Sister Donna Returns

+ Missionary Sisters +

Doing
So Much,

For
So Many,

With
So Little

Some give by going to the Missions,

Some go by giving to the Missions,

Without both, there are no Missions

August 8, 1999
Dear Father Kennedy,
Thank you and thank you to all your parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes for your kind hospitality and generous spirit during my visit with you.
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The people of Myron (Haiti) have been given much hope because of the generosity of your parishioners. Please know they pray for you each day.
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It was a joy for me to visit all of you again. I pray for God’s blessings on all the families of your parish and for all your activities.
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In Jesus,
Sr Donna Breslin
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Sister Donna Breslin, SBS of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters Mission in Ferrier, Haiti visited with us July 24th/25th. She spoke at all Masses about Catholic Missions and the work being done by the Church, the Sisters and the community in Haiti. She also met with the Youth, Young Adults and other groups in the parish.

If you desire to contribute to the support of the Mission, please make out your check to the "Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament" and place it in the regular offertory collection

April 15, 1999 - -
Sister Donna sent the following update from Ferrier, Haiti:

Thank you so much for the generous donation Our Lady of Lourdes Parish sent on behalf of the Ferrier Mission ($1200). We have put your donation toward our ministry in Myron. It will help us to continue our food program for the elderly and those who are ill in the Myron area. Through your parish's generosity, we have also been able to help send people to the clinic and hospital for needed medical care. We are all very grateful for all your generosity and effort on behalf of the Myron Community.

Thank you for inviting me back to Our Lady of Lourdes during this coming summer. I hope to see you all in July or August.

May God continue to bless your parish. And your parish ministries.

Sincerely,
Sr Donna

November 15, 1998 - -
Sister Donna & Sr Pat sent the following update from Ferrier, Haiti:

"In July, the generosity of the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes in Birmingham, Alabama enabled us to begin a ministry to the elderly in Myron (Haiti). 41 elderly and sick receive a noon meal and members of the Parish Saint Vincent DePaul Group assist with the program. Every day we pray for you and at this time of Christmas may the Light among us guide you and be your PEACE, your LOVE and your JOY."

With love, prayer and gratitude,
Sr Pat & Sr Donna

October 1, 1998 - -
Sister Donna has now returned to the Mission in Ferrier, Haiti and sends her special thanks for OLL’s donation of $1500 to their mission.

"I want to thank-you for the generous donation your parish sent on behalf of the ministries here. Your kindness will go a long way in helping us to respond to the needs of the people in the Ferrier area. Know that you are in our prayers.

God bless you"
~ Sr. Donna ~

In 1997, during the Mission Cooperative Appeal, Sr. Donna Breslin, Blessed Sacrament Sister, from Haiti was our guest speaker. After her visit, she returned to Haiti to continue the work of the sisters. This year sister returned and spoke at all Masses and to our Youth Group, Young Adults, and other Parish Life Groups.

Sister told us how the poverty in Haiti is intense and heartrending. The countryside is full of small houses of a type of adobe and wood either with a thatched roof or a tin one, there is also the occasional house of concrete blocks. It is not unusual to see a child dressed literally rags and cases of serious malnutrition are not uncommon.

When Sister first arrived in Haiti, she wondered how it was that when measles stuck their town, 55 children died from the illness. In America, measles is a very common childhood illness, and very few of our children die. She learned that in Haiti, malnutrition is so common, that when a child did get measles, their bodies were not strong enough to ward off this common disease. She and her fellow sisters began a feeding program, to help with the problem of malnutrition. The feeding program administered by the Sisters and run by the people, has made a difference, and people have managed to grow some of their own food in small subsistence gardens. This year, however, a drought has limited food production even in these peoples small gardens.

In Haiti, destitution and poverty are widespread problems. Yet for all their myriad sufferings, the people make the most of what they have. Sister has helped to extend their mission service in Haiti to Bido, as well as their original communities of Ferrier and Mayak. Sr Donna is young and has a lot of energy. She and the other sisters have accomplished so much in Haiti, with so little assistance.

Not too long ago, they finally managed to obtain a telephone, and you'd have thought they were back in the 18th century with a 'new' invention. Just one of the things we take for granted.

Sister reminded us that we are all called by Pope John Paul II to be missionaries ourselves and to help the missions. She told us there are three ways in which we can help her people.
1. Prayer - the prayers of all of us help the nuns and the Haitian people
2. Adoration - spend time before the Holy Eucharist
3. Sacrifice - help in ways that you are able.
The Sister's sacrifices are stretched to the limits. They do so much for so many with so little. Christ is calling us to be faithful stewards in responding to the needs of missionaries who are working in the foreign missions. Please be generous.