Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Montevideo (Agenzia Fides) – Sister Solange Badaraco and Sister Mercedes Santos, of the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Incarnate Word (MFVE) left on February 26 to go on a mission to Haiti, where their congregation was not yet present. The sisters are participating in an “inter-project,” ie with the participation of religious women belonging to various religious institutions, to reach out to areas where no international aid has arrived, where many people are helpless and almost completely abandoned themselves. "Serving Jesus in the lowly and the poor" is the motto of this congregation, present in Uruguay since 1949. It currently has several communities and provides pastoral services in the Dioceses of Melo and Maldonado, and in the Archdiocese of Montevideo.
Sister Solange, 36, a native of Montevideo, told the press office of the Uruguayan Bishops' Conference of how the initiative came about to go to Haiti to assist the needy after the earthquake. "When the disaster happened, we Franciscan Missionaries of the Incarnate Word were in our Chapter Meeting. We asked ourselves how to make ourselves present in light of all this pain. In communion with the needy, Sister Marian Marguery, our former Provincial, made contact with the Conference of Religious in the Dominican Republic, who expressed that they needed money, professional help, and food. After this response, several sisters offered themselves to go to Haiti. At the end of the Chapter, we met with the new Provincial, Sister Shirley Amaral, and the Council. They decided as a congregation to present the proposal to go to Haiti for two months to provide health services, as at least two of us are nurses."
The two sisters left for the Dominican Republic, where they were received by members of the Conference of Religious on the island, working in coordination with the Haitian Conference of Religious. From there they went to Haiti, in places where international aid has not arrived. "The goal is to foster spiritual life in Haiti and to provide support, as well as giving assistance to the people and keep in touch with the people in areas where no medical aid has arrived yet," said Sister Solange. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 05/03/2010)
