Haiti - Canonical visit to La Saline
Port-au-Prince, Haiti - April 2021 - The Superior of the Salesian Vice Province of Haiti, Fr Jean-Paul Mésidor, made his canonical visit, from 13 to 17 April, to the National School of Art and Crafts (ENAM), located in La Saline, a large slum on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, where the first Salesian house in the country is located. Fr Mésidor visited all the works of La Saline: the ENAM Vocational School, the Work of the Small Schools of Father Bohnen (OPEPB) and the Home for street children (Lakou-Lakay). He urged the Salesians not to be discouraged, despite the difficult situation in the area caused by insecurity, and he animated every Salesian and every lay collaborator who works with young people. The situation in Haiti is worsening day by day and the phenomenon of kidnappings is increasing. For two weeks, four priests of the Community of Saint Jacques and two religious have been in the hands of the kidnappers. Among those kidnapped are two Frenchmen: a priest and an 80-year-old nun. The Salesians are very much affected by this dangerous situation as most of their works are located in very difficult areas.