Fr. Yoland OUELLET, director of the Shrine of Our Lady of the
Cape in Canada, saw the devotion to the Blessed Virgin in the context of a
different culture.
Father Joseph CHARLES has managed to promote devotion
to Our Lady of the Cape, bringing the Pilgrim Virgin destined for the American
diaspora and for Haiti, from north to south in his country. This visit of Mary
reached its peak at the charismatic congress in Port-au-Prince, last April
13-15. The congress was televised throughout the whole country and also to the
Canadian-American diaspora. Thousands of people heard the story of Our Lady of
Cape, before seeing her in a procession of as many as 200,000 persons. Mary has
gone to help the Haitian people keep their lamp burning (theme of the Congress,
Psalm 18:115); to maintain courage in hardship and trust in the Lord who is
going to rebuild her! (Psalm 102:17). I was very impressed with the
organization, with the many committees of young volunteers offering various
services. The program with various youth choirs and various artists who came to
the event helped me build relationships with certain groups of singers that we
hope to hear one day in the plazas of the basilica of the Cape.
The congress prayer was, of course, addressed to Mary:
“Virgin of Beautiful Love, help us to keep our lamps burning so that Our Father
might transform our country into a little corner of heaven!” Haiti is still
reeling from the effects of the earthquake. Father Charles showed me the
destroyed city and the faces of terrible misfortune. But hearing these people
pray and sing their faith and their hope convinced me that, with the beautiful
Love which the Virgin continues to give us, this people is beginning to rebuild
themselves and can become a little corner of heaven! (INFO OMI, 1 May 2012)
