Oxford pastor re-twins parish with Haitian parish

By Tanya Connor  | The Catholic Free Press

It was a first – and a déjà vu – as St. Roch Parish in Oxford and St. Anne Parish in Chardonnières, Haiti, began twinning Oct. 29.
It was the first twinning relationship started since Cardinal Chibly Langlois of Les Cayes, Haiti, came here in September to renew his diocese’s covenant with the Worcester Diocese, according to Sister Marie-Judith Dupuy, who coordinates this effort.
At that time, Bishop McManus encouraged more parishes to consider twinning, and Cardinal Langlois said twinning would help meet needs in Haiti.
St. Roch’s and St. Anne’s formerly twinned with other parishes, but those relationships were no longer active, said Sister Judith, a Sister of St. Anne who directs the Worcester Diocese’s Haitian Apostolate.
But it was déjà vu for the pastors. St. Anne’s twinned with Sacred Heart of Jesus in Webster when Father Michael J. Roy was pastor there. Now, as St. Roch’s pastor, he is again involved with St. Anne’s.
St. Anne’s pastor, Father Gulber Brutus, a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was twinned with Christ the King Parish in Worcester when he was pastor of Immaculate Conception in Les Anglais, Sister Judith said.
Meeting Bishop McManus at the Chancery Oct. 30 was not a first for Father Brutus either. He had hosted Worcester’s bishop and Cardinal Langlois at his parish in 2015 during a 25th anniversary celebration of the dioceses’ twinning. Father Brutus, who has family in Randolph, Mass., also attended the dioceses’ covenant renewal at St. Paul Cathedral in 2013, Sister Judith said.
At Mass at St. Roch’s Oct. 29, Father Roy said the day’s Scripture readings were perfect as the two parishes enter this covenant.
“Yes, Lord, this is your endorsement,” he said. “We are called to be a reflection of God’s compassion” with St. Anne’s. He spoke of the desire to be in right relationship with God and to love one’s neighbor.
Father Brutus, with translation help from Sister Judith, told the congregation the day’s liturgy speaks of a God of love, peace and justice, who defends the needy and wants people to be happy.
“It is not Christian” to close one’s eyes to others’ misery, Father Brutus said. He said the Worcester Diocese’s parishioners are very sensitive to the needs of the parishioners in the Les Cayes Diocese.
Father Roy said the covenant between the parishes will have three components.
The people will pray for their twin at Masses.
Four times a year St. Roch’s will send a newsletter to parishioners who request it, with an update about St. Anne’s, and an envelope for contributions.    A longterm hope is for St. Roch’s to send a delegation to visit St. Anne’s.
Father Roy and Father Brutus shook hands to establish the covenant, then embraced.
Speaking to The Catholic Free Press later, Father Brutus said Father Roy shook his hand three times and cooked him a special meal because he was so happy.
He described St. Roch’s Masses as vibrant and said Father Roy and his parishioners seemed to love each other. He said he was very happy to see that they are open to the twinning and expect him to keep them informed.
Sister Judith said Father Brutus thanked Bishop McManus for money he sent to Cardinal Langlois. That enabled the cardinal to provide $15,000 to help St. Anne’s start rebuilding after Hurricane Matthew destroyed the main church and part or all of the five mission chapels last fall, he said. (Diocesan parishes here took up a special collection for Haiti at that time.)
When The Catholic Free Press asked Father Brutus about his parish’s situation now, he stressed that he was not expecting St. Roch’s to meet all their needs. He said he will also seek help from other organizations.
Father Brutus estimated that it will cost $600 to have an altar and other furnishings made for St. Anne’s Church; $74,000 to finish rebuilding the church, and a total of $55,000 to get the chapels fully functioning.
The parish’s schools – St. George’s, near St. Anne’s Church, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Mulâtre, near one of the chapels – were also destroyed by Hurricane Matthew, Sister Judith said.
Father Brutus said he needs a dispensary at the farthest mission, as people die on the way to the dispensary run by the Sisters of St. Anne near St. Anne’s Church.
The sisters also run St. Anne School in Chardonnières, which was the first place they were established in Haiti when they arrived in 1944, Sister Judith said.
Father Brutus said he has the help of a seminarian and lay leaders for worship at St. Anne’s, where he celebrates Mass each Sunday, and the chapels, where he celebrates Masses monthly. He can drive to one chapel, but must walk or ride a horse to get to the others.
Sister Judith demonstrated a benefit of twinning by telling a story of two other parishes. She said Father Serge Denis, at St. Michel Parish in Roche-a-Bateau, reported that many people are coming back to church, thanks to rebuilding made possible by their twin, St. Mary Parish in Shrewsbury, and visits from St. Mary’s parishioners.
“This is to show what happens when a parish becomes active” and helps parishioners, she said.