The New Year began with a Mass to celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and the 222nd Anniversary of Haitian Independence at St. Leo the Great Parish in Bonita Springs.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane hosted the celebration that brought together the Catholic Haitian Community of the Diocese of Venice. Most Rev. Désinord Jean, Diocese of Hinche, Haiti, was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist. The priests of the Diocese concelebrated at the Mass.
Bishop Jean, who also celebrated this Mass in 2019, thanked Bishop Dewane for his welcome and presence at the sacred liturgy.
“On behalf of my brother Bishops of Haiti, I thank you wholeheartedly for opening the doors of your Diocese and your heart to the Haitian community and for your constant solicitude you show for the migrants and for all those who are far from their homeland,” Bishop Jean said.
Speaking to the faithful, Bishop Jean encouraged those gathered to remain strong as they seek the Lord’s mercy in their lives. It is through prayer and action that one grows in faith and love of the Lord. The Bishop also noted that while those present may now live in the United States, they are forever spiritually connected to their brothers and sisters in Christ in Haiti.
Bishop Dewane thanked the community of Haitians who contribute to the spirit of the Lord present in the Diocese, and Haitian priests for their commitment to serving within the Diocese. He added that the Catholic Haitian population conveys a richness to the Diocese of Venice, by their participation and by their liveliness that they bring into their Parishes.
“It is we, the entire Diocese, who are made rich by your presence,” Bishop Dewane said.
This annual Mass serves to bring the far-flung Catholic Haitian Community together once a year, explained Father Jean Marie “Fritz” Ligonde, who is the Diocese Haitian Ministry Director and Parochial Vicar at St. Columbkille in Fort Myers.
Roseline Alexandre, of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Naples, expressed her joy at being able to participate in the annual celebration of Haitian independence while also honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“I have lived in the United States for many years, but my heart remains in Haiti,” Alexandre said. “This day is a way to reconnect with my heritage.”
It was in 1803 that the Haitians defeated the largest and most powerful army at the time, the army of Napoleon, in Cap-Haitien. Haiti became the second country in the Americas to declare its Independence.
When the French were in control, they enacted a law that said they were the only ones who could eat soup because they were in the upper class. When Haiti proclaimed its independence, all Haitians started to eat soup as a way to demonstrate that everyone was equal. Thus, began the custom of cooking and eating soup on New Year’s Day as a way to celebrate freedom. Symbolically, soup was among the cuisine offered at the reception that followed the Mass.
Parishes with large Haitian communities arranged buses for people to attend the Mass. Many of the people were dressed in the colors of the Haitian flag, blue, red, white, green and yellow.
At the end of the Mass, everyone joined in singing the Haitian National Anthem while waving flags which had been provided to everyone.
