Fete Sainte Trinite 2013

Trinity Sunday is the patronal festival of the Episcopal cathedral here in Port-au-Prince. 

a local group (business?) put up a banner for the occasion over the street in front of the cathedral 

 

Thanks be to God, we arrived quite early.  As we gathered in the parking area in the rear before the service, I was told, "You're the bishop's chaplain today."  I found him over by his car.  "Only if you want to," he said. "I can find someone else."  Mostly this involves carrying things and standing next to him with the crosier while he preaches.  Not difficult, except that when you are dripping in the heat and it's started to roll down your face, you can't fan yourself.   It did, however, mean that I could make a good recording of the sermon for the bishop.  You'd be amazed at how clear a recording can be even when your mp3 player is hidden in your habit pocket.



getting lined up for the procession

 

the bishop censing the altar

We definitely need a larger worship space in the new cathedral.  There are always a few people who have to sit outside, but for big feast days, the overflow fills every possible spot surrounding the worship space.  Including the stairs.

definitely not enough seating at the temporary cathedral, but the stairway up to the office makes a useful addition to it for some parishioners

As always, I very much appreciated the music.  Along with the parish choir, the parents' choir, and Trinity Choir (gospel group), the music school's chamber orchestra played and the Petits Chanteurs sang.  Hymns and even liturgical responses are sung in parts here, and not just by the choir, so when you have an extra-large congregation, it's quite something.

chamber group from the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite

 

Trinity Choir - the young adult gospel group

Wish I could share the best photos with you, but they all have recognizable faces, most with young people.  You'll just have to imagine them.

the dean thanking people at the end of the service

Bonne fete.

Fete Ste Trinite

Tomorrow - no, wait, today, as I'm up much too late - is the Fete Sainte Trinite, Trinity Sunday, the patronal festival of the cathedral here in Port-au-Prince.  I went back to see what I'd written about it in 2009, as I remember being awestruck.  Nothing. Just too much and too little time with internet access, I guess.  Sounds familiar.

What I did find, however, was a couple of photos in a Facebook album begun back then.  I'm sharing them with you to ask you to pray for and rejoice with the cathedral congregation on this feast day.  We no longer have that beautiful cathedral, but we have the church - that is, the people.  And someday there will be a cathedral with space for all to worship. 

Meanwhile, let's hope it doesn't rain tomorrow morning!  The Eucharist starts at 9AM; it might finish up two or three hours later.  That's a long time to sit in the rain, even under a tree. And even on a regular Sunday, there are people outside.  Nice problem to have - not enough seating is not usually on many parish lists of problems! Still, I vote for sun.

Here are the old photos. Enjoy.

before the service - the bishop, the sanctuary (side view), and, just past the altar, the Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinite

"Bring offerings and come into his courts" - and dance them up the center aisle to make even the giving of the gifts a thing of beauty

Place Boyer

Place Boyer, Pétionville

While driving through Petionville recently, we passed a park that had just been redone; finishing touches were underway.  In the new design, colorful mosaics cover outbuildings, walls, and steps.  It wasn't a beautiful day for taking photos, but I had to try anyway. 


not quite ready yet

A few days later, I came upon this article in the Nouvelliste, the local paper, about its inauguration.  Place Boyer was home to a large number of people following the earthquake, but it was one of those places from which people have now moved.  I hope they have now found homes and that they can come enjoy the park under better circumstances.

L'inauguration de la Place Boyer

Le Nouvelliste | Publié le :14 mai 2013

Hansy Mars

Le lundi 13 mai 2013, le président de la République, en compagnie du Premier ministre, a procédé à la cérémonie de remise des travaux de rénovation de la place Boyer à Pétion-Ville. L'inauguration de cette place est considérée par le chef de l'Etat comme un signe annonciateur de développement pour les trois prochaines années.

 

To read more:   http://www.lenouvelliste.com/article4.php?newsid=116756 

 

looking up from the street to the main level

 

bright red-orange planter with flowers at the top of the steps from the street

 

building green

We've had quite limited electricity lately as well as problems with our internet access, so I haven't been posting. However, the internet seems to be working today, and our generator is briefly on so we can pump water up to the roof tank, so I'm in luck.

Someone sent me this article about the new convent back home in MA, so first off, I'll share it with you.
Cast a shining light on building green – with Marion architects’ design of Duxbury convent

new Duxbury convent with 58 solar panels

I hope we can do solar panels on the new convent in Haiti, whenever it will be built... Someday!

Meanwhile, I'm hoping to do a post on some of the construction going on around here as well.  I've really been enjoying seeing all the little signs of hope as buildings slowly rise from the rubble.  The level of devastation is great - and remember that we in the US haven't finished rebuilding New Orleans yet (and how is the World Trade Center coming along? Have they finished it yet?).  However, I see changes everywhere, and I see billboards around Port-au-Prince talking about green energy.  Such a good thing. I'll try to post on that, too.