I feel that I say that each month.  There is so much new information to read about the saints and our catholic faith.  It is often overwhelming and a bit challenging to keep up.  There are notable feasts during the month of September to help us achieve an intimate relationship with our Lord, Jesus Christ; they are as follows:

• St. Gregory the Great
• St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), foundress of the Missionaries of Charity order
• St. Peter Claver
• St. John Chrysostom
• St. Matthew, the apostle
• St. Pio of Pietrelcina who received the signs of the stigmata
• St. Vincent de Paul
• The Archangels–St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael

Wow!  However, let us not forget the most important events of the month of September, on which dates you should make every effort possible to go to mass:

• The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8
• The Most Holy Name of Mary on September 12
• The Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14
• Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15

Remember to participate in the First Friday adoration.  Try not to skip this one.  Enjoy your month of September.  

At a point in one’s life, he must stop to wonder why so many people allowed themselves to suffer and to be persecuted for their catholic faith.  Even the deepest atheist and the lukewarm catholic must think about these special people from time to time. They paved the way for you and me, though their lives, to find strength to continue the journey and to discover that joy they experienced when they encountered our savior, Jesus Christ.  We are all in search of that joy, the contentment and the complete freedom.

As we near completion of the month of August and look forward to September, we have met some extraordinary people in the history of the catholic faith.  Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), a converted catholic, St. Maximilian Kolbe, a normal priest whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to, and St. Bartholomew, one of the Apostles, all three were brutally martyred for the faith.  St. Bartholomew was skinned to death.  These people were not crazy; they just did not deny Jesus Christ as their savior.  The month of August is also full of other superb saints:  St. Liguori, St. John Vianney, St. Cajetan, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Rose of Lima, St. Monica, St. Augustine.

We most importantly celebrated the Transfiguration of our Lord, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary as well as the Passion of St. John the Baptist. I hope you can feel the excitement in the air as you are learning from the experiences of ordinary people but who achieved greatness in the church, unknowingly to themselves.

We are not different from them but each of us is chosen to be saint in our own circumstances.  When Mary said at the wedding of Cana “do as HE said”, it was not only to the servants of that day.  This is very real today; it is a message addressed to us.  If we do as HE said, we will find the map of our lives (the route) that God chose for us to conclude the journey toward HIM successfully. So read about the saints’ lives to improve your relationship with the Lord.

We welcome the new chaplain of the Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia, Rev. Père Eugène R. Almonor, OMI.  Please take a moment to send him a note to welcome him.  We wish him success within the community.  May God bless him.

You can leave a message at one of these phone #s: 267-333-9172; 267-338-5178 or send him a note at St William RC church addressed to him as follows:

Rev. Père Eugène R. Almonor, OMI, Chaplain

Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia

St. William RC Church

6200 Rising Sun Avenue

Philadelphia, PA  19111

On July 15, at a special mass, the Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia waved goodbye to Rev. Père Alfred Lauricien, OMI and welcomed Rev. Père Eugene R. Almonor, OMI.  The mass went well with a choir that sang extraordinarily well under the direction of Maestro Ralph Damas. 

The Pastor of St. William, Rev. Alfonso J. Concha, was in attendance as well as Mr. Matthew Davis, Director of the Office for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees.  The church was also packed as expected on that day.  Our community’s social group did a marvelous job decorating the church as well as the auditorium where a small reception followed the mass of installation of Père Eugène.  

Lots of days and hours were spent on this event to make it a success. We are proud of our social group and our choirs, for giving their times to handle this event in less than 30 days, especially that they carried out this project after long days at work and weekends.  Thank you, team.

Behind the scene though, the community was sad and apprehensive.  A feeling of apprehension is normal as of the unknown as we had no idea what to expect from the new chaplain, Père Eugene. 

Letting go of our beloved priest, Père Alfred, was not easy.  In previous weekends, the children of the church shared their thoughts about Père Alfred.  Children speak the truth and they did not hold back showing their love for a man whom we, adults, knew had to go, to move on to better and great things elsewhere.  

I am certain that there existed apprehension as well when Père Alfred arrived in Philadelphia in 2013 as the new chaplain of the Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia.  His predecessor, Père Gardy, had been the chaplain of the community for 8 years. 

Most people are uncomfortable with changes because of the unknown factor, the impenetrable dark space they face and the lack of strength to begin a relationship with another priest.  As missionaries, priests of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate know that they will be moved from place to place throughout their journey on this earth.  It is hard, though, for those who grew accustomed to their ways.  Separation was tough and we could not let him see too much of our sorrows. 

