October 30, 2011

Tomorrow is Halloween already and I heard there was a big snow storm on the east coast. Time is moving right along. With the talk of Halloween somebody wrote me asking about “zombies” which are supposed to inhabit this land. Well, that made me smile. Early on in my stay here in Haiti got talking about zombies for some reason or other. They are the scary creatures in horror movies who supposedly were secretly injected with a poison and appeared to be dead. Since there was no detectable pulse the person was assumed dead, given a funeral and buried. That night the body was dug up, some sort of antidote administered, and now the person is part of the “living dead” becoming some sort of servant to the person who poisoned them. Well, of course, I think this is all nuts and I laugh at it. It makes good horror movies but really, I mean come on! Well my views are not shared by the Haitians. Now these guys are bright. They’re studying philosophy and theology and yet none of them when asked for a yes or no answer to the question, “Do you really believe in zombies?” will say “no”. Mind you their “yes” is somewhat “iffy” but they can’t say “no”. So I go on, "Did you ever see a zombie?" “Well,” comes the answer, “I haven’t, but my grandmother or uncle or somebody somewhere in this or that province did!” I find this hilarious. Of course this touches into Voodoo which is real here. It is now an officially recognized religion. Part of their beliefs concern the spirit world taking over the body of a living person. That’s not exactly the same as becoming a zombie but it’s close. So you judge for yourself. Now if it is true and Halloween is upon us with all the spirits of darkness present maybe my body will be snatched. Let’s wait and see. (This is like coming attractions at the movies!)

This week we await the visit of our Superior General, Fr. Aldino. He making a visit of the Wilmington/Philadelphia Province of which Tom Hagan is a member. So he's flying over from Florida for a three day visit starting tomorrow. Tom has already pointed out the irony of their arrival being on Halloween. On Tuesday, November 1st a Brazilian Oblate, Fr. Claudio, the assistant novice director is coming for a weeklong visit. Exactly why he is coming is unknown to me but I’m sure we’ll find out. I’ve asked if he speaks French or English but have not received an answer.

Today at Mass at Ste Anne’s we celebrated the third anniversary of the youth group Friends of St Francis de Sales. It was a very lively Mass. Next Saturday, their usual meeting day, they will have a party. I’ve been a part of the group since its beginning and I used to go each Saturday but lately I only stop in maybe once every six weeks. They are fine young people.

I guess that’s all for now. You get a break this week and don’t have to read on and on and on. Blessings to all and Happy Halloween! Tom