EM I SSA R Y FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + ACTIVITY REPORT + APRIL 2015

FRANCISCAN MISSION OUTREACH + PO BOX 1086 + SECAUCUS, NJ 07096-1086 + TEL: 718-618-4511 francsicanmissionoutreach@gmail.com + www.facebook.com/franciscanmissionoutreach

HAITI: January 2-10, 2015: Fr. Herald, Br. Pierre Toussaint, Br. Elijah

(who was also joined by his mother and sister), Br. Rufino, Sr. Clare and Sr. Miriam

participated in the Friar Suppliers’ annual January mission trip to Haiti. This was Fr.

Herald’s fourth visit to Haiti, and it was a significant occasion for the nation as well,

as it marked the five year anniversary of the massive earthquake in 2010 that

killed so many and wrought horrific destruction. As in years past, this years trip

had four major components: the construction of 58 homes, a medical clinic that

attended 2000 patients (1400 adults and 600 children), food distribution to 650

families, and evangelization. A new dimension to the evangelization component

was an Evangelization Day that followed Mass on Sunday, January 4th. It included

praise and worship music, prayer, the enactment of parables, short reflections,

and Eucharistic Adoration and healing. Franciscan Mission Outreach is helping with

the reconstruction of one of the residences of the Little Brothers of St. Therese

(the religious order of brothers who are our Haitian collaborators and hosts) that

was damaged in the earthquake.

HONDURAS: February and March 2015: Fr. Herald made two trips

to Honduras in the first months of 2015. In January, with the assistance of Mission-

ers of Christ, he directed a weekend retreat for the Eucharistic Adoration group at

the local campus of the Catholic University of Honduras. The following weekend

they made a pastoral visit to the island of Utila, and - during the week in between -

celebrated the national feast of Our Lady of Suyapa, and visited the prison, the

home for the elderly and a residence for troubled adolescents. Fr. Herald also con-

ducted a Lenten parish retreat and a few evenings of recollection. After travelling

and preaching for three weeks in the US (in Florida, Georgia, Maryland and the

Bronx), Fr. Herald returned to Honduras for the last two weeks of Lent to assist

with nightly penance services and coordinate the third annual Holy Week outreach

to tourists called “Jesús en la Playa / Jesus at the Beach.” This event, which includ-

ed the participation of youth from La Ceiba, has become very popular and received

an extremely positive response. It was covered by the local Catholic radio station

and the national Catholic television network.

Our missionary efforts depend on your spiritual and financial support. Please pray for us and know you are remembered in our prayers. Tax-deductible donations to support the life, ministries and missionary outreach of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal can be made out to

“Franciscan Mission Outreach” and sent to: Franciscan Mission Outreach PO Box 1086 Secaucus, NJ 07096-1086

“Christ is risen from the dead, Trampling down death by death, And upon those in the tombs, bestowing life.” Paschal Troparion The Resurrection, by Chinese artist He Qi.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

May 5 - June 1: La Ceiba, Honduras

May 15: Patronal Feast of San Isidro

May 21: Festival del Espíritu

May 25-29: Week of Evangelization,

Catholic University

May 30-31: Pan de Vida Retreat

June 8 - 25: African Mission Trip

June 9-16: Diocese of Ho, Ghana

Bread of Life Eucharistic Youth Retreat

June 17-24: Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon

Bread of Life Eucharistic Youth Retreat

CAMEROON HEART SURGERY UPDATE: In February of this

year, five of the seven patients cosponsored by Franciscan Mission Out-

reach for heart surgery at the Cardiac Centre, St. Elizabeth Hospital,

Shisong, Cameroon, were operated. They include Janet Ngamfon (upper

left) and Karl Adrian (lower left), both pictured in recovery, as well as Ger-

ald Amal (top right) and Tatiana Njiki (right, second from top).

Tatiana Touoyem (right, third from top) was also operated, and the sur-

gery went well, though very sadly she later suddenly experienced respira-

tory and cardiac failure, from which she was unable to be resuscitated.

Though her case involved some risk, the consulting doctors concurred

with her decision to go ahead with surgery, and she had the presence and

support of her family. Unfortunately, despite the best available care, trag-

edies like this cannot always be averted. Fr. Herald offered Mass for

Tatiana’s repose, and our deepest sympathy goes out to her family.

Of the remaining two patients, Camila Fon’s (right, fourth from top) con-

dition was reassessed and was able to be treated by a procedure done in

the catheterization lab. Denise Mariotte’s (bottom right) case was post-

poned for further consultation with specialists who are planning to visit in

the near future. Any funds remaining from our Christmas campaign will

be redirected to assist other waiting patients who do not have the finan-

cial resources to pay for their needed surgery.

Franciscan Mission Outreach, together with Dr. Ellen Dailor and MiDo,

continue to look for ways to help Cameroonian patients in need get the

heart surgery they require at the Cardiac Centre. Donations for that pur-

pose can be indicated as such and sent to FMO.