Tragedy has struck in Haiti, where two Catholic nuns, Sisters Evanette Onezaire and Jeanne Voltaire, were brutally murdered by armed gangs on Monday, 31 March. The nuns, members of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, were forced to take refuge in a home with others during the attack. Still, unfortunately, the attackers discovered their hiding place and killed the entire group.
The attack was carried out by a gang coalition known as Vivre Ensemble (Convivir), which stormed the central Haitian town of Mirebalais, freeing over 500 prisoners from a jail, storming a police station, and setting fire to several homes. The violence has left the town in chaos, with many residents fleeing in fear.
The Catholic Church in Haiti has been severely impacted by the escalating violence, with 28 parishes in the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince closed and around 40 operating at a reduced pace due to gang control. Priests have been forced to flee, seeking refuge with their families or other clergy.
The Episcopal Conference of Haiti (CEH) has condemned the violence, calling for reason among those involved in crime and respect for human life and dignity. The situation in Haiti has been described as a “Calvary” by Bishop Max Leroy Mésidor, who urged the international community to come to their aid.