22475: Nlbo: Dialogue among Haitian Pastoral agents? (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Nlbo@aol.com

 Given the impact that religion is currently playing in the political arena,
 can/should priests, pastors, active lay ministers continue to work by
themselves in isolation from the rest of the community or the world?I am wondering
if as Haitians, regardless of our religious persuarsion,  these form behaviors
or attitudes can permeate.

>From the Director's message in the Center' s website<
http://snaa.org/page2.html> -
Objectively:

Haitians are scattered all around the country. While the efforts of the
Apostolate are concentrated in areas of greater agglomeration, large numbers tend
to be left out of reach.
 
The language barrier and indeed the race of the Haitians complicate and slow
down their ability to incorporate themselves into the mainstream church.

Subjectively:

A number of pastoral agents, both Haitians and Non-Haitians, prefer to work
on their own and do not understand the value of a common search for answers.
They feel threatened by dialogue.
 
Some pastoral agents, mostly pastors in charge of Haitian communities,
demonstrate a total lack of understanding of the real pastoral needs of the Haitian
People. Yet, they retain the right of decision over the future of the
apostolate in their jurisdiction.
 
The economic limits of the National Center and the lack of available human
resources for the work at hand.  Indeed, mention must be made of the maintenance
of an office with salaried employees, office equipments, and mailing and
printing expenses, an achievement not to be underestimated. National and diocesan
subsidies to that office are non-existent.
 
The reluctance of some dioceses to engage the services of [qualified] Creole
speaking personnel.



Objectively:

Haitians are scattered all around the country. While the efforts of the
Apostolate are concentrated in areas of greater agglomeration, large numbers tend
to be left out of reach.
 
The language barrier and indeed the race of the Haitians complicate and slow
down their ability to incorporate themselves into the mainstream church.

Subjectively:

A number of pastoral agents, both Haitians and Non-Haitians, prefer to work
on their own and do not understand the value of a common search for answers.
They feel threatened by dialogue.
 
Some pastoral agents, mostly pastors in charge of Haitian communities,
demonstrate a total lack of understanding of the real pastoral needs of the Haitian
People. Yet, they retain the right of decision over the future of the
apostolate in their jurisdiction.
 
The economic limits of the National Center and the lack of available human
resources for the work at hand.  Indeed, mention must be made of the maintenance
of an office with salaried employees, office equipments, and mailing and
printing expenses, an achievement not to be underestimated. National and diocesan
subsidies to that office are non-existent.
 
The reluctance of some dioceses to engage the services of [qualified] Creole
speaking personnel.