenty-nine in Subiaco, and they had to ask for special permission from the Holy See to have her consecrated abbess.
CC: Okay, so then you continued to do your PRO work, you did the driving and you took care of Lady Abbess. But you were involved in teaching tat one point, weren’t you?The Miracle of Obedience
MP: Yes, but of course I took my degree in teaching, but never would I imagine myself teaching. I repeat what I said, ‘I didn’t know why Lady Abbess wanted me to go to school to gain the degree. But it happened that when Lady Abbess died in 1968 came the bloom of my monastic vocation. I can’t express in words how I felt. I felt I’d lost something great, but in the same way I’d gained supernatural power, grace that nobody could imagine to have. I felt so happy, I felt I’d given myself so totally to God in whatever he was asking of me, that God put me truly to the test. I was asked to teach something I never dreamnt of doing but in faith I accepted it in keeping with the motto of John XXIII ‘Peace and Obedience.” And so my teaching career began.
CC: Were you solemnly professed at that time?
MP: Yes, solemnly professed. In 1961 I did my solemn profession. So I started teaching, but in spite of my deep suffering I did it with all my heart, with all my will and God rewarded me in a wonderful way, in a way that human beings cannot understand. It was all a preparation for what God was asking me to do, my exodus to St. Lucia. After seven years and a half of teaching, I was asked like Abraham to leave my country, my community, my family and go to a foreign land to establish a monastic community.
CC: So when did you leave for St. Lucia?
MP: I left Rome 22nd November 1975.for St. Lucia, but visited St. Cecile Abbey in Solesmnes and Stanbrook Abbey in England and arrived in St. Lucia 2nd December 1975.
CC: How and where did you begin the Monastic Community?
MP: The humble beginnings of the monastery was in a small house at Mayfield, offered to us by Mr and Mrs Dennis Devaux, where we stayed for one year before moving to Bishop’s House at Marchand.
As the community settled at mayfield they were supported by clergy, religious and laity formall over the archdiocese. Some brought goods and material assistance. Soon the community came to be known as the ‘Nuns of Prayer.’
Since Mayfield was a small house, Archbishop Patrick Webster OSB, offered the community to exchange residence with him. The nuns did move to Bishop’s House, Marchand. Archbishop Patrick Webster who was diagnosed with cancer never lived at Mayfield for any length of time. The community would spend six and a half years at Marchand in joyful expectation, looking, waiting for the day when God would show them their promsied land - a permanent residence.
To be continued
(Click here to see other photos)
Photo Gallery
First Communion
Golden Jubilee Celebrations
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| Procession from the wharf to the parish church |
1955 was always going to be a year to be remembered. It was the year that the Soufriere’s landscape would be changed forever, what with the Great Fire of Soufriere, which all inhabitants of my generation will always remember. That fateful night 9th of June 1955, the feast of Corpus Christi the fire broke out at about 7:00pm. The newly rebuilt church was affected by the fire.
First Communion Celebrations were normally held during the months of June to September but in 1955 divine providence dictated otherwise.
For reasons unknown in 1955 the First Communion Ceremony was advanced to 10th February 1955. Rev. Charles Garchet was the Parish Priest of Soufriere.
He was to be Parish Priest from 1950 to 1957.
On the Thursday Morning of February 10th 1955 at about 6:30am some 450 children made their way in procession from the convent yard to the newly built church to receive their first Holy Communion and the joy and anticipation on their innocent faces were beyond words.
Fifty years later on the morning of 13th February 2005 the Town of Soufriere was again buzzing with excitement as a group of these said communicants (about 90) gathered for the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of their First Communion.
The overcast gloomy morning quickly rose and gave way to a bright sunny condition as the Jubilelarians waited on the waterfront for the arrival of the Chief Celebrant the Hon. Dr. Msgr. Patrick Anthony coming from Castries by Speedboat. The atmosphere was one of uncontrollable excitement among the 100s of bystanders, who had gathered for a first hand view of the proceedings.
The vessel docked at 9:55am and the procession was on its way.
The procession of The Celebrant, Deacon, Altar Servers and the Golden Jubilee Communicants proceeded from the Soufriere waterfront around the Soufriere Square and into the Church for the celebration of a Solemn High Mass.
The Jubilelarians participated fully in the Service and this was enhanced by a dynamic and moving Homily by P.A.B.A. (the Chief Celebrant) that brought tears of joy to the eyes of many present at the service.
And the icing on the cake!
