The traditions around naming have been an important part of human history. Many cultures have particular practices when naming a person or place of significance. I am particularly familiar with the various ways that names are chosen in Kenya. Each of Kenya’s 42 tribes has a different custom. Some determine a child’s name based on the time of day they are born, where they are, whether they are twins etc. Every one of us has a story about the reason their particular name was chosen for them, how it ties them to their family or a certain circumstance. For most, it is part of one’s identity, something to be celebrated.
And so it is with the celebration of church names in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. Each parish celebrates its name on the designated day or day closest to that of the same saint. For example, a church named St. Francis would celebrate its naming on or close to St. Francis Day.
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the naming festival for Church of the Resurrection in Gros Mornes. These annual celebrations require the involvement of everyone in the parish, whether to help get the church ready for the big day, practice music, prepare the huge volume of food, determine sleeping arrangements for all the visitors etc. For the naming celebration does not just involve the immediate congregation. People who grew up in the community and have relocated return each year to participate. All members of the associated mission churches and preaching stations come great distances from the mountains to join in the festivities. Choirs from throughout the Diocese share in the liturgy with an abundance of singing in French and Creole. Clergy who had any ties to the parish, whether because it was their home church or because they served there at one time, also travel to share in the joyous occasion. It is a massive undertaking that is incredibly moving and inspirational to witness and take part in.
Bishop Beauvoir, his wife, Serette, and I arrived on Saturday around lunchtime. The last part of the trip, on a road between a town called Gonaive and Gros Mornes, is particularly challenging. Perhaps it is not fair to even call it a road. It is all gravel with plenty of ruts and obstacles, including the occasional goat, cow, dog or, of course, person. You spend most of your time driving back and forth across the road. That stretch occupies about 1/3 of the 2 ½ -3 ride from Cap Haitian. Traveling the route in a typical tap tap or on a motorcycle must be quite an adventure!
Lunch was already on the table as we arrived. The Rector’s wife, Luvernia, probably has the most people to accommodate during the festival weekend. She is not only managing all those who come for a singular meal but also provides the food for the large luncheon following the service on Sunday. Luvernia attended culinary school, so we were all spoiled by her fabulous food AND desserts (not commonplace in everyday Haitian eating.).
Saturday afternoon was a time for band and choral rehearsals, various meetings, decorating the church and other related events. I held a meeting with the young adults of the parish, in search of their ideas for the 1st Annual Northern Region Young Adult Camp, scheduled for July 19-31. While at first reluctant to share, soon everyone wanted to pose questions and offer suggestions for the inaugural camp. After our meeting, I spent some informal time with individual young people, especially those interested in assuming some leadership with the camp.
I was then privileged with some free time and chose to observe the other activities and connect with some of the children. I was particularly drawn to two young girls, sisters, who clearly loved each other very much. We spent a good deal of time getting to know each other through a string of questions.
After dinner, there was a choral concert provided by all the groups who planned to participate in the next day’s service. It was a wonderful evening of music and fellowship. Then, it was off to our little hotel for the night.
Early the next morning, we arrived at Pere Jonas and Luvernia’s house for a fabulous breakfast of Haiti’s traditional soup and other fare. Clergy then vested and prepared for the street procession in advance of the service.
Everyone, clergy, choirs, musicians and parishioners alike, gathered in the church courtyard for the procession. Children and adults who had stayed at the church for the night enjoyed their last bit of hot chocolate or coffee and bread before heading out on the street.
It is really difficult to translate the image of the massive procession that traveled from the back of the church through the streets and into the church doors into words. Even my pictures do not adequately reflect the power of this powerful symbol of community in Christ.
Service attendants spilled out into the courtyard that surrounded the church, where benches were supplied as well as televisions for remote viewing of the liturgy. It was an incredible worship experience, particularly since Bishop Beauvoir and Jonas Beauvoir are brothers and Bishop Beauvoir grew up in Gros Morne.
The day was capped off with a magnificent lunch of everything imaginable- parrot fish, conch, goat, chicken, beet salad (One of my favorites!), macaroni & cheese and a sea of beautiful cakes, pastries and cookies from which to choose.
As we made our way to Port au Prince that afternoon, all the twists, turns and various obstacles on the road were made tolerable by the rich memories of the previous two days. I anxiously await the next festival day of a parish in the North. In a time of declining numbers in the pews and other challenges for Episcopal Churches in the U.S., perhaps we, too, should consider strengthening the community of our own parishes as well as the community of the larger church through this wonderful tradition.
