Vassar Haiti Project

Don’t forget to go to the rescheduled Vigil for Haiti tomorrow (Monday 2/15) at 7 pm in the chapel!

With the immediate, necessary focus on fundraising, it can be  hard to find enough time for reflection and prayer in the wake of the Haitian tragedy.  The interfaith ceremony tomorrow will incorporate a Haitian priest, Haitian community members, poetry, and live music.

VHP Members and students going on the spring break Port-au-Prince trip will all be sitting together at the front left of the chapel.

Quick Recap: Vassar’s Interfaith Prayer Vigil for Haiti

Stepping back from the frenzy of media coverage and fundraising efforts for Haiti, members of Vassar and Arlington communities came together last Monday (2/15) to address the spiritual needs that January’s earthquake left behind.  The ceremony incorporated prayers and religious traditions from a rich variety of faiths, which was woven together with an uplifting array of musical performance.  A harpist and a powerful vocalist singing traditional Haitian spiritual music began the vigil, and at its close the entire congregation was invited to join in the chorus of Let There Be Peace On Earth.  Intercessory prayers addressed the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people of Haiti, as well as Haitian political leaders and international aid workers, missionaries, and volunteers.  Each prayer was led by a representative of a different faith, and was followed by a period of silent reflection.  Before the closing song, Michel Joseph and Sabrina Jaar Marzouka, representatives of the local Haitian community, led a beautiful candle lighting ceremony that tied together the spirituality, reflection, and solidarity of the evening.  The vigil reaffirmed our emotional and spiritual commitment to Haiti and was strengthened by the diversity of religious and ethnic backgrounds it brought together.