After the Service a banquet was hosted at La Haut Plantation for the Jubilelarians and their guests.
(Click here to see other photos)
Photo Gallery
Role of the Elderly in the Community
by Mary F. Popo 
On Sunday 13th March, the Marian Home for the Elderly held its annual “Poverty Meal” at the Benedictine Monastery, Mount of Prayer, Coubaril. As happens each year, hundreds of supporters turned up for their ‘bowl of soup and glass of water’ dutifully served by Archbishop Kelvin Felix and Sr. Amadeus Nichols O. Carm. for the contribution of EC50.00. Of course, many were aware that besides the soup they might win some wonderful door prizes. Among the special guests were the Governor General, Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy and Lady James.
The Master of Ceremonies for the occasion was Mr. Clem Bobb who kept everyone joyful with his sharp wit and humorous inserts. Musical interlude was provided by the Magic Circle Express as they have done each year. There was additional entertainment by the Corpus Christi Girls Vocational School, the Helen Folk Dancers , the Bocage Secondary School, and presentations to Ms. Gladys Hazelwood, Mrs.Mary Leonce and Ms. Sandy Etienne. One of the highlights of the day was the feature address by Mrs. Mary Popo on “The Role of the Elderly in the Community”. The following are extracts from the address :
Introduction
Ladies and Gentlemen! Let me first of all express my delight in making this very important presentation on the “role of the elderly in our community”. Why is this issue important to me? Firstly, it is a preoccupation which cuts across cultures and societies, though within different cultural systems. Secondly, the issue is strongly linked to one of the Millennium Development goals, which is to ‘eradicate extreme poverty and hunger’. The latter is a compelling one for me and indeed for all of us as we strive to live out our Christian faith in the modern world and more specifically in Saint Lucia.
The situation of the ‘poor’ was a major concern in the public ministry of Jesus and also the early Christian community. The concept and symbolic practice of a ‘poverty meal’ reminds us therefore that we have both an individual and collective moral imperative to minister to the needs of especially the poor in our community.
With respect to poverty in our sub-region, the OECS Human Development Report (2002), indicates that the levels of “resource poverty” (that is access to housing, health, education, etc) are significantly high. The same report also indicates that there are high and perhaps rising levels of inequalities in health status-where the poor are normally less healthy than the non-poor; and where the hospitalization rates among the poor are disproportionately high. We need therefore to engage each other in the eradication of poverty-both at the individual and structural level.
I wish therefore to congratulate the organizers of this event, and wish them well in achieving their objectives toward addressing some of the needs of the elderly within our caring institutions for the aged.
The Elderly The notion of the elderly invariably brings into focus the process of ageing in our society. A French composer once said that “ ageing seems to be the only available way to live a long time” Another anonymous writer asserted that “ everyone faces at all times two fateful possibilities: one is to grow older, the other not”. The society perceives ageing as a chronological process whereby one is considered to be no longer useful in the work place at the age of 60-65 years. Even if a person is capable and fit to be involved in productive activities in the workplace, legislative frameworks in both the public and private spheres of work make it compulsory to retire. Ageing brings with it many changes and is indeed one of the milestones of our lives as we journey from childhood to adulthood and subsequently, and if we are so blessed with the gift of longevity, unto old age.
To a large extent, in both traditional and modern societies, ageism seems to engender prejudices against older people. It implies that as soon as people get old they ostensibly develop specific norms related to “being old” and they are perceived as:
(a)of little value (b)a burden on society (c)unable to look after themselves (d)slow to accept change (e)slow, deaf or stupid and (f)child-like or sweet.
Notwithstanding these negative implications by the society, it is believed however that healthy ageing is achievable. Many problems can be alleviated or reversed, for example:
(1) ill health (ii) reduced body function (iii) uncertain social status due to retirement and disabilities (iv) fall in income, poverty (v)lower living standards (vi)bereavement and loneliness (vii)unhappiness, grief, and depression (viii) increased risk of accident (ix) greater vulnerability to abuse and security violations (robberies)(x) dependency (xi) loss of dignity (Kovenschevensky V, 1961) .
It is important to note however that if these problems are not addressed, there will be socio-economic consequences for small developing states like Saint Lucia. Small Island States within our region are tremendously resource constrained and so we need therefore to formulate policies and strategies to tackle preventable diseases which may affect the elderly.
