Sister Ellen Flynn, of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Northeast Community, gets around even more than usual these days.  A generous donor, Bob Kabartas, funded the purchase of a Red Rhino, an all-terrain vehicle, for Sister Ellen.  She uses it to travel all over Fond des Blancs ministering to the elderly, the sick, to grieving families, and whomever else needs her services.  This vehicle brings Sister Ellen even closer to the growing number of people she serves in her ministry.

The St. Boniface Hospital's Pastoral Care Program focuses on the social, humanitarian, and spiritual needs of the patients and the entire community.  The poor are treated with dignity and respect during their time of need.  The people are very grateful for her help and assistance in whatever form it takes.  Often she just sits with hospital patients or holds babies to give them love and to pray with them.  Her presence is comforting and healing to all.  One of her most important responsibilities is to accompany the families and bodies of our deceased patients' home.  Sr. Ellen also goes to the Queen of Peace Home for the Elderly at least once a week to visit the residents.  She spends time talking to them and applying lotion to their hands and feet which are often hard and rough due to many years in the harsh conditions of Haiti.  This human contact is so important to them.  Her love and compassion are legendary and the residents smile just knowing that she is on her way to visit!

Sr. Ellen is in her fourth year as our Pastoral Care Minister.  She lives at the St. Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs, Haiti, eleven months of the year, and devotes approximately 40 - 50 hours per week serving the poorest of the poor.  She loves her work and the community has come to love her in return.