Sunday, October 26th, 2025: A Celebration held in the uncertainty of its Realization, the Storm “Mélissa” having disrupted the initial plans. However, the Celebration took place with some Last-minute Changes to the Program.
So that Sunday, around 9:15 a.m., a Procession was organized under a threatening sky to go from the School to the Parish Church, the site of the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Mgr. Marie Erick Glandas Toussaint, Bishop of Jacmel, assisted by Father Simon François, Parish Priest, and Father Jacob Maxi, Vicar. The School Students provided the Songs.
After the Celebration, given the Atmospheric Situation, the Interventions took place in the Church. Brother Lamy Dessalines, current Director of the Léonce Mégie School, among other things, gave a Brief History of the School and its Foundation:
“When we evoked the name of Léonce Mégie, a whole Memory was awakened – that of an Ardent Priest, very zealous in the Construction of his Parish, a Builder who believed in the power of Education to transform Vallée Society: That was Father Léon Bonnaud, Founder of Our School. Evoking Léonce Mégie was also evoking the memory of a Man of Vision and Action, of a Member of Parliament who knew how to defend the Interests of the Church, of Education, and of the Youngest: Mr. Léonce Mégie, whose name has remained Legendary in the History of Our School. The History of the School was also linked to the story of a Brother who agreed to come alone to La Vallée and took charge of the Destiny of the School. He was at the same time Director, Teacher, Gardener, Carpenter, Mason, and Cook. That was Brother Jérôme-Émilien, the First Director of Our School. And we cannot forget the many French, Canadian, and Spanish Missionary Brothers who had placed themselves at the Service of that School: more than Sixty. Also the Teachers of La Vallée: more than Thirty. Together, they sowed a Seed… and that Seed has become a Solid Tree, with deep Roots and many Fruits.”
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Then Brother Hervé Zamor, Superior General, emphasized that “while offering the Bread of Education, the Brothers were also involved in the Development of La Vallée. As a Student at the Léonce Mégie School, I remember the visits to Our Classes of Brother Louis Le Roux, the Director at the time, asking us to invite Our Parents to join the Volunteers who worked on the Road to La Vallée every Saturday. The Brothers did not just encourage Participation in the “coumbite”, but they also put their Hands to the Dough… Drinking water was a major issue for the health of the Valléens. Didn’t Animals and People use the same Source at the same time? Well aware of that Health Challenge, the Brothers of the time, especially Brother André Guimond, invested in the Capture of the Springs. …. Thus the Road, the Saint Joseph Hospital and the Drinking Water in La Vallée were Silent and Lasting Witnesses to the Involvement of the Brothers in the Development of that Area.”
Those Interventions concluded, the Teachers who had dedicated themselves to the School for Thirty years were honored. A Certificate of Recognition was presented to them by the Superior General. The Record for that Longevity of Service was held by the Canteen Worker who, every day, had dedicated herself to preparing a Hot Meal for the Children for Forty years! On that Occasion, she was honored with a Well-Deserved Standing Ovation.
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The Hearty Meal, prepared by the Students of Our Frère André Guimond Technical School (ETFAG), concluded that all-too-Brief Day. Hurricane “Mélissa” had indeed urged everyone to be cautious and not to linger too long… The Jubilee Year was only just beginning, and other Opportunities to exchange and meet up are planned in the coming Months.
Brother Simon ALPHONSE, Provincial Brother