By Kathy Sylvester, Associate
Saying goodbye is never easy, and it is made even harder when the person you are saying goodbye to has become a treasured friend.
This sentiment expresses how the members of the Haiti Collaboration Committee feel about Brian Stevens, the former Engagement Director for Beyond Borders.
On November 13, the members of the committee gathered via Zoom to share the prayer service we titled, “In Thanksgiving for the Gift of Brian Stevens."
This service consisted of an opening prayer written by Sister Kay O’Connell , SSND; a reading from You are Sent; and a Litany of Thanksgiving written by all the members of the committee.
This experience enabled everyone on the committee to put their personal prayer and thanksgiving for Brian into words, reflecting on the way he lived out his ministry.
Prayers were also offered for success in his upcoming work with Friends of Matenwa and his continuing ministry with the Haitian Support Center in Springfield, Ohio.
The prayer ended with the members of the committee praying the traditional SSND Blessing (“May the blessing of the Lord be upon you…”) for Brian as he begins his new ministry.
Members of the Haiti Collaboration Committee include Sisters Kay O’Connell, Bernie Ballasty, Leonora Tucker, Grace Sciamanna, Carleen Cekal, Sharon Slear and Limeteze Pierre-Gilles; Associates Kathy Sylvester and Mary Gunning; staff volunteer Jamie Shannon; JPIC Director Colleen Kammer.
