(ANS - Port-au-Prince) - Yesterday, Tuesday 10 March 2015, the Salesians of Haiti welcomed the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime with great joy and enthusiasm. After a long journey that took him from Spain to the Dominican Republic, and then to Haiti, the Rector Major landed in Port-au-Prince with great enthusiasm: "I'm here for you, only for you" he said.

By Hubert Mesidor, SDB

Don Á.F. Artime arrived in Port-au-Prince around 8.50 a.m. He was welcomed at the airport by the Provincial. Vice-Provincial and the Delegate for Social Communication. They brought him to the Provincial House where he was welcomed by the Provincial Council, the members of the Rinaldi Foundation, and some Daughters of Mary Help of Christians who had come specially to meet the tenth Successor of Don Bosco. For Haitians he is Don Bosco Lakay Nou (Don Bosco among us).

Subsequently, the Provincial Fr Sylvain Ducange addressed a word of welcome to the Rector Major. Two members of the Salesian Family performed a traditional dance and served a cup of typical Haitian coffee to the Rector Major.

In the afternoon Fr Á.F. Artime visited the Salesian post-novitiate which was built just four months ago, thanks to the contribution of the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid, the Salesians of Spain and numerous benefactors. As a gesture of welcome on his arrival he was offered a bunch of Ti Malice bananas.

One of the post-novices explained the meaning of this gesture saying that Haiti farmers welcome their guests with the most precious thing they have in their small store.  The young Salesians in initial training sang a song of welcome and the Rector Major took the guitar to accompany their singing in traditional Haitian and Creole rhythm.

After Evening Prayer the Rector Major gave the "Good Night" in which he praised the work of the Salesians in the country and encouraged them to make Haiti a land of hope.

It is worth pointing out that five years after the earthquake, the Salesians of Haiti have made great strides in the field of reconstruction. However, much remains to be done. The purpose of the Rector Major’s visit is to encourage and support the work of the Salesians in Haiti.

Published 11/03/2015