Demographic Trends, Issues, and Challenges
The United Nations Human Development Report of 2004, suggests that there are demographic changes occurring and that the population age of sixty five (65) and above in the OECS region, is projected to increase to an average of 6.2 per cent in 2015. The urban population is also expected to increase by 7-10 per cent by 2015. These projected demographic changes have implications for the quality of life for the elderly in the next decade and what exactly will be their role in a world in which exogenous forces significantly dictate the development agendas of small developing states like Saint Lucia.
To a large extent, the resource allocation for social services especially for the poor and disadvantage in the sub region has been nominal. Social investment including water, sanitation, health and education, as a percentage of total expenditure in the OECS region appears low (OECS Human Development Report 2002). The implications of the inadequate capitalization of the social sector has immediate consequences for the health status of the elderly citizens of our country. In addition, the current transition of the economies of the region marked by increasing debts, will make it even more difficult for governments to satisfactorily achieve the objectives of their social agendas.
Some of the other issues and challenges with implications for the elderly population in the region are particularly underscored in the caring services provided for the elderly. These are:
• The over emphasis and imaging of mostly the youth on the media
• In the medical field, the elderly are not priorized as a major area of medicine
• Carers of the elderly have a low status professionally • The capacity of carers for the elderly is limited
• Political agendas give low priority to the needs of the elderly population
• The changing patterns in family structures provide less support to the elderly especially where the women are in full time productive work
• Enforced retirement may sometimes engender feelings of uselessness
• Some of the elderly do not have pensions or other safety nets
• Inadequate policy, legal, and institutional frameworks
• The harmonization of social policies given the impending CSME in which families may have to migrate to other countries in the region.
The Role of the Elderly
What therefore is the role of the elderly in light of the issues and challenges raised?
Ageing is part of the continuum of life. It is therefore necessary for us to prepare ourselves to age well. It is not simply a matter of “how old one grows, but how one grows old”. The elderly continue to play a very important role in the social, political, economic, and spiritual life of our society, and we must therefore find ways and means to bring that level of consciousness to every person.
Let us examine some of these roles in more detail:
Social Roles
The elderly preserves and promote the culture of our society. Our cultural traditions are what makes us unique as a people. Thank God for cultural icons like Sessene Descartes, the late Florita Marquis and many others who live within the length and breadth of St. Lucia.
The elderly helps to keep the family structure in tact. They take care of the younger ones while parents are at work or having a good time. Many grandmothers, fathers, aunts, uncles create the required familial bonds through their unconditional love and care.
Many of the stronger and able elderly persons are the ones who take care of the sick and less able.
It is our older folk who are endowed with the knowledge and skills to bring about healing and relief to us through the use of local medicines and natural therapies.
Many provide counseling services to the youth at no cost.
Some are involved in sports and in the teaching of martial arts to help engender a sense of personal discipline.
This is a fast and changing world with rapid technological changes where the greatest innovations of today are out tomorrow. Lifelong learning must therefore be embraced by the elderly and indeed all of us.
Political Role
Traditionally, the elderly are marginalized in terms of political debates. However, we have seen over the years that they become extremely important to politicians during elections. Growing-up in the village of Anse La Raye, I recall the efforts of politicians to ensure that every elderly person had the opportunity to cast his or her vote. That might have probably been the only time in five years when they would have had a ride in a motor vehicle.
My research leads me to understand that there is no specific legislation governing the rights of the elderly in St. Lucia. I was happy to learn however that a draft legislation is currently in circulation for review. The elderly must therefore seize this opportunity so that they can influence the policies regarding health care, insurance, age discrimination, social services, financial exploitation of the elderly by persons placed in a position of trust etc.
Economic Role
The elderly make a valuable contribution towards the economic life of this country. Whereas there are a number of elderly persons in our society who are poor, there are also many persons who have made sacrifices to make provision for their old age. There is a vast amount of personal funds on savings accounts and fixed deposits held by banks and other financial institutions that are owned by the elderly. These funds are then used to un-lend to young and middle aged persons for mortgages, car loans, education, and business. This shows that in fact the elderly are enablers of economic activity in our society.
A number of elderly persons are involved in agriculture and are playing a vital role in food provision.
Many of the elderly also serve as board members of corporate entities. Some of these entities include services in banking and finance, housing, insurance, and trade.
Spiritual Role
The presence of the elderly in our midst may help us to accept graciously the ageing process. They may also teach us how to accept and transcend human suffering. There should be renewed appreciation for the wisdom of older persons. The elderly should also recognize their own ability to bear witness to some of our human values such as: patience, endurance, love, perseverance, peace, joy, and respect for the dignity of human life.