Père Alfred became in 2013 the chaplain of a divided community–North and West–as if they were not from the same country.  By the end of his term, with the help of the Holy Spirit, his leadership abilities shined.  The Haitian Catholic Community became accustomed to working together, as one unit, finally with a lesser notion of north and west. 

He merged the leadership of the two groups into one advisory council, one pastoral council and one finance committee.  Choirs of both locations join their voices as well for special masses; take my word when I say they sing beautifully together.  Please take a moment to review the directory of the Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia to truly understand Père Alfred’s desire to take this community to the next level.  

No CEO has ever been appreciated by all but we know that Père Alfred was much loved by the majority.  He is a young priest with a great future.  We will miss him tremendously but, as he asked often of us, please welcome the new chaplain and work with him.  

We will always hold Père Alfred in a special section of our hearts and we wish him great success as a priest in carrying out God’s mission.  Welcome Rev. Père Eugene R. Almonor, OMI, as the new Chaplain of the Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia!

Beatrice, Chair – Communications and Website Committee

Gwoup karitas kominote’a ap ankouraje tout fidèl pou patisipe nan yon donasyon materyèl pou yon lekòl an Ayiti. Se yon lekòl pou granmoun ki rele Sant Orphyse Layaye ki nan lokalite Layaye, Hinche. Nou kapab jwenn kaye, kreyon, plim, valiz si posib nan magazen tankou Walmart, Kmart, Target, Staples ak Market yo.

Karitas la vle pwofite tou ak chanjman sezon ke pral fèt trè byento, pou envite nou a patisipe nan yon koleksyon rad pou timoun tout laj jis rive 17 ans. Se pou’n kapab ede yon lokalite ki nan Nòdès ki rele Baja, kote pi fò timoun yo se toutouni, pye atè yo ye.  Chak dimanch ap pati dimanch pwochen pou rive dènye Dimanch mwa Out la, n’ap mete de panye yonn nan pòt akote’a, ak yon lòt pa dèyè legliz la pou nou kapab mete donasyon nou yo.

Mezanmi an nou mete men ansanm pou ede peyi nou. “ Chak fwa nou te fè byen pou yonn nan frè nou yo, se pou mwen nou fè’l ( Matye 25: 20). Mèsi e ke Bondye beni nou. Pou tout kontak donasyonn a pou Karitas rele nan 2 nimero sa yo 267-338-5178, 267-333-8172.

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Caritas encourages all to participate in a school supplies drive for an adult school in Haiti called the Orphyse Layaye Center located in Layaye, Hinche. Please bring in notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons, book bags, erasers.  These things can easily be purchased at stores such as Walmart, Kmart, Target, Staples and the supermarket at very reduced prices.

Caritas also wants to take advantage of the seasonal changes here to launch a clothing drive for children of all ages up to 17 years old.  Clothing collected will help children of Baja, a town in the northeast region of Haiti where most children go naked and barefoot for years.  Every Sunday of the month of August there will be two baskets at the entrance of the church to put in your donations. Remember to bring only gently used closed.  

Dear friends, let us join together our forces to help our country.  “Every time you have done good to one of your brothers, do it for me (Matthew 25:20). Thank you and God bless you.  For any questions about your donations, please contact us at: 267-338-5178, 267-333-8172.

After the excitement of Easter weeks, ascension and pentecost, we are all looking to a more quiet month of July. However, is there a month that is quiet in the catholic world? I would say no because discovering the lives of the saints coupled with exciting news about Jesus and our Lady will keep one pretty busy. When you read about the lives of the saints, your faith strengthens; you realize that they chose to follow the gospel to help them get closer to Jesus.

You should also aspire to become intimate with God through Jesus. And it is always good to ask His mother for assistance on your journey toward her son.  Here are some saints that we believe you should learn about as well as one important day of our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Christian calendar:

• July 1 – St. Junipero Serra;
• July 3 – St. Thomas the Apostle
• July 6 – St. Maria Goretti
• July 7, 8, 9 – Many martyrs 
• July 14 – St. Kateri Tekakwitha
• July 16 –  Our Lady of Mount Carmel
• July 17 – Saint Francis Solano
• July 22 – Saint Mary Magdalene

• July 23 – Saint Bridget of Sweden

• July 25 – Saint James the Apostle, brother of John the Evangelist

• June 26 – Saints Joachim and Anne
• July 29 – St. Martha
• July 30 – Saint Solanus Casey

Lean about the saints lives; you will be surprised to find our human like you they are.  Enjoy July.   Thank you.

