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Sacred Heart School students shared discussions with two priests from Haiti recently. Fathers Edwige Carre and Isaac Nazaire moved around the school throughout the morning discussing life in Haiti and especially comparing the Catholic schools in Haiti and the United States. The special day was facilitated by Debbie Reith, who is the chair of Sacred Heart’s Haiti Committee with the school’s Sister Parish in Kenscoff, Haiti, named St. Nicolas. The day started with an all-school Mass with the two priests and Sacred Heart Pastor Father Phil DeVolder, co-celebrating the Mass. Students learned how blessed they are compared to the students in Haiti. They were told how some students walk up to three hours one way to school. They learned that there are no lights or electricity in the schools, and that some classrooms have up to 70 students with only one teacher. The students in Haiti wear uniforms to school because that is all they may have to wear. Parents do not have washing machines, so they have to wash their uniforms by hand. There are about 12 million people in Haiti and only 15 percent have a job. The few who are fortunate enough to find a job may only earn $2 per day. After the morning celebration, the priests were presented a large welcome banner and gifts. A special luncheon was then held in their honor.