The traditions around naming have been an important part of human history. Many cultures have particular practices when naming a person or place of significance. I am particularly familiar with the various ways that names are chosen in Kenya. Each of Kenya’s 42 tribes has a different custom. Some determine a child’s name based on the time of day they are born, where they are, whether they are twins etc. Every one of us has a story about the reason their particular name was chosen for them, how it ties them to their family or a certain circumstance. For most, it is part of one’s identity, something to be celebrated.
And so it is with the celebration of church names in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. Each parish celebrates its name on the designated day or day closest to that of the same saint. For example, a church named St. Francis would celebrate its naming on or close to St. Francis Day.
Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the naming festival for Church of the Resurrection in Gros Mornes. These annual celebrations require the involvement of everyone in the parish, whether to help get the church ready for the big day, practice music, prepare the huge volume of food, determine sleeping arrangements for all the visitors etc. For the naming celebration does not just involve the immediate congregation. People who grew up in the community and have relocated return each year to participate. All members of the associated mission churches and preaching stations come great distances from the mountains to join in the festivities. Choirs from throughout the Diocese share in the liturgy with an abundance of singing in French and Creole. Clergy who had any ties to the parish, whether because it was their home church or because they served there at one time, also travel to share in the joyous occasion. It is a massive undertaking that is incredibly moving and inspirational to witness and take part in.
Bishop Beauvoir, his wife, Serette, and I arrived on Saturday around lunchtime. The last part of the trip, on a road between a town called Gonaive and Gros Mornes, is particularly challenging. Perhaps it is not fair to even call it a road. It is all gravel with plenty of ruts and obstacles, including the occasional goat, cow, dog or, of course, person. You spend most of your time driving back and forth across the road. That stretch occupies about 1/3 of the 2 ½ -3 ride from Cap Haitian. Traveling the route in a typical tap tap or on a motorcycle must be quite an adventure!
Lunch was already on the table as we arrived. The Rector’s wife, Luvernia, probably has the most people to accommodate during the festival weekend. She is not only managing all those who come for a singular meal but also provides the food for the large luncheon following the service on Sunday. Luvernia attended culinary school, so we were all spoiled by her fabulous food AND desserts (not commonplace in everyday Haitian eating.).
Saturday afternoon was a time for band and choral rehearsals, various meetings, decorating the church and other related events. I held a meeting with the young adults of the parish, in search of their ideas for the 1st Annual Northern Region Young Adult Camp, scheduled for July 19-31. While at first reluctant to share, soon everyone wanted to pose questions and offer suggestions for the inaugural camp. After our meeting, I spent some informal time with individual young people, especially those interested in assuming some leadership with the camp.
I was then privileged with some free time and chose to observe the other activities and connect with some of the children. I was particularly drawn to two young girls, sisters, who clearly loved each other very much. We spent a good deal of time getting to know each other through a string of questions.
After dinner, there was a choral concert provided by all the groups who planned to participate in the next day’s service. It was a wonderful evening of music and fellowship. Then, it was off to our little hotel for the night.
Early the next morning, we arrived at Pere Jonas and Luvernia’s house for a fabulous breakfast of Haiti’s traditional soup and other fare. Clergy then vested and prepared for the street procession in advance of the service.
Everyone, clergy, choirs, musicians and parishioners alike, gathered in the church courtyard for the procession. Children and adults who had stayed at the church for the night enjoyed their last bit of hot chocolate or coffee and bread before heading out on the street. 
It is really difficult to translate the image of the massive procession that traveled from the back of the church through the streets and into the church doors into words. Even my pictures do not adequately reflect the power of this powerful symbol of community in Christ.
Service attendants spilled out into the courtyard that surrounded the church, where benches were supplied as well as televisions for remote viewing of the liturgy. It was an incredible worship experience, particularly since Bishop Beauvoir and Jonas Beauvoir are brothers and Bishop Beauvoir grew up in Gros Morne.
The day was capped off with a magnificent lunch of everything imaginable- parrot fish, conch, goat, chicken, beet salad (One of my favorites!), macaroni & cheese and a sea of beautiful cakes, pastries and cookies from which to choose.
As we made our way to Port au Prince that afternoon, all the twists, turns and various obstacles on the road were made tolerable by the rich memories of the previous two days. I anxiously await the next festival day of a parish in the North. In a time of declining numbers in the pews and other challenges for Episcopal Churches in the U.S., perhaps we, too, should consider strengthening the community of our own parishes as well as the community of the larger church through this wonderful tradition.
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