The Congregation of Holy Cross rejoices with the Province of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Haiti as they recently celebrated the First Vows and Final Vows of three of their religious. The combined ceremony took place on September 11 in the auditorium of Collége Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours in Cap-Haitiën.

Mr. Bénédick Angrand, C.S.C., and Mr. Steker Lovinsky, C.S.C.,  professed their First Vows, and Mr. Clavens Saint-Bert Nelson, C.S.C., professed his Final Vows. Fr. Rosemond Marcelin, C.S.C., newly-elected Superior of the Province, received the vows in addition to presiding and preaching at the Mass.

Attending the Rite of Profession were members of the Province, family, and friends and following the ceremony, an agape meal was enjoyed by all.

Read about the work Holy Cross is doing in Haiti

The following day, at Sacred Heart Church in Cap-Haitiën, Mr. Clavens Saint-Bert Nelson, C.S.C., was ordained a deacon by the Most Rev. Launay Saturné, Archbishop of Cap-Haitiën.

The Archbishop emphasized the importance of the ministry of the deacon, especially in the preaching of the word and the incarnation of the compassion of Christ towards the weakest. After Deacon Clavens expressed his own words of gratitude, Fr. Marcelin thanked the Archbishop and the parents of the new deacon.

Rev. Mr. Clavens Saint-Bert Nelson, C.S.C., is one of seven children. The Holy Cross religious he met at École Pére Joseph Lepévédic and Collége Sainte-Croix in Limbé inspired him to enter the Church and Holy Cross. Having professed his First Vows in 2014, Deacon Clavens has a passion for the poor and vocation promotion and will begin his ministry at Collége Notre Dame du Perpétuel Secours.