Sister Paësie's Kizito Family Community strives to bring education, Christ's light to Haitian slums

Sister Paësie, who founded The Kizito Family, visits Holy Family Parish in Fort Worth to speak on mission. (NTC/ Rodger Mallison)

FORT WORTH — On any given day, firefighters and police officers rush into fraught situations most would flee. An apt description too of The Kizito Family founder Sister Paësie and her work in the slums of Haiti, who visited Holy Family Parish on April 17 to share her story of mission.

“Haiti is a country full of despair,” said Deacon Brad Samuelson, who attended the Fort Worth parish’s Fourth Annual Mission Dinner celebration where Sr. Paësie spoke. “There's really nothing anybody has, or much hope they can find any turnaround that's going to bring them out of the hell they're currently living in.”

But where most would see only Haiti's rampant poverty, dangers, and hope's absence, the French-born nun seeks out opportunity and Christ's calling.

“Through Sr. Paësie I see that glimmer of hope,” Dcn. Samuelson said. “Especially with the children through educating them, catechizing and telling them about Jesus. Teaching them to love Jesus and have a relationship with Him.”

Gospel in action

Although she serves many victims of Haiti’s horrors, one need only look into the eyes of the soft-spoken nun to find deep faith, intelligence, and resolve.

“It's hard to see the suffering, violence, and pain,” Sr. Paësie said. “The other day I had a school child hit by three bullets. He didn't die but is in a lot of pain. Every day there are things like that.

“But at the same time, I receive a lot from the people there and, of course, from Jesus. He gives the mission, and the grace to carry that mission out.”

Sr. Paësie's work exemplifies the Gospel in action, Father Hoa Nguyen of Holy Family said.

“Being Catholic is not just going to church and being comfortable, but doing mission work also,” Fr. Nguyen said. “Jesus calls each of us. No one can fix the whole world's problems. But Christ doesn't ask us to do that, just to do our parts.”

Haiti certainly does not lack for problems and challenges most would judge unsolvable.

Sr. Paësie detailed the country's widespread poverty, political unrest, rampant gang violence, homelessness, death, and despair.

She was shocked to learn that one woman who sought her help in procuring medical assistance for her child had recently been raped repeatedly by gang members.

“It didn't occur to her to speak of that until I asked how she was doing,” Sr. Paësie said. “She was too focused on the present and taking care of her child. What was in the past was in the past even though her incident was only three weeks earlier. That's when I realized that poverty itself is violence.”

Inspired to serve

Born Claire Joelle Phillipe in Nancy, France, Sr. Paësie dreamed from a young age of one day working alongside Mother Teresa, a dream that came true and eventually led her to Haiti, where she's worked for the past 27 years.

With the Missionaries of Charity, Sr. Paësie performed mainly medical work.

“But I would see so many children on the streets and felt the Lord calling me to do something,” Sr. Paësie said.

Following Mother Teresa's death, Sr. Paësie recalled a passage in [Mother Teresa's] diary.

“It's a scene where Mother Teresa sees Jesus on the cross and sees children in the dark,” Sr. Paësie said. “Jesus said to her, ‘See those children? They do not love me because they do not know me. Go be my light to them.’”

Such provided Sr. Paësie's inspiration for founding The Kizito Family in 2017, named after Ugandan martyr St. Kizito.

“The focus is protecting the street children,” Sr. Paësie said. “We do that by creating schools because these children were not going to school. Just wandering the streets getting involved in gangs, human trafficking, and so on.”

Schools led to catechism centers; housing for homeless, victimized, or orphaned children; and other services.

Prayers for support

When serving victims of violence, help is needed, of course, from volunteers to donations. Kizito Family board member Helen Snyder spoke of the need for public relations, website design, and other volunteer services stateside.

“Well, I'm asking the Lord for help,” Sr. Paësie said with a laugh. “So, if anyone reading this article wants to come join us, pray for us, or help out, you're more than welcome.”

Sr. Paësie recounted success stories she's seen and of what keeps her going in the face of overwhelming odds.

“The strength of the children and the women, the mothers, keeps me going,” Sr. Paësie said. “Many of the children don't start school, start first grade until they're 10, 11, even 14. But they catch on very fast and are aware school is important. Just the smiles and joy on their faces and how happy they are to have the opportunity to come to school. That's contagious. Much is hard, dangerous, and sad here, but I couldn't imagine leaving and going somewhere else now.”

Learn more about Sister Paësie, the Kizito Family, and how to support mission here.