Our teens along with some adults will be participating in the WHYY/PBS telethon on Saturday, June 23, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  All HS school students will receive volunteer hours for graduation.  Please call to support the Haitian Catholic Community of Philadelphia.

If you are looking to hire some teens this summer, please complete the contact form to access the list.  

Did you miss the three-night prayer last weekend (Thursday, June 14 t- Saturday, June 16)?  Well, it is really unfortunate.  The famous Rev. Father Jules Campion was scheduled to lead the prayers but his sister died suddenly; he was unable to be there and a replacement, Rev. Father Frantz Price, of Fermathe in Kenscoff, Haiti.  Wow! What a surprise it was to hear this man preach! 

The entire church was wowed by his words on the first day.  The three themes–prayer, conversion, and Penitence–were well defined, explained their significance to our times on earth, and how they will lead us to our creator.  It is extraordinary to find a replacement that good and well versed.  

Rev. Father Frantz Price can be reached as follows:  Pere Frantz Price, Paroisse St. Jacques, #57 Fermathe 55, Kenscoff, HAITI.  Phone # 0115094-427-3037.  He would love to receive some financial support to continue the work of the church of Fermathe.  Thank you for your presence among us Father Price.

If you want to be notified of similar future events, please complete the contact form and we will send you an email and text message. 

If you miss it on the calendar, a Haitian man, Pierre Toussaint, was made Venerable in 1996 and his feast day is May 28.  After the month of Mary, we may think that the month of June is one without much important event.  You are wrong.  The month of June is known for great family times with graduation ceremonies and the first days of summer.  However, June hides some important events in the Christian calendar:

• June 1 – St Justin named the first Philosopher died in 165;
• June 3 – Corpus Christi (Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)
• June 3 – St. Charles Lwanga of Uganda and his other 22 Ugandan martyrs
• June 4 – Blessed Angeline, founder the first community of Franciscan women other than Poor Clares
• June 8 – The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
• June 9 –  The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
• June 13 – St Anthony of Padua, first doctor of the church, known for his eloquent speeches.  He was canonized only 11 months after his debt.
• June 17 – Father’s day
• June 22 – St. Thomas More
• June 24 – The Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the finger of God
• June 27 – St. Cyril of Alexandria
• June 29 – St. Peter and St. Paul, apostles
• June 30 – the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church.

Saints exist to guide us on our journey toward God; they are people like you with issues and challenging moments.  The key point is that these individuals remained focus on their journey to God vs. being distracted from the path, like we often do. Thank you.

May is unbelievably an awesome month and commonly referred to as the month of Mary.  Many events are taking place during the month of May; go to Calendar for additional information.  May you feel that, no matter what happens today in your life, God is always with you and continues to walk with you.  You will be transformed if you trust HIM unconditionally.  How does one reach this point?  You must pray and develop good habits such as going to adoration once a week, saying the rosary more often and especially on the first Saturday of each month, learning the Divine Mercy Chaplet and saying it every day preferably at 3:00 p.m. and especially on the first Friday of the month, and by educating yourself about the faith.  They are to help you with your personal transformation during the Lenten season and especially to strengthen your faith.

• May 1 – Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, second feast of St. Joseph instituted in 1955;
• May 2 – St. Athanasius, considered the patron saint of Theologians
• May 3 – Feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles;
• May 4 – Requiem Mass at 7:00 p.m. for Reverend Fr. Joseph Simoly, senselessly gunned down in Haiti, December 20, 2017;
• May 5 – Attend Mass for the First Saturday devotion;
• May 6 – 6th Sunday of Easter; 
• May 10 – The Ascension of the Lord, a day of obligation; must attend mass;
• May 11 – Eucharistic Adoration;
• May 12 – Mother’s day Celebration;
• May 13 – 7th Sunday of Easter and First apparition of Mary in 1917 at Fatima, Portugal
• May 20 – Pentecost Sunday;
• May 27 – The Most Holy Trinity;
• May 31 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
• June 1 – First Friday Devotion

Note that this month offers information also about the lives of major saints in the catholic church; you will be surprised how their lives resemble yours.  Check the calendar to read more about them; they will help you to grow in the faith. 

Make an effort this year to keep Easter in your heart.  Say the Rosary every day; read the scripture; spend some quiet time with the Lord during Eucharistic adoration and pray for guidance from the Lord.  May God continue to bless you.