The following is an excerpt taken from the presentation entitled ‘The cries of hope of the Haitian people do not stop drawing attention’ delivered by Fr Edjoe Desmarais, priest of the Diocese of Hinche in Haiti.
Fr Desmarais’ remarks were meant to bring a prophetic word that would shed light on the situation on the ground in Haiti from a pastor’s viewpoint. The presentation was delivered in the context of the 23rd Conference on Theology in the Caribbean Today (CTCT) held in Barbados from July 7-11.
The presentation was made on the final day of the Conference.
Fr Desmarais holds a degree in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome and is the current director of his diocese’s house of formation Propaedeutic Saint Paul of Pandiassous, Hinche. He is also the diocesan head of family ministry.
The following is an excerpt of the text which was translated with the assistance of Translate AI (Apple technology).
The Glory of God is [man] fully alive. St Irenaeus of Lyon tells us God created us to be alive, that is to say—He created us Haitian man and woman standing in a face-to-face relationship, depending on Him as our creator. The bond that unites us with God is a vital bond. God is in Himself the main cause and the guarantor of the principle of our vitality. The fact that He is life in Himself means the one He made to His likeness is naturally life in itself. God created man for us to always be alive as being hope. This is why the Haitian people, despite the socio-economic and political crisis that devastates our families, causing all kinds of suffering: emotional suffering, psychological suffering, moral suffering, mental suffering, and physical sufferings, never cease to believe in a better tomorrow.
A contextualisation of the situation in which the Haitian people live their faith, exercise their baptismal mission
Since 2017, Haiti has been experiencing moments of unrest and recurring socio-political and economic crises. This situation has had a serious impact on the lives of the entire Haitian population, at all levels.
The territory of Port-au-Prince is 85 per cent controlled by armed groups. No sector of national life is spared from this multifaceted security and humanitarian crisis.
More than 50 parishes are closed, including 35 in Port-au-Prince and 15 on the Plateau Central, in the diocese of Hinche. Some school, university and health facilities are looted, burned or closed.
Entire families have disappeared, and others take refuge in neighbouring parishes and cities or in remote environments. Parish priests are forced to leave their parishes. The population is traumatised.
It is in this difficult context that we announce the Gospel in Haiti. As pastors, we seek, by all means, to accompany the victims by showing them our closeness. Among other manifestations of prayers and solidarity, the Conference (of bishops) sends messages, notes and exhortations calling for historic compromises for a way out of the crisis, but the results are still slow to manifest themselves.
In Psalm 45:2-3 we read, “God is for us a refuge and a support. A help that never fails in distress.” That is why we are fearless when the earth is shaken, and the mountains fall into the seas.
The Haitian people, the displaced families…do not stop believing that God is the only help. They intensify their moments of prayer; they will celebrate their faith in the neighbouring parishes with fervour and conviction. They are all enthusiastic about participating in the various liturgical celebrations.
In the temporary shelters, they gather in small prayer groups to implore the help of God that they think is always present with them. The ardour of their faith in God is a source of joy, trust, and conversion.
This difficult situation allows us to discover the greatness of faith in God and how believing in God is the greatest good that can enrich the life of man and life in community.
—CTCT Secretariat Interpretation services provided by Arnold Mcletchie