Sermon by Pere Rene Blot of St. Michel Church, Saltadere, Haiti

Sunday December 5, 2010 -- St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlottesville, Va.

 

Reverend Father,
My dear Friends and Benefactors,
People of God,
My dear Brothers and Sisters,

I am happy to welcome all of you here this morning/afternoon. This greeting comes from the bottom of my heart.

Here I am with you again in Our Father’s House, where we join together to ask God for his tenderness and his mercy at this difficult time on planet Earth. Everywhere, alas, there is war; there is famine; there are natural disasters and epidemics.

Oh behalf of the Haitian Church this morning/afternoon, on behalf of the Haitian people (especially the people of Saltadere) and on my own behalf, I offer you my whole-hearted gratitude for your hospitality. Because your door is always open wide to welcome me.

In hard times you are always the first to stand shoulder to shoulder with us, to come to our aid. Your presence in political upheaval, the “presence” of your material support, your help after the January 11 earthquake (which added to our suffering), and your help with eradicating the cholera epidemic are all visible signs of the living Gospel: “For I was in distress, and you comforted me, For I was sick and you visited me, For I was hungry and you gave me to eat.”

Lord Jesus, I thank You, because Your Father’s Gospel of love (by which You came to save the world) continues to thrive in us. I thank You for all the friends who care for the parish of St. Michel in Saltadere. I thank You for the gift of Your Life, and for Your loving us to the very end. Your gift makes us sons and daughters of God and brothers and sisters in Faith.

Lord, increase our faith and our love for You, You who are always present in the many tabernacles on this continent. Guard your Church. Make the tie that binds the twin parishes of St. Thomas and St. Michel stronger and stronger. Teach us to love Your mother Mary as You loved her.

Bless the American people, especially the clergy and all the Faithful. Protect all the families of this parish, especially those who have always taken me into their homes. Protect and bless all the students and faculty at the University of Virginia.
Protect and bless the United States’ government. May the Church flourish in America, multiplying the fruits of the Spirit.

Thanks to all the translators for their help, and my eternal gratitude goes to your pastor Fr. Luke for giving me this chance to speak to you.
May God bless you all.