Fr Felix’s story

Fr Jean Denis Saint Felix, a Jesuit priest working in Henfrasa tent camp, Port-au-Prince (photo © Natasha Fillion/Progressio) 

Fr Jean Denis Saint Felix says he has been humbled by how his fellow countrymen have coped with the challenges of daily life since the quake hit on January 12. “When I came to Port-au-Prince I was really struck by the gravity of the situation and I was also really shocked by people’s way of organising themselves,” he says.

Despite the considerable challenges they have faced, in recent months Haitians have managed to come together to make the best of a very difficult situation. “I didn’t know that we Haitians were that patient. I thought it might have been more explosive,” says Fr Felix, who has spent the past weeks and months accompanying people, both physically and spiritually, through their darkest days.

Religion here has been a major source of support and comfort for those who have found themselves with nothing, says Fr Felix, with many camp dwellers saying they would not be able to continue to live in such difficult conditions if it were not for their strongly held beliefs.

“They have a great sense of faith, I have seen that and heard that a lot in the way that people have been coping so far”, Fr Felix says. “We need to look for and find God in this disaster.”

Fr Felix is also impressed with the levels of generosity and solidarity amongst ordinary people. “Haitians have generally been organised and very kind to each other,” he says. “Many people have actually felt grateful because they are alive and many of them have said they are ready to learn from what happened. People here want a new and better future.”

Jesuit priest Fr Jean Denis Saint Felix, 37,  has been working in Henfrasa camp, Delmas, Port-au-Prince, with the Jesuit Refugee and Migrant Service.