In conclusion, elderly people form an important human, social, economic and spiritual resource within the society. Therefore, the society owes it to itself, to recognize the past and present active roles and contributions the elderly have played and continue to play. Longer lives should not be equated with diminished enjoyment of life. The state, local community and the family should aim to promote the integration of the elderly into all spheres of life, in order to wipe out social exclusion. Adequate legislation and social systems need to be put in place in order to protect the vulnerable groups among the elderly. Appropriate education through the media, schools, churches, voluntary organizations etc., need to be undertaken to increase family and public sensitivity to the issues that are relevant to the elderly and, in particular, to enhance positive perceptions of the role of elderly.
A Eucharistic Year
Grace
by the Bezata Community
Where sin abounds grace abounds even more.
See what love the Father has for us that He should lavish us with such grace! A year of the Eucharist! What other grace can mitigate for the sins that abound in our families, our churches, our nation. Our nation groans under the weight of our covetousness, lust, anger, slothfulness, our pride, our envy, our drunkenness and greed. While some face these challenging times with a sense of hopelessness and despair, this year offers us grace to look towards a glorious future of hope for our nation and its people. Our hope is anchored in the two great pillars of our faith, Mary and the Eucharist.
Our Holy Father has steered the Church between these pillars where hope lies for these troubling times of uncertainty, catastrophe, violence and crime.
Creation groans, beckoning God’s children to pray unceasingly. This too is the cry of our Mother- Pray! Pray! Pray!
This year is a tremendous opportunity to adore and beseech Christ in the Eucharist for a breakthrough for that future prophesied by the Holy Father, in his visit of 1986. Our adoration, supplication and intercession will open the flood gates of mercy and vanquish the forces of darkness at work in our land. More things are wrought through prayer than we can ever dream of.
The Bezata Community joins with the various parishes and religious communities which host Eucharistic adoration during this year. Each month for the year of the Eucharist, A 40-Holy Hour of Adoration will be observed at the Community, to watch and pray for a new dawn for our nation and indeed the world. We invite anyone who desires to pray and keep watch with us. The first 40 hour devotion was conducted from Thursday March 3 –March 5.
It began at 10:30 with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Rev. Fr. Cecile Goodman, the celebrant. Following this the Blessed Sacrament was exposed on the special Youth 2000 altar under a large tent on the grounds of Bezata. The special focus of prayer was for repentance and conversion of hearts in this nation. We observed the Gethsemane hour from 11:00pm to 3:00am recalling the passion of Christ, watching and praying in the garden, less we fall into temptation. We were encouraged by the priestly presence of Fr. Goodman who spent the night watch with us. By 3:30pm the Blessed Sacrament was taken to the Divine Mercy Prayer Room and the night watchers who had to work later that morning all crashed wherever they could find space.
Adoration resumed from 8:00am on Friday to 9:00 pm on Saturday with the Friday night vigil again taking place outdoors under the tent. Not even the cold night air could dampen the spirit and resolce of those who came determined to pray out the darkness. One could experience the prayers rising like the incense to the Father and the graces wafting down on the city below. But these were not the only prayers of that night. We were in communion with the prayers of the adorers in the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at the Cathedral Presbytery, the Friday night vigil at the Jacmel Church, and all others who were watchmen of the night.
Indeed the Church is at prayer. This united prayer will change the course of our nation.
Let us pray unceasingly
Bezata Community
Monthly 40 hour Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for the Year of the Eucharist
March:
Prayer Focus for Conversion and Repentance
Thursday 3rd March:
Gethsemane Hour
11:00pm- 3:00am Friday (4 hours)
Friday 4th March:
Adoration 8:00 am-8:00pm
Saturday 5th March (36 hours)
April:
Prayer Focus for Civic and Religious leaders
Thursday 1st April – 3rd April
May:
Prayer Focus for the Church
Thursday 12 May-14th May
June:
Prayer Focus for the Men of the Nation
Thursday 2nd June – 4th June
July:
Prayer Focus for Family Life
Thursday 1st July – 3rd July
August:
Prayer Focus for the Youth
Thursday 4th – 6th August
September:
Prayer Focus for the Women of the nation
Thursday 1st September – 3rd September
October:
Prayer Focus in Thanksgiving for the Year of the Eucharist.
Thursday 6th – 8th October
Location: Bezata Community is located behind the Ferrands Dairy. Make a right turn from the Dairy and up to the second house, the former residence of the late Bishop Guilly and the late Camille Devaux.
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