In the area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, known as Pacot, a road winds up and around a long, very steep hill, where at the top live Pacot’s poorest. There is no water at the top of the hill, resulting in residents making a daily trek down to fill containers. In Haiti this is a chore that traditionally falls to the children. The road has been nicknamed Golgotha. Halfway up Golgotha Hill an almond tree offers the children the road’s only shade from the baking sun. Each day the children stop briefly to refresh themselves before continuing their trudge up the hill, lugging a plastic gallon jug of water in each hand. Located just behind the almond tree is Haiti’s new National Penitentiary Annex, where from his cell window Fr.Gerard Jean-Juste, fondly known as Father Gerry, watches the children make their arduous way up the hill. He thinks of himself at this time in his life as being half way along in his own journey to Golgotha.
A Haitian diocesan priest in Port-au-Prince, Fr. Gerry has been the leading voice in calling for justice and human rights for the poorest of the poor in Haiti.
A long time activist, Father Gerry’s ministry has taken him far and wide. From Boston, to New York; from Montreal to Miami, Fr. Gerry’s ministry
outside of Haiti was very instrumental in solidifying the Haitian Diaspora in these cities. What brought him back to Haiti though was his love and passion for the suffering poor of his homeland.
Prior to his present incarceration on July 21, 2005 following a severe beating, Fr. Gerry was pastor of the community of St. Claire’s in Port-au-Prince. He is currently imprisoned without any credible formal charges being made against him.
Because of his strong advocacy on behalf of the poor, and his continued call to restore the democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide, Fr. Gerry’s name began to surface as a possible candidate for president of Haiti. This call arose primarily from the communities of Haiti’s poorest citizens.
The fear that his name might be formalized as a presidential candidate resulted in the Episcopal Conference of Bishops of Haiti taking from Fr. Gerry his priestly right to celebrate Eucharist.
We visited Fr. Gerry on October 2 in late morning at The Haitian Penitentiary Annex in Port-au-Prince. We were a group of five people and entered easily without much questioning. Asked if we were journalists we, of course, said no.
He told us, as he has told recent previous visitors that conditions at the annex were much better than they had been in his cell in the National Penitentiary where he was first held in quarters that measured 8 meters by 2 meters, and was 8 meters high. There he was totally isolated, had no bed, and was kept in darkness day and night. He said that the heat was so oppressive it took his breath away, and the stench of the prison was horrendous.
He told us that his spirits are still good. Although still sore from the beating he took when arrested, he does feel some improvement. However, as he talked with us we noticed that he continually massaged his right wrist and neck.
After witnessing his discomfort we want to add our voices to that of Dr. John Carroll who previously visited Fr. Gerry, that he should be given the chance to have a complete physical work up.
Fr. Gerry attributes his strong good spirits to his continued faith and belief that God is within him. “I feel so fortunate for my spiritual training. I pray continuously for the others (prisoners) who don’t have that capacity. I keep praying for them and attempt to encourage them. I ask them to pray and remind them that freedom is coming. I try to talk to every prisoner when I pass their cell. I tell them, ‘God will hear you.’ I advise them to stay spiritually and physically strong.”
Fr. Gerry told us that the authorities do not want him close to the prison population because of his organizing abilities and fear that he may influence the other prisoners. He is currently advocating for the creation of a prison chaplaincy program and for clergy to be able to visit and counsel incarcerated members of their congregations.
He said that in the National Penitentiary, the most hopeless of prisoners are the deportees from the United States who don’t even have the opportunity to be brought before a judge. He added that some of them are becoming mentally ill as a result of their incarceration, and no psychological help is available to them. He strongly urged us to pray for these individuals and to include them in our cry for justice.
He said, “I tell them to pray, that with Jesus their time will seem shorter. . . to pray that God will shorten their time.”
He encouraged us to pray for all prisoners in Haiti. He especially mentioned Yvon Neptune, the Prime Minister of the Aristide administration who has been held at the same location since being arrested shortly after the coup d’ etat that removed President Aristide from office in February, 2004. Mr. Neptune’s health, Fr. Gerry said, is deteriorating.
When asked about his current situation, Fr. Gerry said that when his community asks him that question he refers them to the Gospel of John 6: 1-15 – especially verses 14-15: When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”
Fr. Gerry said that his imprisonment “gives me a chance to escape.” On being questioned about the suspension of his priestly faculties, he had much, much more to say. He said that prior to our arrival he had had a visit from Msgr. Miot, the bishop of Port-au-Prince. “He is a friend of mine,” Fr. Gerry said, but added that when he asked to have his faculties reinstated the Bishop responded, “You must appeal to Rome.”
Fr. Gerry said, “According to Canon Law, at the moment of the appeal the sentence is not applicable”. It is in this appeal that Fr. Gerry has placed his hope, his prayer and his heart. He indicated that there was much pressure against him coming from the elite and many Haitian bishops.
He further stated that (as a priest) “I have been trained. We are spiritually trained. It ought to be a good thing for a religious celibate to risk (jail) in defense of the basic rights of humans, because we are trained in asceticism and prayer and have knowledge of scripture. In prison I would celebrate Mass in the dark.”
He explained how difficult it was to celebrate Mass under those conditions. He had no written scriptures available. He had to try to recall the scriptural reading for each day, as well as the rubrics of the liturgy.
He said, “The (Haitian) State machinery is trying to drown me. My own church has not taken a strong position. It has told me I cannot officiate anymore.”
He added that it is “harder for the people than for me”, which he also told Bishop Miot. He further inferred that it is the Church hierarchy that is bringing suffering to God’s people in St. Claire’s instead of sharing the Gospel message and bringing comfort and support they turn their backs.
Psychologically, he explained it is the people who suffer. It is the Church that should bring them remedies rather than suffering. In referring to his own congregation of St. Claire’s Parish in Port-au-Prince he said “Except for saying Mass, the people do everything. Everything goes on without me. I am leading by remote control.”
One of his initial efforts that continues in his absence is a feeding program for the area’s youth in which up to 500 young people are given a meal three to four times each week.
Fr. Gerry said that the lessons of his own life have enabled him to suffer imprisonment more easily. His family was always against his attending church, and totally against his entering the seminary. From early childhood, in various ways, he has had to suffer for his faith. These recurring lessons have instilled in Fr. Gerry courage, faithfulness, and a steadfast heart focused on the promises of his God.
Before we departed, leaving him to talk with several young members of his St. Claire’s community, we joined hands, prayed, and received Fr. Gerry’s blessing. As we said our good-byes and shared hugs, Fr. Gerry reminded us that the pressure that we are placing on the authorities is having an effect. “Be strong he said, and continue to advocate for justice. Please continue to pray for me and all the prisoners.”
As we walked outside into the baking Haitian sun we passed under the children’s almond tree, and realized that Fr. Gerry’s strong faith has enabled him to become, like the welcome shade of the almond tree, sustenance for members of St. Claire’s congregation and his fellow prisoners.
