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In This Issue:

• "We'll Be Around": A Message from Father Jack
• "Do Not Disparage the Bee or the Crow": A Reflection by Jack Egan
• HSNNE Dinner Dance on April 22nd, 2006
• Meeting Calendar
• A Special Request
• What's Been Happening?....
• HSNNE Membership News
• Membership Reminders

"We'll Be Around"
A Message from Father Jack

A Verizon Wireless advertises that they are "the reliable network." In their creative ads, a large group of agents and technicians just follow you around- they're your network.

We hope to be "always there" in solidarity, their network for our Haitian brothers and sisters.

In his fascinating autobiography The Zombie Curse, Dr. Arthur Fournier tells of caring for mostly Haitian patients in the 1980s at Jackson Memorial Hospital near Little Haiti in Miami. In the 1990s, he was drawn to Haiti and has made over 100 visits in the last ten years. He helped organize Medishare, which runs a clinic at Thomonde in the Plateau Central.

Once along the way, Dr. Art was challenged about whether he was becoming "one of those humanitarians" of the type criticized in David Reiff's book A Bed for the Night- about activists who only jump in for short term help. Well, Dr. Art is persevering!

HSNNE is happy to celebrate its 12th Anniversary this year, and we hope to "KEEP ON KEEPIN'ON!"

Do Not Disparage the Bee or the Crow:
A Reflection by Jack Egan

Do not disparage the bee because it stings nor the crow because it doesn't exquisitely sing. They both serve a mighty, wondrous purpose, as they keep our universe alive with their diverse skills.

The busy bee, unlike many humans, stings only in self defense, gives us honey to feed our bodies with a natural sweetness and has the potential even to sweeten those souls tending toward bitterness and cynicism. And bees make the flowers be and give us the best wax around to lighten our tables and lives on long winter nights.

And the crows? They do not strike me as pretty nor would anyone be able to say that their song is beautiful. Yet, it doesn't bother them what we think, they go about their being and their business, happy with themselves and their lives, taking wings whenever and wherever their little hearts desire.

There is a lesson crows can teach us humans, who worry so about what others think of us, who attempt to adjust our lives to fit the expectations of those around us. And so we mask, sadly for ourselves and others, the magnificence and creativity of our true selves, the Original Face beyond all masks.

Both bee and crow contribute to life's diversity and excitement, nay-saying, by their existence, deadly sameness and its destructive flatness.

Can we yet learn another lesson from bee and crow and all earth's creatures? That life thrives and thrills in diversity and is enriched enormously by the uniqueness of each culture and of every single human!!

HSNNE Dinner Dance on April 22nd, 2006

Honoree Marguerite Laurent received her plaque from Georgette Delinois. Marguerite was honored for her work as "Zanmi Ayiti" a friend of Haiti, supporting and working cooperatively with Haitian freedom fighters and grassroots organizations promoting the civil and cultural rights of Haitians at home and abroad. Marguerite filled us with awe as she presented an excerpt from her "Red, Black and Moonlight", a musical memoir based on her work as legal advisor to former Pres. John Bertrand Aristide in 94-95 and her life and work in the U.S.

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Loune Viaud listened as Father Gene Squeo spoke of her accomplishments before giving her her plaque. Loune's work as Director of Strategic Planning and Operations at Zanmi Lasante, a huge socio-medical complex in Cange, Haiti has earned her recognition as the RFK Human Rights Laureate in 2002 and noted Woman of the Year by People Magazine in 2003. HSNNE gave Loune our Human Rights award. Loune strongly advocates and demonstrates through her work, that access to health care is a fundamental human right. Her unassuming and simple manner comes from her understanding that she's just doing what is right.

Meeting Calendar

HSNNE meets the second Tuesday of the month at St. Joseph Social Service Center, 118 Division Street, Elizabeth, NJ.

There are no meetings in July and August. The next meeting is Spetember 12th, 2006.

Monthly prayer vigils are held every third Monday at St. Patrick's Church, 492 Bramhall Ave., Jersey City, NJ.

Upcoming prayer vigils:

A Special Request……

HSNNE Board is engaged in a reflection process about the organization. We want to see with clarity who HSNNE really is. What are our priorities? What is it about HSNNE that really matters to us?

Because HSNNE is more than its Board, we are inviting you, as members, to give your perspectives. What is it about HSNNE that makes you want to be associated with it? What do you see as priorities?

Please just jot down a few lines and email them to kayssj22@verizon.net.

What's Been Happening?....

Promoting a Twinning Relationship

The Parish Twinning Program of the Americas (PTPA) is keeping on with its dream. The storage facility for Visitation Hospital in Petite Rivière de Nippes in southwest Haiti has been completed and work has begun on the Guard's Quarters.

Father Gene Squeo, Dr. Sue Morrison, Joe Parlipiano and his daughter Christina, and Bishop Romelus met with Bishop Serratelli on June 2nd in the diocesan office in Clifton to explore the possibility of a twinning relationship between the Paterson Diocese and the Diocese of Jeremie.

