With the blessing of Bishop Agafangel, Bishop Ambrose flew from Fili, Greece, to join me in Haiti this month.  Both his fluency in French and his long mission experience in Africa eminently qualified him for the task — which both of us found enjoyable and profoundly rewarding.  The angels certainly prepared the trip: only these very days were possible for both of us to be there, without another opening until fall.  Even the airlines co-operated, with bargain fares (which ended the day of my return).

Within a few hours of Vladyka's arrival, we were at St. Dorothy's for vespers, then in the morning, the feast of SS Timothy & Maura (3/16 May) for matins and liturgy and the ordination of Fr. Amboise to the priesthood.  Even though on a weekday, the congregation was quite substantial.  Regrettably, financial constraints precluded a festal meal afterward for everyone.

After a night's rest, we (Vladyka, Fr. Amboise, Matushka Nicole and I) set out for St. Augustine's, arriving in time for a little rest before vigil (Sunday of the Paralytic) — Fr. Amboise's first as a priest, with Vladyka as his mentor.  Sunday morning the three of us concelebrated, and Vladyka ordained two readers, Luc and Diego, for service at St. Augustine's.  At the conclusion of liturgy, the children of St. Augustine's School presented Bishop Ambrose with a fine folk art painting (so large it was necessary to dismount and roll it for his return travel).

The return trip to Port-au-Prince that afternoon was as uneventful as the trip down (sure like them like that!), early enough to allow Vladyka a good night's rest before his departure Monday for Greece.

Tuesday evening and Wednesday, Mid-Pentecost and the feast of St. John the Evangelist, Fr. Amboise served his first complete vigil and liturgy as a priest.  Not a great deal of mentoring was needed; he had done his homework well!

With joy-filled heart I returned home Thursday, knowing that once again the faithful of Haiti have in their midst a dedicated and faithful priest.  Next trip, end of June, for St. Augustine's parish feast.

See the Donations page for some hopeful developments in that department.