DELRAY BEACH | As the 15th Haitian Charismatic Renewal Convention for the Diocese of Palm Beach was getting started Sept. 20, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito came to help lead the rosary and ask the Virgin Mary to bless and protect the more than 1,000 Spirit-filled Catholics expected for the weekend event.
The gymnasium of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish and School in Delray Beach was rocking with loud Catholic music in Creole as the bishop arrived. The annual convention was headed by Father Yves Geffrard, director of the diocesan Haitian Apostolate and administrator of the Notre Dame Mission in Fort Pierce, along with his team of volunteers.
“You have planned this weekend a very, very wonderful experience,” Bishop Barbarito told those in attendance, “and as I come here, I want to thank you for your presence and for the spirit that you bring, not only for this weekend but to our diocese in so many different parishes in so many different ways.”
Haitian Catholics from throughout the diocese gathered at the convention, including people from Miami, Palm Bay and other states, including Georgia, New York and New Jersey. From 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 to 3 p.m. Sept. 22, they were to enjoy music, inspiring speakers, fervent prayer, healing and rosary services, and Masses.
The speakers included Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune of Charleston, South Carolina, celebrating Sunday’s closing Mass; Father Quesnel Delvard, pastor of St. Ann in West Palm Beach; Father Frantzy Petit-Homme of Haiti; Msgr. Julien Almonacy, chancellor of the Diocese of Anse-à-Veau and Miragoâne in Haiti; and Father Claudy Duclervil, director of Radio Télé Soleil in Port-au-Prince.
“They will come to pray and ask God to help us in our journey. Especially the situation in Haiti is really complicated, and we need to ask God to help us in that situation,” said Father Geffrard, who added that the main focus of the speakers would be to teach about the gift and mystery of the Eucharist, similar to the recent National Eucharistic Congress held in Indiana.
“They will talk about Jesus giving us his body and blood that we may live,” he said. “But many don’t believe that. We want to encourage people that Jesus is real in the Eucharist. It’s not a symbol, like our separated brothers and sisters say, but it’s real. That’s one of the main achievements that we want from this convention.”
Father Geffrard thanked Bishop Barbarito, the speakers and organizing committee, volunteers and sponsors Best Insurance USA and SantePlus Medical Center for their steadfast support. “For their support I thank them and encourage them to continue to help us spread the Good News of Jesus Christ,” he said.
Bringing to mind recent hurtful comments by political candidates about Haitians, Pauline Jean Simon, the convention’s general supervisor, said her wish was for the event to uplift her fellow Catholics.
“You know from the news everything that’s happening, how they disparage the Haitian community, how they target the Haitian community. We know, with the help of God, with prayers, that we can comfort them because at this moment a lot of people feel scared, a lot of people feel down. But we want to let them know that God will never let them down,” she said, adding, “We have to be united in our faith and keep praying so that not only will Haiti but our community can be strengthened during this time.”
For information about the diocese’s outreach to Haitians, contact Our Lady of Perpetual Help Mission (http://www.perpetualhelpmission.org; email perpetualhelp@att.net), Notre Dame Catholic Mission in Fort Pierce (https://notredamecc.com; notredamecatholicmission@hotmail.com), Our Lady of Faith Haitian Center of St. Ann Parish in West Palm Beach (call 561-223-2762) and St. Philip Benizi Parish in Belle Glade (https://stphilipbenizi.com; stphilipbenizicc21@gmail.com).
