At 7:20am the church bell rings and grades 1st-6th gather in the school courtyard. Lining up by grade and then by class, the students and teachers of Holy Innocents assemble for their daily morning liturgy: Prayers and the Flag Raising Ceremony. The brief service is highlighted by prayers and the singing of the Haitian national anthem as the flag is raised to the top of the school. I participated twice in this wonderful daily ritual. As I watched this simple yet beautiful service unfold, I was reminded of Campbell Hall’s Elementary Chapel. The service began with a faculty member calling the community to worship. The opening was followed by the singing of a traditional church hymn and then the prayers of the community were said including the Lord’s Prayer. The language was different, Creole, but the words were exactly the same! It was a blessing to hear the students singing with great joy and pride (again it reminded me of Elementary Chapel). I have video of the service, but due to my limited internet access while in Haiti, I will post the video when I return to the US. Until then, enjoy the pictures.
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