Promoting twinning relationships is one of HSNNE'S delights. Seton Hall Law School has a twinning relationship with the Law School in Jeremie through Gene Squeo's initiative and encouragement..

Deacon Joe spoke of the work St. Joseph's parish in Lincoln Park has been doing in St. Vincent's, a parish outside of Jeremie. Sue told of the 10 medical missions and the building of a Church Hall that St. Catherine's in Mountain Lakes has completed for Dame Marie.

Msgr. Romelus invited Bishop Serratelli To visit Jeremie and the parishes. Bishop Serratelli seemed very open to the possibility of twinning with the Diocese of Jeremie and would present this to the Counsel of Priests.

Postponed February Medical Delegation to Dame Marie Completed

(Due to election turmoil, AA canceled flights to Haiti, and so, the delegation had been turned away at the airport.) Dr. Sue Morrison's delegation included her daughter Julie, Dr. Andre Talleyrand and his son Ramonde, Dr. Corrine Devereaux, Georgette Delinois, Dieudonne Bazile, Belle Norris and Ed Karle. The doctors saw six hundred twenty-five patients and another two thousand received worm medication, vitamin A and three months supply of multivitamins.

Ramonde, the pharmacist recalls:

Little was known at the start of our trip, about the wonderful experience waiting for us, and for me, a return to my roots, the country where I was born. Things continued to go smoothly on our flight to Jeremie until our arrival at Dame Marie and the unfortunate incident of Julie's missing suitcase.

An enthusiastic welcoming crowd gathered by Father Monestime at the rectory assured our well being, our comfort, our feeding. The work to accomplish was huge and everything went well thanks to our leader, Sue, so well organized and so full of energy.

Dieudonne (translator) remarked:

When some of the people had received shampoo and lotion as gifts, they asked me, "How do I take it?" I realized how important the translation was. We worked every day and even gave out medicine at the Church on Sunday.

It was beautiful to watch Sue who really cared for the people with her heart and with God's eyes. As she held the babies, I saw how precious they were to her.

Belle Norris stated, among other things:

It was a very successful trip and very congenial. It is always a wonderful experience. The people are always pleased to have us there, and we are treated with good food and hospitality.

**Judy Reilly and Clauvice St. Hillaire are in Vallieres from June 26th to 30th. Msgr. from Fort Liberté bought the land where the uncompleted hospital lay for years. It is now a secondary school site.

HSNNE'S Membership News

New Jersey Immigration Policy Network

The Haitian Program at New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, under Guy Antoine, held a dialogue calling for a more effective coalition and networking of the U.S. Haitian Immigrant community. The need to coordinate voices more effectively to protect all Haitians living in the U.S. and offer them strong support for their eventual integration in the communities in which they have chosen to live is evident.

Marleine Bastien from Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami was the keynote speaker. Georgette Delinois, HSNNE President, was one of the invited community leader speakers. Ninaj Raoul, Jocelyne Mayas, Ray Laforest, Ema Letemps, and Jocelyn McCalla also participated.

Fathers Jack Martin and Gene Squeo also attended, along with Sister Kay.

Immigrants' Rights Task Force

Jubilee Immigrants' Rights Task Force is advocating for in-State Tuition which would enable certain undocumented students to attend college at in-state rates. To qualify, students are required to have resided with a parent or guardian while attending a public or non-public high school in N.J. 2)graduated from high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma; 3) attended high school for at least three years prior to graduation; 4) signed an affidavit stating the intent to file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity.

Ten states already allow some version of this and we want to see N.J. participate. These students don't have a choice. It's their state's college or none since out-of-state rates are too high for them. This and comprehensive reform of the immigration bill is sought.

Advocacy

Rep. Maxine Waters has introduced a resolution urging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) , the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and other multilateral financial institutions to provide Haiti complete debt cancellation immediately. It urges the U.,S. Secretary of the Treasury to use the voice, vote, and influence of the United States within these institutions to accomplish this goal. Waters was able to garner bipartisan support for her resolution which has senior members of the House Financial Services Committee and the House International Relations Committee as original co-sponsors.

It is estimated that almost half (45%) of Haiti's debt was accrued during the regime of Francois Duvalier and his son. Although lenders knew that international loans were enriching the Duvaliers and not benefiting the populace, the financial institutions are holding the Haitian people responsible to repay those loans.

Congresswoman Waters said, "The cancellation of Haiti's debts will enable the newly-elected government of Haiti to improve healthcare, education and other essential government services; invest in critical infrastructure; and improve the lives of the Haitian people."

We join Jubilee USA and IJDH in calling all in the US to contact our representatives and support HR 888. To cosponsor, members' staff should call Kathleen Sengstock at Cong. Waters' office 202-225-2201.

Membership Reminders

Remember our website hsnne.org.

HSNNE office contact (201) 779-5379 or (201) 437-0020.