Father Miraglio visits isolated Haitian community

Father Massimo Miraglio, MI, visited the Chapel of St. Bernard in Nan Miel to celebrate the patron saint's feast day. The community is located in the isolated hinterland of Pourcine Pic Makaya, requiring a five-hour walk across steep hills and riverbeds from the nearest paved road.

During his three-day visit, Father Miraglio met with local residents who reported that the state has abandoned isolated areas. Residents also noted that drought has caused recent harvests to fail, leading to food shortages for children and adults just as the school year began. The area lacks schools, clinics, electricity, and access to drinking water.

The feast day celebration included a football match and music for the faithful, many of whom traveled several hours on foot to attend. Father Miraglio described the day as peaceful despite the difficult conditions and the lack of basic services in the surrounding farming villages.