During Advent, we often focus our attention on getting ready for the Christmas holiday.
We “deck the halls” of our houses with holiday decorations and then shop online or in retail stores for presents to give to family, friends, and loved ones.
Advent should be much more than that.
It is a grace-filled season providing ample opportunity for personal preparation for our Lord’s coming — historically, liturgically, and spiritually — both at Christmas and when He will come again in glory.
It can also be wonderful to remember those in need, especially the suffering around the world imprisoned in material poverty and political unrest.
It can be an opportunity to ponder Mary’s pregnancy and the difficulty and discomfort she must have experienced as she traveled all the way to Bethlehem and gave birth to Jesus in a stranger’s stable.
In developed nations, we take pregnancy and safe births for granted. Most of us have ample access to medical professionals and prenatal health care.
For those in less developed parts of the world, it can be quite a challenge — literally a matter of life or death.
Last year, the Diocese of Madison committed to assist the Diocese of Jacmel in Haiti by collecting funds needed to hire a midwife to assist with pregnancy and births at the Centre de Santé Sacré-Coeur de Thiotte (The Sacred Heart of Thiotte Healthcare Center or CSST).
Since neighboring towns are extremely limited in the medical services available, they must rely on midwives to care for expectant women, newborns, and infants.
These dedicated and highly trained midwives, known as “sage femme” (“wise woman” in English) provide essential care for mothers and children before, during, and after childbirth.
Because of the generosity of the faithful and a matching grant, CSST was able to hire two midwives which made a tremendous impact on the services they could offer.
During the first nine months of this year, these CSST midwives provided prenatal care for 858 expectant mothers and assisted with the births of 110 children.
By the end of the year, they project to deliver 150 babies and serve 1,150 pregnant women.
By caring for these mothers and their unborn children, the midwives allow clinic doctors to refocus their precious time and attention on other vital healthcare needs for the community, such as pediatric wellness exams, treatment for infectious diseases, and emergency services.
“Before the Diocese of Madison provided funds to hire two midwives, our CSST doctor had to tend to mothers in labor with little or no help. The presence of midwives has been lifesaving for mothers and their babies,” noted Carole Wakefield, executive director of the Haiti Medical Mission of Wisconsin which supports the clinic in Thiotte.
She continued, “For example, one mother experienced a complicated labor. She required care immediately following the difficult delivery of her child. The baby, who could not breathe, also needed immediate care. Fortunately, the midwife was able to care for the mother, and the doctor helped the baby to breathe.
“Before, when there was no midwife, the doctor would have had to choose between saving the mother or saving the child. Now, because of support from the Diocese of Madison both mother and child are alive and at home with their family in the Diocese of Jacmel.”
Individuals, groups, and families are urged to consider a tax-deductible gift to the 2024 Advent Midwife Campaign so that CSST can retain the two midwives for the coming year.
The overall goal is $25,000 to once again cover the annual salaries of two midwives.
“Our support of the Advent Midwife Campaign is a tangible way to express solidarity and spiritual support for the people of Haiti,” said Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison.
“As we ponder the Blessed Mother preparing to give birth to the long-awaited Savior — the hope for the world — our combined efforts here in the Diocese of Madison can bring great joy and glad tidings to those in the Diocese of Jacmel who suffer from extreme poverty, gang violence, and political unrest” Bishop Hying reminded.
Those interested in donating can visit MadisonDiocese.org/Haiti or contact Jill McNally at 608-821-3039.